MUNCIE, Ind. – Four members of the 2008 Ball State softball team have earned recognition on All-Mid-American Conference teams, as voted on by the league’s head coaches.
Both senior Abby Gross (West Lafayette, Ind./Harrison H.S.) and sophomore Elizabeth Milian (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc H.S.) were named Second Team All-MAC, while Alicia Barkley (Oklahoma City, Okla./Putnam City H.S.) and Kate Wilczynski (Tucson, Ariz./Canyon Del Oro H.S.) were placed on the All-MAC Freshman Team.
Gross set multiple school records during her four years at Ball State. She is the career leader in categories such as game played (223), home runs (19), total bases (284) and runs batted in (129). She started in all of her 223 games as a Cardinal. She is second in career at bats (639), doubles (37) and walks (66). Her single-season records include most games (68), home runs (8) runs batted in (54), and total bases (93). Gross hit .400 at the MAC Tournament. She had one double, one home run and eight RBIs.
Milian led the pitching rotation with a record of 18-14 and an ERA of 2.38. She threw 29 complete games and also broke the single-season saves record with five. Milian finished the year with 10 doubles, three triples, three home runs and 25 RBIs at the plate. Milian started on the mound for three of the four tournament games to end the season. The one game she did not start she came in to earn the save.
Barkley made an immediate impact for the Cardinals during her freshman season. She started all 68 games at shortstop. She led the team with a .320 batting average including eight doubles, one triple and 22 RBIs. Barkley broke the single-season hits record with 71, and was second on the team with 27 stolen bases. At the MAC Tournament Barkley hit .333, scored three runs for BSU and also had a stolen base.
Wilczynski also made an impact by starting 65 games a third base for BSU as a freshman. She hit .261 during the regular season with seven doubles, one triple, one home run and 24 RBIs. Wilczynski had a fielding percentage of .959 while playing third base.
All-MAC First Team
1B – Allison Vallas, Bowling Green
2B – Meghan Mawn, Miami
SS – Jessica Toocheck, Kent State
SS – Sarah Billstrom, Miami
3B – Amy Hudson, Central Michigan
C – Becky Bartosz, Western Michigan
OF – Tracy Kaatz, Central Michigan
OF – Breanna Robinson, Miami
OF – Courtney Waters, Ohio
P – Kylie Reynolds, Kent State
P – Gabrielle Burns, Kent State
P – Kyla Sullivan, Western Michigan
P – Kari Seddon, Central Michigan
Utility/Pitcher – Hayley Wiemer, Bowling Green
Utility/Non-Pitcher – Alicia Hogl, Miami
All-MAC Second Team
1B – Ashley Strauss, Eastern Michigan
1B – Halle Popson, Miami
1B – Leslie Stong, Toledo
2B – Heather Duhon, Kent State
SS – Dawnjene DeLong, Bowling Green
SS – Brittini Merchant, Central Michigan
3B – Lexi Jager, Western Michigan
C – Abby Gross, Ball State
OF – Erica Singer, Toledo
OF – Mary Russell, Buffalo
OF – Jenny Scherer, Eastern Michigan
P – Meredith Linch, Miami
P – Michelle Sauter, Ohio
Utility/Pitcher – Elizabeth Milian, Ball State
Utility/Non-Pitcher – Kate Greenman, Central Michigan
Freshman Team
Alicia Barkley, Ball State
Kate Wilczynski, Ball State
Katelynn Boso, Bowling Green
Brittini Merchant, Central Michigan
Stacie Skodinski, Eastern Michigan
Jessica Charmichael, Kent State
Meghan Mawn, Miami
Melissa Bonner, Ohio
Emily Wethington, Ohio
Lexi Jager, Western Michigan
Pitcher of the Year – Kylie Reynolds, Kent State
Freshman of the Year – Meghan Mawn, Miami
Player of the Year – Jessica Toocheck, Kent State
Coach of the Year – Karen Linder
Courtesy: BSU Photo Services
