Judson University spring teams having great success

Things are a hoppin' in the Judson University athletic department this spring.

The baseball and softball teams are both enjoying successful seasons - more on them in a second.

Over on the tennis courts, the record book is getting a workout this spring. The Eagles men's tennis team sported an 18-5 record through midweek. The 18 wins is a program high since the sport was brought back in 2010.

Judson also has advanced for a second year in a row to the NCCAA national championship in Mobile, Ala.

Individually, two-year team captain Jon Moment is now the second winningest player in Judson's history of reported results. He's at 86 total wins, which surpassed the previous record of 73.

Freshman Chris Kerswell (Australia), one of 4 international recruits on the squad, already has 34 total wins in his first season of competition and also holds a win at No. 1 singles over a NAIA Top 25 player.

Moment and Kerswell, who play No. 2 doubles together, also defeated a top-ranked NAIA doubles team from Cardinal Stritch.

In singles, Kerswell was 17-4 through midweek, while Hampshire native Elisha Hougland, a sophomore, and South Africa native Daniel Hendel (junior) were both 17-5. Moment was 16-5.

In the doubles division, Moment and Kerswell were 19-4, while Hougland and Hendel were 17-5.

"The team has dramatically improved in doubles this year as a result of spending many hours working on doubles strategies and doubles drills," Judson coach Chris Moment said.

Moment is looking forward to the NCCAA gathering in Alabama in May.

"I am excited to see how our players are able to compete against some of the strongest tennis programs in the NCCAA," he said. "We have one of the deeper teams of talented players than we've had in recent years and they are coming to every match ready to play and compete at a high level. Our team has dramatically changed over the last five years with the introduction of more local players and international players. Our program has gained a great sense of recognition because we have more international and local players looking at Judson as an option for their higher-education needs that can blend together with their athletic needs."

Softball: Speaking of breaking records, Judson senior softball player and Wisconsin native Brie Tennyson has done that. She became the winningest pitcher in Judson softball history this year and has broken numerous program records. To boot, Tennyson also earned a CCAC player of the week honor this season.

Through midweek Tennyson was 17-10 with a 2.28 ERA in 193⅓ innings of work. She has 180 strikeouts against 60 walks and has held opponents to a .226 batting average.

Tennyson's success has helped Judson to a 25-win season through midweek. The Eagles also were 11-6 in conference play.

"We are relying heavily on Brie to get the job done in the circle," second-year Judson coach Venus Taylor said. "She is a senior pitcher with a lot of experience. She mixes her speeds very well and has good movement. She has done an incredible job pitching back-to-back games when needed. Brie is an extremely competitive player who wants the ball and wants to help take this team as far as she can."

Taylor likes the way Tennyson interacts with battery mate Maddie Smith, a senior from Indiana. "They work well together and have a real tenacity to win every pitch," she said.

At the plate, senior Murielle Vansach, a Northern Illinois University transfer, is the Eagles' leading hitter at .407. She also put herself in the record books by establishing a new school single-season stolen base record (she's 38 for 39 this season). She ranks first in the conference in steals and third in NAIA Division I averaging 1.0 steals a game. She's fourth in Division I in attempts per game (1.03).

Taylor also has seen production at the plate from Nicole Chapa (junior, Jacobs), Sarah Friedlund (sophomore, DeKalb), Tennyson, Smith and Lauren King (junior, Burlington Central). Friedlund is leading the team in homers with six, while Smith, a senior, has five.

"I've been impressed with our lineup as a whole coming up in the clutch when it maters most and believing in themselves and each other," Taylor said.

Taylor noted her team must continue to improve in the field if it has hopes of making postseason noise. "We are constantly making strides with our defensive play," she said. "We need to play clean ball. In order to go deep in the postseason we are going to have to rely on clean defense and timely hitting. The CCAC is a tough and respectable conference all the way through. Anything goes on any given day."

Judson recently reeled off a stretch where it won seven of eight. "I feel the key has been our team has come together and they choose to have a positive and competitive mindset," Taylor added. "We have removed the pressure due to carrying six seniors and have asked the to focus on the process and continue to believe in their preparation. I am excited to see where we finish because I know the potential of this team."

Baseball: The Midwest suits the Judson baseball team just fine. Judson was 28-16 overall to start the week and was 16-3 in and sitting in first place in the CCAC North Division (first overall in the conference).

More telling, the Eagles are 19-3 since returning from a challenging southern schedule.

Judson is led at the plate by senior Luke Rojas (St. Charles East), who paces the team with a .391 average (61 hits, including 17 doubles - both team highs). Junior Ron Sessler, a Lockport native, is leading the team in homers with seven and RBI with 30. He also has a team-best .637 slugging percentage and is hitting .363 (second-best for Judson).

Senior Angel Sanchez (Northlake native) and senior Mark DeYoung (Plainfield Central) are leading the way on the mound for coach Chad Gassman's Eagles. Sanchez is 8-1 with a 1.83 ERA. He has 8 complete games and has fanned 45 in a team-high 69 innings. DeYoung is 7-1 with a 2.67 ERA. He has 4 complete games and has fanned 42 batters in 54 innings.

Reliever Nate Peterson (2-0, 3 saves, 1.59 ERA in 9 appearances) recently was named CCAC pitcher of the week for his performances in games against Trinity International and Trinity Christian.

In 8 innings of work during that span, Peterson had a win and a save and no ERA. He allowed 4 hits. Against Trinity International, Peterson went 2⅔ innings to close out a 9-4 win. He allowed 1 hit and struck out 2. Against Trinity Christian, Peterson closed the final 5 ⅓ innings to pick up the win. He allowed 3 hits and had 1 strikeout.

Mike Miazga has been writing about sports in the Fox Valley for more than two decades. Email him at mjm890@gmail.com.