MADISON, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – Five UW-Eau Claire softball players have been named first team All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) picks while head coach Leslie Huntington was selected as the league's Coach of the Year, Assistant Commissioner for Media Relations Matt Stanek announced today.
Named first team All-WIAC selections were Nikki Bromelkamp (Sr.-Zumbrota, Minn./Zumbrota-Mazeppa), Amanda Fischer (Fr.-Wausau, Wis./West), Ashley Meinen (Sr.-Chippewa Falls, Wis./McDonell), Emily Muller (Sr.-Lancaster, Wis.) and Taylor Pierce (Fr.-Ashwaubenon, Wis.).
Bromelkamp, a catcher, is second on the team with a .395 batting average (45 hits in 114 at-bats), which ranks fourth best in the league. She has started 41 of the Blugolds' 44 games and is first on the team and second in the conference with 42 RBI. Bromelkamp is also second on the team with 164 putouts.
Fischer, an outfielder, leads the Blugolds with a .398 batting average (43 hits in 108 at-bats), a mark that ranks second best in the conference. She also leads the team in total bases with 79, third best in the WIAC, and leads Eau Claire with a slugging percentage of .731. Additionally, Fischer is tied for first on the team and third in the league with eight home runs. On defense, she has recorded 42 putouts and five assists with only three errors (.940 fielding percentage).
Meinen, a pitcher, has appeared in 23 games, pitching 113.2 innings. She has an ERA of 2.52, second best on the team and sixth best in the conference. Meinen also has 70 strikeouts and has allowed 118 hits.
Muller, a shortstop, has started all 44 games this year, 42 times at shortstop and twice in centerfield. She is fifth on the team with a batting average of .328 (45 hits in 137 at-bats). Muller has six doubles, two home runs and 21 RBI and is 5-for-6 in stolen bases. She is second on the team with 81 assists.
Pierce, a designated player, is third on the team with a batting average of .363. She has 53 hits, a team-best and fourth most in the conference, and has scored 33 runs, which ranks second best on the team and fourth best in the WIAC. Her 17 stolen bases and 73 total bases are also second most for the Blugolds and rank third and fifth, respectively, in the league.
Also recognized with honorable mention status was Jenny Hess (Jr.-Wisconsin Rapids, Wis./Lincoln). She leads the team with 27 stolen bases, second best in the WIAC, along with 35 runs, which is tied for best in the conference.
Jess Freagon (Sr.-Chippewa Falls, Wis./McDonell) was named to the All-Sportsmanship Team, which was chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. It included one member from each school. Freagon started all 44 of the Blugolds' games this year and leads the team with 11 doubles as she is batting .250, seventh best on the team.
Coach Huntington, who was previously named Coach of the Year by the league three other times, is in her 11th season with the Blugolds. She has compiled a record of 315-161 and is the Blugolds' all-time winningest coach. This year was the fourth time in her career she guided the Blugolds to a WIAC regular-season title while it was the eighth crown in program history.
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