Coming out of slump
Master’s junior heating up at the right time in play
Standing near the third base line at TMU’s Lou Herwaldt Stadium, Aaron Shackelford said the key to his improved swing was staying loose.
That was earlier this month, and the result has been that the junior shortstop has let loose on just about any pitch in the plate’s vicinity.
Since the calendar turned to March, a relaxed Shackelford has hit six of his seven home runs and produced 18 of his team-leading 29 RBIs.
“I (had been) putting pressure on myself for no reason, really,” Shackelford said.
Three of Shackelford’s round trips and 10 of the RBIs came last week when TMU won two of three games at Menlo College in Atherton.
Monday, he became the first Mustang this season to earn the Golden State Athletic Conference’s Player of the Week honor.
He hasn’t otherwise been alone. Senior Jaiden France,
a Golden Valley High product, homered in four straight games recently, including a homer in each of the Mustangs’ two wins over Menlo on Friday.
“I don’t want to say I’ve figured it out,” said France, whose team is 20-14 overall and 12-11 in GSAC play, good for fourth place. “But I’m really comfortable and mentally I’m just locked in.”
In Friday’s opener, an 11-0 rout, France hit a tworun home run in the seventh inning, and Shackelford hit a three-run shot an inning later.
In the day’s second game, Shackelford homered in the first inning. France immediately followed with a home run. Then Josh Robison followed with another long ball to seal the first back-to-back-to-back home runs for TMU that longtime coach Monte Brooks can remember.
Master’s went on to win the game 5-0 behind strong pitching from Saugus High graduate Robert Winslow (five innings, nine strikeouts).
Scott Savage tossed seven scoreless innings in
Friday’s opener to earn GSAC Pitcher of the Week honors and propel the Mustangs to the crucial series win.
Master’s leads the Oaks by 2.5 games, and it is within striking distance of second-place Westmont College and third-place Vanguard University with 13 conference games left to play.
TMU trails Westmont by two games and Vanguard by 1.5 games. William Jessup, near Sacramento, has a 7.5-game lead on Westmont.
Master’s will host GSAC foe San Diego Christian on Wednesday (3 p.m.) and Thursday (12 p.m. and 3 p.m., doubleheader).
3 Mustangs named AllAmericans
For the first time in program history, three TMU men’s basketball
players have been named NAIA AllAmericans in the same year.
Senior Lawrence Russell (first team), sophomore Tim Soares (third team) and junior Hansel Atencia (honorable mention) each made the list released by the NAIA last week. Russell became the first Mustang on the first team since Joey Penberthy in 2000.
“It was an honor to be an AllAmerican,” said Russell, who averaged 16.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists. “Not as big as winning a championship or anything. But it’s an honor for all the work I put in, playing hard every game.”
TMU finished the year 29-3, winning the first regular-season GSAC title in program history and falling in the first round of the NAIA national tournament.
Forrar keeps streak alive
TMU women’s basketball player Hannah Forrar was named an
NAIA All-American last week, making it six straight years the program has had at least one player honored.
Forrar, a sophomore, led the Mustangs in scoring at 12.9 points her game and helped them get to the NAIA national tournament for the sixth consecutive season.
Master’s ended the year 19-11, losing in the first round of the NAIA tournament to eventual-champion Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.).
Forrar’s best game came on Jan. 25 when she scored a career-high 34 points in an upset of then-No. 2 Vanguard University.
“Man, she was unstoppable from all over the court,” coach Dan Waldeck said of the Vanguard game. “She made plays in key moments, and they weren’t easy shots. She was making shots when we needed scores, getting to the rim, hitting jumpers, hitting threes. She was unbelievable.”