Seven Iowa Lakes Community College Softball athletes were named to the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) Division II Softball All-Region teams.
Named to the first team were sophomore catcher Deanna Gerrard and sophomore infielder Lauren Hein. Gerrard, from Southey, SK, Canada, finished the season with a .471 batting average, .536 on base percentage, and .813 slugging percentage. She had 73 hits, including 8 doubles, 6 triples, and 11 homeruns. Gerrard had 55 runs batted in, while scoring 60 runs. She finished 7th in the nation with stolen bases (46) and as a catcher led the nation in runners caught stealing (19). Gerrard has put herself in the Iowa Lakes Softball record book top 10 for career batting average (.474), triples (8), homeruns (15), and stolen bases (51). Hein, from Andover, MN, finished the season with a .377 batting average on 61 hits. This included 9 doubles and 18 homeruns. Hein crossed the plate 56 times, while driving in 45 of her teammates. She finished third in the nation for homeruns (18). Hein has put herself in the Iowa Lakes Softball record book top 10 for career runs scored (105), doubles (32), and homeruns (26).
Named to the second team were sophomore pitcher Courtney Calkins, sophomore designated player Shelby Davis, freshman outfielder Leilani San Pedro, and freshman outfielder Julia Sullwold. Calkins, from Osseo, MN, finished the season with a 18-5 record and 2 saves. She pitched in 138.2 innings, had an ERA of 3.79, and struck out 89 batters. She also batted .391 with 61 hits, including 14 doubles, 1 triple, and 5 homeruns. Calkins has put herself in the Iowa Lakes Softball record book top 5 for career innings pitched (291), games pitched (54), and strikeouts (153). Davis, from Rapid City, SD, finished the season with a .401 batting average and .454 on base percentage. She had 61 hits, including 14 doubles, 1 triple, and 1 homerun. She had 35 runs scored and 47 runs batted in. San Pedro, from Redlands, CA, finished with a .500 batting average. This ties the Iowa Lakes Softball freshman batting average record. She led the team with 82 hits, including 20 doubles, 2 triples, and 11 homeruns. She batted in 53 of her teammates, while crossing the plate 68 times. Sullwold, from Brooklyn Park, MN, finished with a .406 batting average and a .450 on base percentage. She had 71 hits, including 8 doubles and one triple. She scored 55 runs and swiped 22 bases.
Receiving honorable mention all-region honors was sophomore infielder Blaney Markman. Markman, from Jackson, MN, finished with a .354 batting average. She had 51 hits, including 9 doubles and 8 homeruns. She scored 38 times and brought home 38 of her teammates.
The Iowa Lakes Community College softball team finished the season with an overall record of 34-16 and an 18-10 conference record. They had two athletes named ICCAC Player of the Week, Leilani San Pedro and Deanna Gerrard, and had one named ICCAC Pitcher of the Week, Courtney Calkins. The team also broke the Iowa Lakes Softball team homerun record with 65 homeruns. The previous record was 54, which was set by the 2001 team.
"It is a great honor to get seven athletes on the All-Region teams. This conference is filled with phenomenal athletes and it is great to see these young ladies honored for the work they have put in their entire lives. These seven girls could not have done this without their teammates, so this honor goes out to the entire Iowa Lakes Softball team. I am very proud of the entire team and everything that they have accomplished this year and we cannot wait to build upon that next year." Commented Head Coach Katie Larson
For a full list of the ICCAC Division II Softball All-Region Teams go to: http://www.iccac.org/article/2961.php