Eastern Michigan Athletics
Akles and Holdsworth Earn MAC Postseason Honors
5/8/2018 11:43:00 AM | Softball
Akles was named Second Team All-MAC and Holdsworth was give the Nan Harvey Award
MAC Release
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) — Junior third baseman Amanda Akles (La Habra, Calif.-La Habra) and freshman utility player Lauren Holdsworth (Howell, Mich.-Ladywood) of the Eastern Michigan University softball team garnered postseason honors for the Mid-American Conference, the league office announced Tuesday, May 8. Akles was named to the All-MAC Second Team, while Holdsworth was honored with the Nan Harvey Award.
It is the second postseason honor of Akles' career, as she was an All-Freshmen honoree in 2016. Meanwhile, Holdsworth is the first Eagle to be named the Nan Harvey awardwinner since it began in 2010. Additionally, she is the first underclassman to receive the accolade in its history.
The La Habra, Calif. native put together a career-year in 2018, while leading the Eagles in seven statistical categories. She cranked out 49 hits and held a .358 batting average, both of which were career-bests. Akles racked up 22 extra-base hits, including 13 doubles and nine home runs, both of which rank tied for eighth-most in EMU single-season history.
A two-time MAC West Player of the Week selection, Akles finished the season inside the conference's top-15 in six categories. Her 13 doubles ranked tied for fourth, while she was sixth in the league in slugging percentage (.650), eighth in home runs (9), 11th in total bases (89), and 14th in batting average (.358) and RBIs (32).
For her career, Akles is sixth on EMU's all-time list in home runs with 23. She is also 11th in runs batted in (87) and tied for 14th with 28 two-baggers.
The Nan Harvey Award is given to a MAC player, coach or staff member who demonstrates the type of commitment, leadership, toughness, and tenacious attitude that Harvey, an integral part of the University at Buffalo family for over two decades, epitomized.
Holdsworth, who is deaf, has used her platform as a Division I softball player to inspire others to overcome adversity. Sharing her story, a feature done on Holdsworth attracted national attention earlier this season, as the Howell, Mich. native told her story with the hopes of touching someone going through something similar.
On the field, she was Eastern Michigan's top freshman with a .243 batting average, while ranking third on the team overall. Holdsworth had 25 hits, including 10 doubles and two home runs. She ranked third on the team in two-baggers, second in homers, and fourth with 13 RBIs. Holdsworth is equally as successful in the classroom, as she boasts a 3.81 grade point average as an exercise science major.
Holdsworth's impact at Eastern Michigan has reached far past her athletic and academic contributions, as the freshman utility player is one of EMU's most active student-athletes in the community. She has racked up more than 50 hours in less than a year on campus. Holdsworth has spent time volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, the Michigan Adult Academy, Food Gatherers Food Pantry, Pittsfield Elementary School, 2nd and 7 Reading, VA Hospitals, and many more.
Player of the Year: Holly Speers, Kent State
Pitcher of the Year: Danielle Stiene, Ohio
Freshman of the Year: Bailey Curry, Toledo
Coach of the Year: Kristen Butler, Toledo
Nan Harvey Award: Lauren Holdsworth, Eastern Michigan
All-MAC First Team
Danielle Stiene, Ohio, P
Kailey Minarchick, Toledo, P
Maison Kalina, Central Michigan, C
Mikayla Cooper, Ohio, 1B
Maddy Labrador, Ball State, 2B
Bailey Brownfield, Kent State, 3B
Holly Speers, Kent State, SS
Sam Coffel, Western Michigan, OF
Anna Aguon, Buffalo, OF
Haley Dominique, Ball State, OF
Bailey Curry, Toledo, UTL
Sydney Stefanick, Western Michigan, UTL/P
Aeshia Miles, Ball State, P
Alex Day, Ohio, 3B
Erika Underwood, Central Michigan, 1B
All-MAC Second Team
Jordan Kurth, Western Michigan, P
Madi Huck, Kent State, P
Laine Simmons, Bowling Green, C
Sam Schmidt, Northern Illinois, 1B
Taylor Saxton, Ohio, 2B
Amanda Akles, Eastern Michigan, 3B
Sydney Jascoe, Akron, SS
Kennadie Goth, Kent State, OF
Ashley Rausch, Toledo, OF
Maria Cegledy, Kent State, OF
Morgan Geno, Ohio, UTL
Brenna Brownfield, Kent State, UTL-P
Jenny Van Geertry, Northern Illinois, OF
Jenelle Martinez, Buffalo, 2B
Cassie Gillespie, Akron, 1B
All-Freshman Team
Bailey Curry, Toledo
Sam Coffel, Western Michigan
Anna Aguon, Buffalo
Kennadie Goth, Kent State
Shaidan Knapp, Central Michigan
Ashton Slone, Miami
Courtney Vierstra, Miami
Kylie Norwood, Toledo
Kaitlyn Miller, Kent State
Katie Yun, Ohio
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) — Junior third baseman Amanda Akles (La Habra, Calif.-La Habra) and freshman utility player Lauren Holdsworth (Howell, Mich.-Ladywood) of the Eastern Michigan University softball team garnered postseason honors for the Mid-American Conference, the league office announced Tuesday, May 8. Akles was named to the All-MAC Second Team, while Holdsworth was honored with the Nan Harvey Award.
