QU’s Walker, Napleton pick up NCBWA NCAA Division II preseason All-American honors

QUINCY — A pair of Quincy University baseball players have been named preseason All-Americans a week ahead of the Hawks’ season opener.

The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its NCAA Division II preseason All-American teams Thursday with Quincy starting pitcher Spencer Walker earning first-team plaudits and junior catcher Luke Napleton garnering a second-team nod.

Walker, a 6-foot, 200-pound right-hander, was one of four starting pitchers named to the first team. He went 10-1 last season with three complete games while fashioning a 3.32 earned run average. Walker struck out 85 and walked 25 in 100.1 innings.

The Bartonville Limestone product has 15 victories and a 3.54 ERA in 23 career starts after transferring from Lincoln Land Community College.

Walker is tied for the second-most victories of the first-team pitchers, trailing only Southern Arkansas’ Jeremy Adorno, who went 15-0 last season. 

Napleton, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound right-handed slugger, led the Hawks with 20 home runs and 66 RBIs last season, while hitting .329. He also walked 45 times, was hit by a pitch nine times and fashioned a .450 on-base percentage.

The Chicago St. Rita product’s 20 homers are the second most in a single season in QU history.

Truman State senior Holden Missey was the only other Great Lakes Valley Conference player to be named to any of the three teams. Missey was named as a third-team utility player and pitcher after hitting .361 last season and going 3-1 with six saves coming out of the Bulldogs’ bullpen.

The Hawks, who reached the Midwest Super Regional last season, are scheduled to open their season February 10 for the first of three games against the University of Tampa. The Spartans are ranked third in the D-II preseason national poll and feature first-team All-American reliever Braydon Nelson and honorable mention All-American shortstop J.D. Urso.