Napleton, D’Alessio among four QU baseball players to enter transfer portal

Quincy University catcher Luke Napleton follows the flight of one of his 29 home runs this season. The single-season record holder for dingers announced he is entering the NCAA transfer portal. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Two starters from the record-setting Quincy University baseball team are among four Hawks who are entering the NCAA transfer portal. Junior catcher Luke Napleton and junior shortstop Gino D’Alessio are exploring opportunities to move to the NCAA Division I level, while senior infielder Logan Voth is seeking the chance for more at-bats and…

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Hawks’ Napleton becomes fourth QU standout to be named Midwest Region Player of the Year

Quincy University catcher Luke Napleton has been named the Midwest Region Player of the Year, become the fourth Hawk in program history to receive the honor. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Luke Napleton’s historic season has him in line for All-American honors. The Quincy University junior catcher was named the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association’s Midwest Region Player of the Year and a first-team all-region selection, which makes him eligible for All-American consideration. QU coach Matt Schissel was named the Midwest Region Coach of…

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Napleton gets back in power groove, breaks GLVC single-season home run record with two dingers

Quincy University catcher Luke Napleton, left, and pitcher Joe Byers celebrate on of Napleton's two home runs during Friday's NCAA Division II Midwest Regional victory over Northwood at QU Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Going 20 at-bats without hitting a home run may not seem like much of a drought, but Luke Napleton knew he had taken several swings since his last blast. None of them felt like the right rhythm. “I’ve been rolling over the past few games, being a little early,” the Quincy University catcher…

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QU’s Napleton receives GLVC Player of the Year honor, while Schissel is Coach of the Year

Quincy University junior catcher Luke Napleton, left, was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Year. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Not long after Luke Napleton left QU Stadium the day he broke the Quincy University baseball program’s single-season home run record, he received a text message with a video attached. It was from Ryan Snyder, the slugger whose record Napleton broke, who wanted to congratulate the Hawks junior catcher. Snyder may need to…

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Hawks continue to batter opposing pitching, slug six home runs in series finale against Panthers

Quincy University pitcher Joe Byers, center, prepares to celebrate a home run with teammates Brock Boynton, right, during Sunday's game against Drury at QU Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The DJ Khaled collaboration “All I Do Is Win” was released in 2010 and remains a ballpark staple more than a decade later. Still, it may be time for some fresh lyrics. The Quincy University baseball team seems to be providing them. It goes a little like, “All we do is crush, crush,…

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Napleton garners GLVC Player of the Week after crushing McKendree pitching

Quincy University's Luke Napleton, left, celebrates one of his four home runs last weekend against McKendree with teammate Gino D'Alessio. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Luke Napleton’s big weekend earned him another Great Lakes Valley Conference honor. The Quincy University baseball team’s junior catcher was named the GLVC Player of the Week after helping the Hawks go 5-0 last week with a four-game sweep of McKendree to move into sole possession of first place in the league standings.…

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Hawks continue to showcase offensive firepower, finish sweep of Bearcats with big bang

Quincy University catcher Luke Napleton gets ready for an at-bat during the final game of the four-game Great Lakes Valley Conference weekend series against McKendree on Saturday at QU Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Filling out the lineup card isn’t too much of a chore for Quincy University baseball coach Matt Schissel. “It isn’t drawing straws,” he said. Eight starters are hitting .350 or better. Seven starters have each hit six or more home runs. Five have 30 or more RBIs. And every single one of them…

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Hawks eliminate any hope Bulldogs created by winning final three innings of series opener

Quincy University catcher Luke Napleton went 5 for 5 with two home runs and five RBIs in Friday's 14-4 victory over Truman State at QU Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — It’s a simple philosophy with proven results. Win the inning. “I don’t know if you can hear me in the dugout, but I’m always saying ‘win the inning,’” Quincy University baseball coach Matt Schissel said. “Whether we give up four or give up two or give up none, go win the inning. If…

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Hawks’ Napleton picks up GLVC weekly honor after belting five home runs in series sweep

