2007 NAIA World Series

Series MVP bats .429 with 10 runs batted in

By ANDY JONES
of the Tribune

It was the perfect birthday present for Will Stramp.

The left fielder’s heroics helped Lubbock Christian grab an 11-8 victory over Point Loma in the title game of the NAIA World Series on Friday night at Harris Field. It just so happened to come on Stamp’s 23rd birthday.

Stramp batted .429 with three home runs and 10 RBI, and was named MVP of the Series.

In the third inning Friday, after Point Loma had stormed back from a 5-0 deficit to tie the game, Stramp cracked the game’s decisive hit. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound senior from Keller, Texas slammed a 2-2 pitch from the Sea Lions’ Brandon Dixon over the left-field wall, lifting the Chaps to an 8-5 lead. They never relinquished the edge.

Thus completed a season in which Stramp batted .498 with 27 homers.

“He’s outstanding. That guy has been carrying us all year and we knew he would be a big guy for us in the tournament,” coach Nathan Blackwood said. “Happy birthday, MVP, national champion, whatever you want to call it, he’s had a special day, a special week and really a special year.”

For Stramp, the victory was unquestionably the highlight of his young career.

“This has just been an unbelievable, picture-perfect game for me,” he said. “Finally we can sit back and reflect. It’s just been perfection as far as taking care of business when we’ve had to throughout the entire Series. We come out here, lost to Loma and then got matched up with them and had to take two from them, and we took care of business.”

Stramp was also named to the all-tournament team, and he was joined by teammates Armando Dominguez (shortstop), Tyler Johnson (catcher) and pitchers Rene Garcia and Jakob Cunningham.

“It’s been a total team effort,” Stramp said. “I’m sitting here with the MVP, but I feel like everybody carried us. This couldn’t have been accomplished without everybody doing their part.”

Point Loma also had five players selected to the all-tournament team, including third baseman Wes Kartch, catcher Tim Winslow, pitchers Brandon Dixon and Andrew Bovich and center fielder Kurt Steinhauer, who was also received the Charlie Hustle Award.

Berry first baseman Andrew Starr, Southern Poly second basemen Jake Barrow, Lee infielder Chris Waters, Lewis-Clark State left fielder Sean Halton, Oklahoma City outfielder Jason Machado and designated hitter Junior Rodriguez rounded out the all-tournament team.

Lewis-Clark State shortstop Todd Muecklisch received the Gold Glove Award. Campbellsville second baseman Nathan Quesenberry earned the Hank Burbidge Champion of Character Player.

NAIA ALL-TOURNAMENT

First base — Andrew Staar, Berry,

Second base — Jake Barry, Southern Poly

Shortstop — Armando Dominguez, Lubbock Christian

Third base — Wes Kartch, Point Loma Nazarene

Infielder — Chris Waters, Lee

Catcher — Tyler Johnson, Lubbock Christian

Catacher — Tim Winslow, Point Loma Nazarene

Outfielder — Sean Halton, Lewis-Clark State

Outfielder — Will Stramp, Lubbock Christian

Outfielder — Kurt Steinhauer, Point Loma Nazarene

Outfielder — Jason Machado, Oklahoma City

Designated hitter — Junior Rodriguez, Lee

Pitcher — Brandon Dixon, Point Loma Nazarene

Pitcher — Rene Garcia, Lubbock Christian

Pitcher — Andrew Bovich, Point Loma Nazarene

Pitcher — Jakob Cunningham, Lubbock Christian

MVP — Will Stramp, Lubbock Christian

Charlie Hustle Award — Kurt Steinhauer, Point Loma Nazarene

Hank Burbridge Champion Character Player — Nathan Quesenberry, Campbellsville

Buffalo Funds-NAIA 5-Star Champions of Character Team Award — Point Loma Nazarene

NAIA ALL-AMERICA

First Team

First base — Brent Weaver, Oklahoma City.

Second base — Brett Cook, Wayland Baptist.

Shortstop — Jono Waugh, Southern Poly.

Third base — Ross Blondin, Lubbock Christian.

Utility — Brice Cutspec, Azusa Pacific.

Outfield — Will Stramp, Lubbock Christian; Julian Alvarez, Lee; Sammy Lee, Oklahoma City; Chris Schultz, Purdue-North Central.

Catcher — Andrew Brouillette, LSU-Shreveport; Matt Powell, Southern Nazarene.

Pitcher — Tim Dunn, Trevecca Nazarene; Justin Zinkovich, Embry-Riddle; Jayson Koehn, St. Xavier; Micah Spencer, William Penn.

Relief pitcher — Billy Vopinek, Biola.

Designated hitter — Kevin Orso, Mobile.

NAIA GOLD GLOVE

First base — Nick Lenzendorf, Viterbo

Second base — Ryan Lopez, Mount Mercy

Shortstop — Jon Ubbenga, William Jewell

Third base — Mike Pettibone, Kansas Wesleyan

Catcher — Brett Chamberlain, Bellevue

Center field — Nick D’Amico, Lyon

Left field — Brauncy Jenkins, Southern Wesleyan

Outfield — Kurt Steinhauer, Point Loma Nazarene

Pitcher — Bryant McCann, Hasting