Ball State University Athletics
Record Four Softball Players Earn All-Region Honors
May 17, 2012 | Softball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - A program-record four members of the Ball State softball team were named to the 2012 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I All-Region teams as announced today by the NFCA.
Representing the Cardinals on the All-Great Lakes Region First Team were sophomore outfielder Jennifer Gilbert (McKinney, Texas/McKinney) and senior shortstop Alison Mercado (Perris, Calif./Arizona Western College).
Earning recognition on the All-Great Lakes Region Second Team for Ball State were senior catcher/designated player Amanda Montalto (Las Vegas, Nev./Palo Verde) and sophomore third baseman Audrey Bickel (Munster, Ind./Andrean).
"To have four players earn All-Region honors is a testament to how this group played as a team the entire season," said head coach Craig Nicholson. "In a record-setting offensive season, these four student-athletes paved the way for the rest of the squad. Their contributions were key in guiding us to the MAC title and helping us build a reputation nationally as an offensive powerhouse."
A total of 263 players representing 129 different institutions comprise this season's regional teams, including first and second teams for each region. Overall, Ball State was one of only 18 teams in the nation to have four-or-more All-Region selections. Five teams had the maximum of six players (La.-Lafayette, Oregon, Alabama, Arizona St., UCLA), while three had five (Tennessee, Texas, Louisville) and 10 had four (Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Hofstra, California, BYU, Georgia, Florida, Stanford, Ball State).
The all-region teams were chosen by NFCA member coaches from each region, and all the honorees will now be eligible for selection to one of three 2012 NFCA Division I All-American teams, which will be announced at 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 30.
Ball State's four All-Region selections are one better than the previous program-best mark of three set by the 1998 squad when Amy Doyle was a first team honoree while both Cheri Ball and Jodi Workman earned second team accolades. In addition, BSU's two first team selections ties with the 2009 team for the most first team honorees (Alicia Barkley and Elizabeth Milian) in a single year.
Ball State was the only Mid-American Conference school to place a representative on the All-Great Lakes Regions squads and was the only school besides Louisville to have more than one first team selection in the region. The Great Lakes Region is comprised of 32 schools from six different conferences: Big 10 Conference (Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Penn State, Wisconsin), Big East Conference (DePaul, Louisville, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Providence, St. John's, Syracuse), Horizon League (Detroit, Illinois-Chicago, Loyola, Wisconsin-Green Bay), Mid-American Conference (Ball State, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois, Toledo, Western Michigan), Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (Canisius, Iona, Niagara, Siena) and Northeast Conference (Central Connecticut State, Fairleigh Dickinson, Monmouth, Robert Morris, St. Francis).
The remaining league schools (Akron, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Kent State, Miami and Ohio) are in the 31-team Mideast Region and garnered three selections in the region; one first team (Jessica Simpson, Miami) and a pair of second team (Lauren Gellerman, Ohio and Alissa Birkhimer, Akron).
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First Team |
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Pos. |
Name |
School |
|
P |
Tori Collins |
University of Louisville |
|
P |
Jenna Caira |
Syracuse University |
|
C |
Amy Buntin |
University of Notre Dame |
|
1B |
Alicja Wolny |
University of Louisville |
|
2B |
Whitney Massey |
University of Wisconsin |
|
3B |
Marisa Bast |
Northwestern University |
|
SS |
Ball State University |
|
|
OF |
Ball State University |
|
|
OF |
Kristin Austin |
University of Louisville |
|
OF |
Cassidy Bell |
Pennsylvania State University |
|
UT/P |
Kirsten Verdun |
DePaul University |
|
DP/UT-Non-P |
Taner Fowler |
University of Louisville |
|
|
||
|
|
Second Team |
|
|
Pos. |
Name |
School |
|
P |
Haylie Wagner |
University of Michigan |
|
P |
Laura Winter |
University of Notre Dame |
|
P |
Brittany Gardner |
Loyola University |
|
P |
Sarah Jackson |
Iona College |
|
P |
Nicole Sleith |
Robert Morris University |
|
C |
Kacee Cox |
St. John's University |
|
1B |
Dani Miller |
University of Notre Dame |
|
1B |
Amanda Chidester |
University of Michigan |
|
1B |
Kaitie Schumacher |
Monmouth University |
|
2B |
Katie Keller |
University of Louisville |
|
3B |
Ball State University |
|
|
SS |
Shannon Jones |
Siena College |
|
OF |
Lisaira Daniels |
Syracuse University |
|
OF |
Kylene Hopkins |
Michigan State University |
|
OF |
Alexa Maldonado |
University of Notre Dame |
|
UT/P |
Sara Driesenga |
University of Michigan |
|
UT/P |
Alyssa Maiese |
Iona College |
|
DP/UT-Non-P |
Ball State University |
|
