Sports Briefs – May 10
May 10, 2018 at 3:19 p.m.
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WINONA LAKE – Two players from the Grace College softball team were named to the postseason All-Crossroads League Team.
Sam Heim was given a place on the All-League Team, and Britney Young was honorable mention for All-League.
Heim and Young were Grace’s best hitters throughout the season. Both players hit .391 for the year and combined to record 113 hits, 65 runs, 17 doubles and 44 RBIs.
Heim had team-highs of 63 hits, 39 runs and 28 stolen bases. She ended the year on an eight-game hitting streak and hit safely in 16 of her last 17 games.
Young was one of only seven freshman to receive postseason accolades from the league. She had 50 hits, 26 runs, 11 doubles, 3 triples and 22 RBIs. Her slugging percentage of .523 was the team’s best as was her .441 on-base percentage.
Manchester University Roundup
NORTH MANCHESTER, – Manchester University has the number four seed in hand as the 2018 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference baseball Championships begin Thursday, May 10.
Game details: The Spartans (19-20) face off against fifth-seeded Bluffton University (21-16) at 9:30 a.m. Franklin College’s John P. McDowell Field is the host venue … The Spartans and Beavers split a nip-and-tuck twinbill at MU’s Gratz Field in mid-April. Coach Rick Espeset’s team plated nine runs over the fifth through seventh innings to rally for an 11-8 game one decision, while BU broke away from a one-run lead midway through the nightcap to win 6-2.
LADWIG TOPS ALL-CONFERENCE AWARDS: Senior second baseman Laurren Ladwig added to an already historic 2018 campaign by being named Manchester University’s first Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference softball Most Valuable Player Wednesday, May 9.
Ladwig, also gaining first team honors, suppled a seemingly endless source of power through the spring at Spartan Field and around the league. She drilled 19 home runs, a new school and loop single-season record, in route to closing a sparkling collegiate career with 44 big flies which was also an MU best and ranks among the conference’s highest in all-time career numbers. Her single-season round tripper numbers are in rarified air nationally, too, as she leads NCAA Division III in overall and home run per game numbers.
Her story doesn’t end there. The senior also led the HCAC in slugging percentage (1.026), RBI (44), runs scored (45) and on-base percentage (.540) with her slugging percentage number sitting third in the country.
Ladwig was joined by upperclasswomen teammates junior third baseman Katie Skeens and junior utility player Sydney Thompson on the top team. Skeens ranked within the loop’s first 10 in hits (48 – No. 8) and home runs (five – No. 5) among her numbers, and Thompson was in similar territory in both categories, standing 10th in each.
Freshman pitcher Haley Perez was tabbed honorable mention after turning in a 7-6 record with five complete games, two shutouts and a no-hitter in an impressive start to her collegiate campaign. Senior infielder Andrea Hernandez rounded out the Spartans’ recognitions by being named to the Sportsmanship squad.
ANNUAL FRIENDS OF MANCHESTER EVENT ON HORIZON: Fans, friends and alumni of Manchester University and its athletics department are encouraged to sign up now for the 2018 Friends of Manchester golf outing. The event is Friday, June 8, at Bridgewater Golf Course in Auburn, Ind.
The yearly offering begins over the 9-11 a.m. time window with registration, practice open on the course’s putting green and driving range and a lunch and social in the clubhouse. A shotgun start at 12 p.m. takes individuals off their respective tees with a dinner and program concluding the day from 5:30 to approximately 7:15 p.m.
WINONA LAKE – Two players from the Grace College softball team were named to the postseason All-Crossroads League Team.
Sam Heim was given a place on the All-League Team, and Britney Young was honorable mention for All-League.
Heim and Young were Grace’s best hitters throughout the season. Both players hit .391 for the year and combined to record 113 hits, 65 runs, 17 doubles and 44 RBIs.
Heim had team-highs of 63 hits, 39 runs and 28 stolen bases. She ended the year on an eight-game hitting streak and hit safely in 16 of her last 17 games.
Young was one of only seven freshman to receive postseason accolades from the league. She had 50 hits, 26 runs, 11 doubles, 3 triples and 22 RBIs. Her slugging percentage of .523 was the team’s best as was her .441 on-base percentage.
Manchester University Roundup
NORTH MANCHESTER, – Manchester University has the number four seed in hand as the 2018 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference baseball Championships begin Thursday, May 10.
Game details: The Spartans (19-20) face off against fifth-seeded Bluffton University (21-16) at 9:30 a.m. Franklin College’s John P. McDowell Field is the host venue … The Spartans and Beavers split a nip-and-tuck twinbill at MU’s Gratz Field in mid-April. Coach Rick Espeset’s team plated nine runs over the fifth through seventh innings to rally for an 11-8 game one decision, while BU broke away from a one-run lead midway through the nightcap to win 6-2.
LADWIG TOPS ALL-CONFERENCE AWARDS: Senior second baseman Laurren Ladwig added to an already historic 2018 campaign by being named Manchester University’s first Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference softball Most Valuable Player Wednesday, May 9.
Ladwig, also gaining first team honors, suppled a seemingly endless source of power through the spring at Spartan Field and around the league. She drilled 19 home runs, a new school and loop single-season record, in route to closing a sparkling collegiate career with 44 big flies which was also an MU best and ranks among the conference’s highest in all-time career numbers. Her single-season round tripper numbers are in rarified air nationally, too, as she leads NCAA Division III in overall and home run per game numbers.
Her story doesn’t end there. The senior also led the HCAC in slugging percentage (1.026), RBI (44), runs scored (45) and on-base percentage (.540) with her slugging percentage number sitting third in the country.
Ladwig was joined by upperclasswomen teammates junior third baseman Katie Skeens and junior utility player Sydney Thompson on the top team. Skeens ranked within the loop’s first 10 in hits (48 – No. 8) and home runs (five – No. 5) among her numbers, and Thompson was in similar territory in both categories, standing 10th in each.
Freshman pitcher Haley Perez was tabbed honorable mention after turning in a 7-6 record with five complete games, two shutouts and a no-hitter in an impressive start to her collegiate campaign. Senior infielder Andrea Hernandez rounded out the Spartans’ recognitions by being named to the Sportsmanship squad.
ANNUAL FRIENDS OF MANCHESTER EVENT ON HORIZON: Fans, friends and alumni of Manchester University and its athletics department are encouraged to sign up now for the 2018 Friends of Manchester golf outing. The event is Friday, June 8, at Bridgewater Golf Course in Auburn, Ind.
The yearly offering begins over the 9-11 a.m. time window with registration, practice open on the course’s putting green and driving range and a lunch and social in the clubhouse. A shotgun start at 12 p.m. takes individuals off their respective tees with a dinner and program concluding the day from 5:30 to approximately 7:15 p.m.
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