Ball State University Athletics
Two Earn All-MAC Softball Honors
May 09, 2006 | Softball
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ball State softball players Amanda Pick (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley H.S.) and Taylor Yancey (Avon, Ind./Avon H.S.) have been selected to the 2006 All-Mid-American Conference Second Team. The squad, which is selected annually by the MAC's 12 head coaches, was announced late Tuesday by the league office. Both Pick and Yancey are first-time recipients of All-MAC accolades.
A sophomore utility player, Pick was an at-large selection to the team. A starter in 42 games, Pick split her time between shortstop, second base plus on the mound, where she made 21 appearances. She completed the season with a team-leading 2.29 ERA, six wins, 12 games started and 74 strikeouts. After seeing limited duty on the mound as a freshman, Pick earned her first collegiate victory in her first appearance of the 2006 season with the Cardinals' 6-2 decision over Evansville Feb. 25. She threw a three-hit shutout to lead BSU to a 1-0 victory over Akron in the MAC opener this spring. Pick, who fanned a career-high eight batters against both Central Florida and Toledo during the campaign, registered her second shutout in a 3-0 win at Indiana State April 20.
Offensively, Pick ranked second for Ball State in hits (34) and batting average (.274), but tied for first with 19 RBI. Her 12 runs scored were fourth-best on the team. She hit her first collegiate grand slam home run in the Cardinals' 10-1 rout of Buffalo May 5. The four RBI are a career high. She also tied her career high with a pair of three-hit performances -- versus Evansville Feb. 26 and Akron March 31. Pick led BSU with five multiple RBI games plus was second with nine multiple hit outings. She spent most of the season as the only player in the MAC to rank in the top-10 statistically in both pitching and hitting.
A junior starter in all 43 games at third base, Yancey hit .224 with 26 hits this season. She led the team and ranked among MAC leaders with two triples plus was first for BSU with six stolen bases. Her 16 runs scored were the second-best effort on the team, while her two home runs tied for second. She finished fourth on the team with four multiple-hit outings. Defensively, she registered a career-high .931 fielding percentage this spring.
In 22 MAC games, Yancey compiled a .267 batting average. She was second with nine runs scored and third with 16 hits, including two doubles, two triples and two home runs. Over the 22-game span, Yancey produced a .968 fielding percentage with just two errors in 63 total chances.
"I think it is great Amanda and Taylor were recognized for their efforts this season," BSU head coach Terri Laux said. "With the abundance of talent in our sport in the league this spring, to be one of the few players selected as an All-MAC performer is a great accomplishment. I believe both Taylor and Amanda were most deserving."
