Eastern Michigan Athletics
Softball Lands Five on All-MAC Teams
5/11/2011 4:00:00 PM | Softball
Gerber, Richards, and Russ land first time honors, while Skodinski and Wells nab second team
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) — The Mid-American Conference announced the 2011 season softball awards today, May 11, and the Eastern Michigan University squad was well represented, putting three on the All-MAC first team and two on the All-MAC second team to set a program record of five conference honorees.
Sarah Gerber (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover), Jessica Richards (Canton, Ohio-Jackson) and McKenna Russ (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) were named to the All-MAC first team, while Stacie Skodinski (South Bend, Ind.-Washington) and Lauren Wells (Lowell, Ind.) earned second team All-MAC accolades. Wells also garnered All-Freshman team honors.
Gerber earns her second consecutive All-MAC honor after nabbing first team in 2010. She has been an asset behind the plate for the Green and White, committing just two errors all season to boost her career fielding percentage to .988, the second best by any EMU player. She also demonstrated her accuracy and arm strength at the catcher position, picking off a conference leading 11 runners in MAC games. Offensively, she has cranked out 44 hits in 128 at bats for an overall clip of .344. In MAC play, the North Canton, Ohio native hit .381 with a .619 slugging percentage and knocked in 16 RBI.
Richards, a first team selection, has posted impressive numbers throughout her junior campaign, including an astounding 23 stolen bases in 24 attempts. The speedy junior swiped 14 in conference games to lead the MAC, and her .455 batting average in league contests ranks fourth amongst all hitters. Richards' 40 runs in 2011 ranks second in the EMU single season record books, and she is just seven runs shy of the all-time record. At the hot corner, Richards has made only three errors and boasts a .941 fielding percentage this season.
Rounding out the first team All-MAC honorees is Russ. The junior is amidst her most successful season donning the Green and White, batting an amazing .423 at the plate with a .424 average in MAC play. She has started in 36 games for the Eagles, accumulating 47 hits with 11 doubles, two triples, and 24 RBI on the season. Against MAC opponents, she maintained a .695 slugging percentage and belted 12 extra base hits to account for 11 RBI this season. A MAC West Player of the Week selection on April 5, Russ made the NCAA Division I record books after connecting on her 11th hit in as many plate appearances to tie the third best streak ever recorded.
Skodinski earns second team honors for second time in her career. The senior shortstop started in 40 games in 2011 and hit .397 in the regular season with a team best .727 slugging percentage. In MAC play, she owned a .333 clip with 20 hits, seven of which for extra bases, and drove in 16 RBI. Her 13 doubles this season tie the fourth most all-time and bring her career mark to 43, matching the EMU career all-time total set by Melissa Drouillard ('96).
Wells earned both All-Freshman and second team honors after showcasing a superb rookie campaign in the circle. In 23 appearances, the freshman went 9-4 on the season with a 5-3 record in MAC play. She fanned 100 batters in 2011, and her 8.02 strikeouts per seven innings average led all hurlers in the MAC. A two time MAC West Pitcher of the Week, the Lowell, Ind. native threw 52.2 innings in league games and held opponents to just a .250 average. Her conference ERA of 2.13 was the second best in the MAC, while her 60 strikeouts in league action was good for fourth best.
2011 Mid-American Conference Awards
First Team
1B - Taylor Rager, Ball State
2B - Brittini Merchant, Central Mich.
SS - Molly Coldren, Central Michigan
3B - Gracie Barstad, Western Mich.
3B - Jessica Richards, Eastern Mich.
C - Sarah Gerber, Eastern Mich.
C - Amanda Montalto, Ball State
OF - Alyssa Collins, Ball State
OF - Danielle Parrish, Northern Illinois
OF - McKenna Russ, Eastern Mich.
OF - Lexie Jager, Western Michigan
Pitcher - Jessica Simpson, Miami
Pitcher - Meredith Whitney, Western Mich.
Utility Non-Pitcher - Stephanie Tofft, Northern Illinois
Utility Pitcher - Emily Wethington, Ohio
Second Team
1B - Paige Berger, Bowling Green
2B - Andrea Colosimo, Northern Illinois
SS - Alexis Joseph, Ohio
SS - Stacie Skodinski, Eastern Mich.
3B - Daniela Torres, Miami
OF - Mel Bonner, Ohio
OF - Kathryn Russette, Miami
OF - Macy Merchant, Central Mich.
OF - Lindsey Tobias, Toledo
C - Adriana Sanchez, Northern Illinois
Pitcher - Kara Dornbos, Central Mich.
Pitcher - Lauren Wells, Eastern Mich.
Utility Pitcher - Kari Seddon, Central Mich.
Utility Non- Pitcher - Kristin Waldron, Buffalo
Utility Non- Pitcher - Jennifer Gilbert, Ball State
All-Freshman Team
Katie Gross, Akron
Jennifer Gilbert, Ball State
Taylor Rager, Ball State
Holly Luciano, Buffalo
Brittney Horan, Central Michigan
Lauren Wells, Eastern Michigan
Alex Marcantonio, Kent State
Kirstie Fehrenbach, Miami
Shelby Miller, Northern Illinois
Stephanie Tofft, Northern Illinois
Coach of the Year - Kathy Leitke, Western Michigan
Freshman of the Year - Stephanie Tofft, Northern Illinois
Pitcher of the Year – Jessica Simpson, Miami
Player of the Year - Gracie Barstad, Western Michigan
Nan Harvey Award - Holly Finchum, Kent State
Sarah Gerber (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover), Jessica Richards (Canton, Ohio-Jackson) and McKenna Russ (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) were named to the All-MAC first team, while Stacie Skodinski (South Bend, Ind.-Washington) and Lauren Wells (Lowell, Ind.) earned second team All-MAC accolades. Wells also garnered All-Freshman team honors.