It is the second postseason honor of Akles' career, as she was an All-Freshmen honoree in 2016. Meanwhile, Holdsworth is the first Eagle to be named the Nan Harvey awardwinner since it began in 2010. Additionally, she is the first underclassman to receive the accolade in its history.
The La Habra, Calif. native put together a career-year in 2018, while leading the Eagles in seven statistical categories. She cranked out 49 hits and held a .358 batting average, both of which were career-bests. Akles racked up 22 extra-base hits, including 13 doubles and nine home runs, both of which rank tied for eighth-most in EMU single-season history.
A two-time MAC West Player of the Week selection, Akles finished the season inside the conference's top-15 in six categories. Her 13 doubles ranked tied for fourth, while she was sixth in the league in slugging percentage (.650), eighth in home runs (9), 11th in total bases (89), and 14th in batting average (.358) and RBIs (32).
For her career, Akles is sixth on EMU's all-time list in home runs with 23. She is also 11th in runs batted in (87) and tied for 14th with 28 two-baggers.
The Nan Harvey Award is given to a MAC player, coach or staff member who demonstrates the type of commitment, leadership, toughness, and tenacious attitude that Harvey, an integral part of the University at Buffalo family for over two decades, epitomized.
Holdsworth, who is deaf, has used her platform as a Division I softball player to inspire others to overcome adversity. Sharing her story, a feature done on Holdsworth attracted national attention earlier this season, as the Howell, Mich. native told her story with the hopes of touching someone going through something similar.
"She's the type of person who works through whatever is put in front of her, and that's the type of player you always want to coach." - Coach Gentile on @laurenholds2
— EMUSoftball (@EMUSoftball) February 27, 2018
????: https://t.co/EsUvJe6zAc#EMUEagles #EMUSoftball pic.twitter.com/ZKrZ8hzXhZ
On the field, she was Eastern Michigan's top freshman with a .243 batting average, while ranking third on the team overall. Holdsworth had 25 hits, including 10 doubles and two home runs. She ranked third on the team in two-baggers, second in homers, and fourth with 13 RBIs. Holdsworth is equally as successful in the classroom, as she boasts a 3.81 grade point average as an exercise science major.
Holdsworth's impact at Eastern Michigan has reached far past her athletic and academic contributions, as the freshman utility player is one of EMU's most active student-athletes in the community. She has racked up more than 50 hours in less than a year on campus. Holdsworth has spent time volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, the Michigan Adult Academy, Food Gatherers Food Pantry, Pittsfield Elementary School, 2nd and 7 Reading, VA Hospitals, and many more.
Player of the Year: Holly Speers, Kent State
Pitcher of the Year: Danielle Stiene, Ohio
Freshman of the Year: Bailey Curry, Toledo
Coach of the Year: Kristen Butler, Toledo
Nan Harvey Award: Lauren Holdsworth, Eastern Michigan
All-MAC First Team
Danielle Stiene, Ohio, P
Kailey Minarchick, Toledo, P
Maison Kalina, Central Michigan, C
Mikayla Cooper, Ohio, 1B
Maddy Labrador, Ball State, 2B
Bailey Brownfield, Kent State, 3B
Holly Speers, Kent State, SS
Sam Coffel, Western Michigan, OF
Anna Aguon, Buffalo, OF
Haley Dominique, Ball State, OF
Bailey Curry, Toledo, UTL
Sydney Stefanick, Western Michigan, UTL/P
Aeshia Miles, Ball State, P
Alex Day, Ohio, 3B
Erika Underwood, Central Michigan, 1B
All-MAC Second Team
Jordan Kurth, Western Michigan, P
Madi Huck, Kent State, P
Laine Simmons, Bowling Green, C
Sam Schmidt, Northern Illinois, 1B
Taylor Saxton, Ohio, 2B
Amanda Akles, Eastern Michigan, 3B
Sydney Jascoe, Akron, SS
Kennadie Goth, Kent State, OF
Ashley Rausch, Toledo, OF
Maria Cegledy, Kent State, OF
Morgan Geno, Ohio, UTL
Brenna Brownfield, Kent State, UTL-P
Jenny Van Geertry, Northern Illinois, OF
Jenelle Martinez, Buffalo, 2B
Cassie Gillespie, Akron, 1B
All-Freshman Team
Bailey Curry, Toledo
Sam Coffel, Western Michigan
Anna Aguon, Buffalo
Kennadie Goth, Kent State
Shaidan Knapp, Central Michigan
Ashton Slone, Miami
Courtney Vierstra, Miami
Kylie Norwood, Toledo
Kaitlyn Miller, Kent State
Katie Yun, Ohio
Players Mentioned
3B
/ Softball
1B/3B
/ SoftballThank You, Team 38
Monday, May 07
Overcoming Adversity: A Lauren Holdsworth Feature
Saturday, February 24
Closing Out a Legacy: Michelle Kriegshauser
Thursday, May 18
EMU Softball Signs Alyssa Feiler
Saturday, March 25