Finlandia lands 10 players on All-Independent D-3 Team
Courtesy of Finlandia Athletics
Hancock, MI- Ending the season with a 26-8 record is all the team could hope for but were denied a bid into the post season regional tournament during the 2012 NCAA division III softball selection show. Despite the setback the Lions were able to show off their statistical superiority during the selection of the AD3I all-independent selection process with ten players onto both first and second teams as well as the Co-player of the year, Co-Pitcher of the year and Co-Coach of the year.
Finlandia Honorees placed to the Association of Division III All-Independent Teams are listed below:
Shawn Hendrickson: Co-Coach of the year
Completing his fifth year at the helm of the lions Coach Hendrickson has managed a career 90-71 record and takes the Co-Coach of the year honors for the second year in a row.
Brittany Garland: Co-Player of the Year, Co-Pitcher of the year and 1st Team Pitcher
Garland finished her career at Finlandia with three nominations onto the all-independent team. As one of the offensive standouts Garland batted an astonishing .432 with 32 rbi and a team leading 9 homeruns during the 2012 season. Playing both sides of the field Garland pitched the majority of the Lions season with 208.2 innings pitched holding together a 24-8 record with an earned run average of 2.01. In the 33 appearances made by Garland she completed 29 of the games while striking out 91 batters. Brittany will depart Finlandia as one of the statistical leaders in many categories.
Kelsey Williams: 1st Team First base
Williams batted .289 on the season with a .372 on base percentage. Her defensive skills proved to be her expertise finishing the season with a.989 fielding percentage. Her presence on the field helped the lions through the 26 wins season providing a near perfect glove.
Niki Hieda: 1st Team Second Base
Hieda finished the 2012 season with a .317 batting average and crossed the plate 21 times for the lions. She also put together a perfect stolen base percentage stealing a perfect 10 for 10 during the campaign. In the field Hieda held down the middle infield with a .915 fielding percentage providing sound defense to one of the more important positions inside the diamond.
Kayla Sax: 1st Team Shortstop
Sax lead the team in several offensive categories with a .470 batting average, 35 rbi, 14 doubles and a .791 slugging percentage. Along with her offensive dominance Sax played an outstanding defensive season at the shortstop position holding down what some call the more demanding position in softball with a .957 fielding percentage.
India Slayabck: 1st Team Outfield
After a rookie of the year 2011 season Slayback returns to the list with a .386 batting average and managed to cross the plate 32 times for the lions. Slayback went to the plate 101 times during the season holding an impressive .436 on base percentage.
Erica Taft: 1st Team Utility
As a junior transfer student Taft managed a great season for the lions batting .313 with 12 stolen bases on the year. Taft remained a consistent performer on the defensive side of the ball fielding an impressive .976 for the lions while playing several roles through the 2012 season.
Miranda Brewer: 2nd Team Pitcher
As a freshman Brewer came to Finlandia pitching behind Garland which is no easy task but she performed flawlessly. Pitching 16.1 innings for the lions brewer was able to establish an earned run average of zero while taking two wins for the lions. Brewers perfect stats for the season provide a clear image to her future dominance at the division II level.
Ashley Benavidez: 2nd Team Outfielder
As a sophomore Benavidez took on a role in the outfield for the lions and performed confidently with a .957 fielding percentage with 20 putouts. Benavidez performed equally as well on the offensive side of the game posting a .292 batting average with 14 rbi over the 34 game season.
Sarah Cox: 2nd Team Utility
As a freshman Cox was up to the challenge batting .265 over the course of the season and flashed her astounding speed on the base paths going an impressive team leading 16 for 16 stolen bases during her first season for the lions. The team expects great things out of the young utility player in the future.
Paige Yoho: 2nd Team Utility
As freshman catcher Yoho was given the task to lead an experienced collegiate pitching staff and she was up to the challenge with an impressive .943 fielding percentage and 108 putouts. As a hitter yoho put up a .205 batting average for the lions and stole 5 bases.
The Association of Division III Independents consists of 13 Division III independent institutions that have joined together to recognize student-athletes at independent institutions, and to provide exempted postseason championship competition. The Association recognizes outstanding athletic achievements of its student-athletes on a weekly, monthly and annual basis. The Association provides statistical services for its members in seven sports. In addition, it will announce All-Independent teams at the conclusion of eight other sports this year.