Softball Places Four Players on All-Conference Squads

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Ball State softball junior second baseman Maddy Labrador (Lexington, S.C. / Spartanburg Methodist) became the 31st player in program history to earn First Team All-Mid-American Conference honors Tuesday when the league announced its annual post season awards as voted on by the conference's 12 head coaches.

In addition, the Cardinals had three players voted to the MAC All-Freshman Team; pitcher Darcie Huber (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central), outfielder Haley Dominique (Oregon, Ohio/Clay) and outfielder Kennedy Wynn (New Albany, Ind./New Albany).

Over the past nine seasons (2009-17), Ball State has had more players named First Team All-MAC than any other league school. The Cardinals have 23 honorees during the span, with Northern Illinois in second at 18.

Labrador earned First Team All-MAC after tying for third in MAC-only games with 29 hits, while ranking fourth in conference play with a .387 batting average. She opened her MAC career by blasting a 1-2 pitch deep over the fence in center field at Buffalo (March 24) and added her second career MAC home run to drive in Ball State's first three runs in the series opener versus Miami (April 1). The three-run shot helped the Cardinals rally from down 5-0 for a 6-5 victory. Of Labrador's 29 hits in MAC play, eight were doubles, one was a triple and three were home runs.

Huber was named to the MAC All-Freshman Team after leading the Ball State pitching staff with a 2.10 ERA in league play. In nine appearances in the circle in conference play, Huber produced a 4-2 record and threw three complete games. In her MAC debut, Huber struck out a career-high eight batters and limited Miami to three hits and an unearned run in a 3-1 victory April 1. She also picked up MAC wins at Ohio (April 8), versus Toledo (April 21) and at Western Michigan (May 5). Over 36.2 innings of work in MAC play, Huber struck out 17 batters and held opponents to a .250 average.

Dominique was named to the MAC All-Freshman Team after ranking second on the squad with a .282 batting average in league play. She drew a team-high 12 walks while striking out just once in 71 at bats during MAC competition. She blasted her first collegiate home run to help guide the Cardinals to a 2-1 victory versus Toledo (April 21), while also doubling five times in league games. Dominique scored what proved to be the game-winning runs in both ends of the April 8 doubleheader at Ohio and in the first game of an April 15 twinbill versus Eastern Michigan.

Wynn was named to the MAC All-Freshman Team after finishing league play with a .250 batting average, four doubles and a home run. Wynn also drove in seven runs and scored six times in league action. Her biggest hit in MAC play came in the second game at Ohio (April 8) when she sliced an eighth inning RBI single up the middle to drive in what proved to be the game-winning run.

The Ball State softball team opens play in the 2017 MAC Softball Championships as the No. 5 seed and will play No. 4 seed Kent State in the 10:30 a.m. game Wednesday at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio.

For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB, @CoachCBartlett & @BallStateSports / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSoftball.

Player of the Year: Maddy Grimm, Kent State, Senior
Pitcher of the Year: Rachael Knapp, Central Michigan, Senior
Freshman of the Year: Lexie Handley, Akron
Coach of the Year: Margo Jonker, Central Michigan
Nan Harvey Award: Kayti Grable, Northern Illinois & Maddy Grimm, Kent State

All-MAC First Team
Bekah Harnish, Northern Illinois, C
Kayti Grable, Northern Illinois, 1B
Maddy Labrador, Ball State, 2B
Chandler Rice, Toledo, 2B
Maddy Grimm, Kent State, 3B
Kat Lee, Miami, 3B
Mikayla Cooper, Ohio, SS
Ashley Sims, Akron, OF
Allison Curtis, Central Michigan, OF
Bailey Brownfield, Kent State, OF
Rachael Knapp, Central Michigan, P
Savannah Jo Dorsey, Ohio, P
Maison Kalina, Central Michigan, UT
Morgan Geno, Ohio, UT
Ronnie Ladines, Kent State, UT/P

All-MAC Second Team
Madison Claytor, Ohio, C
Marlee Wilson, Western Michigan, 1B
Rachel Vieira, Central Michigan, 2B
Alex Day, Ohio, 3B
Kali Kossakowski, Northern Illinois, SS
Michelle Kriegshauser, Eastern Michigan, OF
Emily Dobbin, Kent State, OF
Jenny Van Geertry, Northern Illinois, OF
Mackenzie Swinehart, Western Michigan, OF
Aspen Williams, Western Michigan, OF
Megan Wurts, Miami, UT
Lexie Handley, Akron, P
Hannah Warren, Central Michigan, P
Danielle Stiene, Ohio, P
Ally Power, UB, UT/P

All-Freshman Team
Lexie Handley, Akron
Haley Dominique, Ball State
Darcie Huber, Ball State
Kennedy Wynn, Ball State
Kendyl Wheeler, Bowling Green
Jessica Goldyn, Buffalo
Jenelle Martinez, Buffalo
Haeley Tran, Miami
Alexa Holland, Ohio
Mackenzie Swinehart, Western Michigan

- BallStateSports.com –

Ball State University Athletics

Softball Places Four Players on All-Conference Squads

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Haley Dominique

Darcie Huber

Maddy Labrador

Kennedy Wynn

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