Quincy University catcher Luke Napleton, left, celebrates one of his home runs against Augustana with teammates Lance Logsdon, center, and Gino D'Alessio last Friday at QU Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Luke Napleton’s first at-bat set the tone for quite a weekend that earned him Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Week when all was said and done. The Quincy University baseball team’s junior catcher roped a line drive over Augustana center fielder Trevor Winterstein that turned into a triple thanks to his…

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QU baseball notebook: Triple in first at-bat gets Napleton close to hitting for cycle

Quincy University catcher Luke Napleton slides safely into third base with a triple in the first inning of Friday's game against Augustana (S.D.) at QU Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Luke Napleton wasn’t stopping for anyone or anything. In the bottom of the first inning in the first game of Friday’s doubleheader, the Quincy University baseball team’s junior catcher rifled a ball over the head of Augustana center fielder Trevor Winterstein that reached the warning track. Although third base coach Chandler Purcell threw…

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Resilient Hawks rally to knock off No. 3 Spartans, win season-opening series in Florida

Quincy University catcher Luke Napleton hit a go-ahead solo home run in the top of the ninth inning Sunday, leading the No. 20 Hawks to an 11-10 victory over No. 3 Tampa to win the three-game series in Tampa, Fla. | Matt Schuckman file photo

TAMPA, Fla. — Never give up, never give in. Quincy University baseball coach Matt Schissel knows he has a team willing to live by that mantra. The Hawks can compete with anyone in the country, too. Both of those aspects were revealed during the season-opening three-game series against the third-ranked University of Tampa as the…

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‘It’s like a punch in the face’: Hawks miss opportunities in eighth and ninth, come up short in Super Regional

Quincy University catcher Luke Napleton shows the ball to home plate umpire Scott Wyckoff after tagging Nick Meyerhofer at home plate in the fourth inning of Saturday's game. | Photo courtesy of Clay Stalter, University of Illinois-Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Missed it by THAT much. The Quincy University baseball team had the tying and go-ahead runs on base in the eighth inning of the deciding game, and it had the tying runs on base in the ninth inning. In each instance, the Hawks couldn’t come up with the biggest hit of the…

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Play at the plate gives Hawks emotional boost necessary to finish off Greyhounds

Quincy University right-hander Alex Pribyl, right, tags out Indianapolis' Blake Minor, who was trying to score from third base on a wild pitch with two outs in the seventh inning of Friday's Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament game. Photo courtesy Max Bennett

ST. LOUIS — Everything had to work in unison to allow the Quincy University baseball team to turn near disaster into a defining moment. With two outs in the seventh inning Friday afternoon and the bases loaded, Hawks right-handed reliever Alex Pribyl uncorked a wild pitch that bounced over catcher Luke Napleton, went to the…

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Earning some R&R: Victory in opening round of GLVC Tournament gives Hawks time to rehydrate and recover

Quincy University catcher Luke Napleton connects for a two-run home run in the third inning of Thursday's Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament opener against Lindenwood in St. Charles, Mo. Photo courtesy Max Bennett

ST. CHARLES, Mo. — The local Aldi Grocery Store better work on restocking its shelves. After a visit from Quincy University baseball coach Matt Schissel and a few helpful parents of his players, the store’s supply of Gatorade is seriously diminished. Following the Hawks’ 12-3 victory Lindenwood in Thursday’s opening round of the Great Lakes…

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Napleton’s home run sets tone for Hawks, Walker slams door shut on opponent yet again

Quincy University catcher Luke Napleton throws the ball back to pitcher Spencer Walker during the second inning of Friday's game against Missouri S&T at QU Stadium. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Luke Napleton raised his right hand to ask for time and stepped backward out of the right-handed batter’s box. The home plate umpire didn’t recognize the Quincy University leadoff hitter’s request and called on a strike on a pitch thrown by Missouri S&T’s Elijah Gross. Momentarily surprised by the call, Napleton regrouped, stepped back…

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