May. 02– The NSIC has released the 2008 NSIC all-conference softball team and it includes five Golden Bears among the 30 players to make the team.
Anna Bjorlin, Abby Brundidge, Natalie Mast and
Sami Mattson earned first team honors, while
Stephanie Schmikla was an honorable mention selection.
Bjorlin, a sophomore from Hermantown, Minn., led the NSIC in batting average (.481), slugging percentage (.827), on base percentage (.550), triples (4) and total bases (43) in NSIC games only. She is one of three players to start all 45 games this season, playing second base for CU. She is batting .346 with 46 hits, including five doubles, five triples and four home runs on the season.
Brundidge, a sophomore designated player from Neekoosa, Wis., has played the outfield, designated player, first base and second base for the Golden Bears. In all games, she leads the NSIC in batting average (.397), is second in slugging percentage (.596), fourth in RBI (35), and fifth in on-base percentage (.430). She leads the Golden Bears in hits with 56, doubles (14) and total bases (84).
Mast, a junior outfielder from Oakdale, Minn., is fifth in the NCAA is stolen bases as she set school records for stolen bases in a season (43) and career (80). She leads the NSIC in stolen bases by 26. She has played and started all 45 games in the outfield and is hitting .313 on the season with 45 hits, 32 runs. She has three doubles and hit her first career home run last week. She also has a team-high 24 walks.
Mattson, a freshman from Esko, Minn., has spent much of her season playing third base for the Golden Bears. She has played in 45 games, starting 44, and is batting .314 with 38 hits, including six doubles and three home runs. She has scored 22 times and is 4-4 in stolen base attempts. She in slugging .438 on the season.
Schmikla, a freshman pitcher from Madison, Wis., leads the Golden Bear pitching staff with a 11-9 record, with two saves and a 2.19 ERA. She has pitched a team-high 131.0 innings and allowed 53 runs, only 41 earned. She is holding opponents to .260 batting average and has struck out 64. She was 6-3 with a 1.10 ERA in NSIC games only.
The NSIC Regular Season Champions of Southwest Minnesota State took home three of the four specialty awards as Erin Dickhausen was named NSIC Player of the Year, Amanda Johnson was named NSIC Pitcher of the Year and Shawn Semler was named NSIC Coach of the Year. For Johnson and Semler it is the third consecutive year they have won their awards while Dickhausen repeated at NSIC Player of the Year. NSIC Rookie of the Year honors went to Jennifer Radley of the Wayne State College.
| First Team |
Pos. |
Yr. |
School |
Hometown |
| Anna Bjorlin |
2B |
So. |
CSP |
Hermantown, Minn. |
| Abby Brundidge |
DP |
So. |
CSP |
Nekoosa, Wis. |
| Natalie Mast |
OF |
Jr. |
CSP |
Oakdale, Minn. |
| Sami Mattson |
SS |
Fr. |
CSP |
Esko, Minn. |
| Meghan Ward |
2B |
Sr. |
U-Mary |
Escondido, Calif. |
| Amanda Burkhart |
OF |
Jr. |
SMSU |
Omaha, Neb. |
| Erin Dickhausen |
C |
Sr. |
SMSU |
Watertown, Minn. |
| Andrea Fennern |
3B |
So. |
SMSU |
Wabasso, Minn. |
| Amanda Johnson |
P |
Jr. |
SMSU |
Fremont, Neb. |
| Amanda Opatz |
SS |
Sr. |
SMSU |
Annandale, Minn. |
| Jessica Paczosa |
2B |
Jr. |
SMSU |
Inver Grove Hts, Minn. |
| Nikki Davis |
DP |
Sr. |
UIU |
Lovington, Ill. |
| Samantha Earleywine |
C |
Fr. |
WSC |
Sergeant Bluff, Iowa |
| Katie Goetzinger |
P |
Fr. |
WSC |
Harlan, Iowa |
| Jennifer Radley |
1B |
Fr. |
WSC |
Des Moines, Iowa |
| Amy Sandstrom |
OF |
Jr. |
WSC |
Omaha, Neb. |
| Mollie Bjelland |
OF |
Fr. |
WSU |
Grantsburg, Wis. |
| Kristen Fossell |
P |
Sr. |
WSU |
Oak Creek, Wis. |
| Chelsea Rosenow |
OF |
Sr. |
WSU |
Chippewa Falls, Wis. |
| Amanda Wilhelm |
2B |
Jr. |
WSU |
LaCrosse, Wis. |
| Honorable Mention |
Pos. |
Yr. |
School |
Hometown |
| Mara Johnson |
2B |
Jr. |
BSU |
Bemidji, Minn. |
| Stephanie Schmikla |
P |
Fr. |
CSP |
Madison, Wis. |
| Maegan Lunn |
SS |
Jr. |
U-Mary |
Murrieta, Calif. |
| Mandy Adolph |
OF |
Jr. |
MSUM |
St. Paul, Minn. |
| Kari Sagehorn |
DP |
Jr. |
MSUM |
Maple Grove, Minn. |
| Amanda Tucci |
DP |
Jr. |
SMSU |
Oakdale, Minn. |
| Kami Appelt |
3B |
Jr. |
UIU |
Marysville, Calif. |
| Blaire Kuhl |
2B |
Fr. |
WSC |
Logan, Iowa |
| Terra Halron |
OF |
Jr. |
WSU |
Green Bay, Wis. |
| Stacey Struzynski |
P |
Fr. |
WSU |
Homewood, Ill. |
| 2008 NSIC Player of the Year |
| Erin Dickhausen, Sr., C, SMSU |
| 2008 NSIC Pitcher of the Year |
| Amanda Johnson, Jr.., P, SMSU |
| 2008 NSIC Rookie of the Year |
| Jennifer Radley, Fr., 1B, WSC |
| 2008 NSIC Coach of the Year |
| Shawn Semler, SMSU |