Gerber earns her second consecutive All-MAC honor after nabbing first team in 2010. She has been an asset behind the plate for the Green and White, committing just two errors all season to boost her career fielding percentage to .988, the second best by any EMU player. She also demonstrated her accuracy and arm strength at the catcher position, picking off a conference leading 11 runners in MAC games. Offensively, she has cranked out 44 hits in 128 at bats for an overall clip of .344. In MAC play, the North Canton, Ohio native hit .381 with a .619 slugging percentage and knocked in 16 RBI.
Richards, a first team selection, has posted impressive numbers throughout her junior campaign, including an astounding 23 stolen bases in 24 attempts. The speedy junior swiped 14 in conference games to lead the MAC, and her .455 batting average in league contests ranks fourth amongst all hitters. Richards' 40 runs in 2011 ranks second in the EMU single season record books, and she is just seven runs shy of the all-time record. At the hot corner, Richards has made only three errors and boasts a .941 fielding percentage this season.
Rounding out the first team All-MAC honorees is Russ. The junior is amidst her most successful season donning the Green and White, batting an amazing .423 at the plate with a .424 average in MAC play. She has started in 36 games for the Eagles, accumulating 47 hits with 11 doubles, two triples, and 24 RBI on the season. Against MAC opponents, she maintained a .695 slugging percentage and belted 12 extra base hits to account for 11 RBI this season. A MAC West Player of the Week selection on April 5, Russ made the NCAA Division I record books after connecting on her 11th hit in as many plate appearances to tie the third best streak ever recorded.
Skodinski earns second team honors for second time in her career. The senior shortstop started in 40 games in 2011 and hit .397 in the regular season with a team best .727 slugging percentage. In MAC play, she owned a .333 clip with 20 hits, seven of which for extra bases, and drove in 16 RBI. Her 13 doubles this season tie the fourth most all-time and bring her career mark to 43, matching the EMU career all-time total set by Melissa Drouillard ('96).
Wells earned both All-Freshman and second team honors after showcasing a superb rookie campaign in the circle. In 23 appearances, the freshman went 9-4 on the season with a 5-3 record in MAC play. She fanned 100 batters in 2011, and her 8.02 strikeouts per seven innings average led all hurlers in the MAC. A two time MAC West Pitcher of the Week, the Lowell, Ind. native threw 52.2 innings in league games and held opponents to just a .250 average. Her conference ERA of 2.13 was the second best in the MAC, while her 60 strikeouts in league action was good for fourth best.
2011 Mid-American Conference Awards
First Team
1B - Taylor Rager, Ball State
2B - Brittini Merchant, Central Mich.
SS - Molly Coldren, Central Michigan
3B - Gracie Barstad, Western Mich.
3B - Jessica Richards, Eastern Mich.
C - Sarah Gerber, Eastern Mich.
C - Amanda Montalto, Ball State
OF - Alyssa Collins, Ball State
OF - Danielle Parrish, Northern Illinois
OF - McKenna Russ, Eastern Mich.
OF - Lexie Jager, Western Michigan
Pitcher - Jessica Simpson, Miami
Pitcher - Meredith Whitney, Western Mich.
Utility Non-Pitcher - Stephanie Tofft, Northern Illinois
Utility Pitcher - Emily Wethington, Ohio
Second Team
1B - Paige Berger, Bowling Green
2B - Andrea Colosimo, Northern Illinois
SS - Alexis Joseph, Ohio
SS - Stacie Skodinski, Eastern Mich.
3B - Daniela Torres, Miami
OF - Mel Bonner, Ohio
OF - Kathryn Russette, Miami
OF - Macy Merchant, Central Mich.
OF - Lindsey Tobias, Toledo
C - Adriana Sanchez, Northern Illinois
Pitcher - Kara Dornbos, Central Mich.
Pitcher - Lauren Wells, Eastern Mich.
Utility Pitcher - Kari Seddon, Central Mich.
Utility Non- Pitcher - Kristin Waldron, Buffalo
Utility Non- Pitcher - Jennifer Gilbert, Ball State
All-Freshman Team
Katie Gross, Akron
Jennifer Gilbert, Ball State
Taylor Rager, Ball State
Holly Luciano, Buffalo
Brittney Horan, Central Michigan
Lauren Wells, Eastern Michigan
Alex Marcantonio, Kent State
Kirstie Fehrenbach, Miami
Shelby Miller, Northern Illinois
Stephanie Tofft, Northern Illinois
Coach of the Year - Kathy Leitke, Western Michigan
Freshman of the Year - Stephanie Tofft, Northern Illinois
Pitcher of the Year – Jessica Simpson, Miami
Player of the Year - Gracie Barstad, Western Michigan
Nan Harvey Award - Holly Finchum, Kent State
Thank You, Team 38
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