STARKVILLE, Miss. (Blugolds.com) – Five UW-Eau Claire softball players have been selected to the 2012 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Great Lakes Region Team, NFCA officials announced.
View Official NFCA Announcement
Named to the first team were Amanda Fischer (Fr.-Wausau, Wis./West) and Taylor Pierce (Fr.-Ashwaubenon, Wis.). Selected to the second team were Nikki Bromelkamp (Sr.-Zumbrota, Minn./Zumbrota-Mazeppa) and Emma Wishau (So.-Waterford, Wis./Union). Emily Muller (Sr.-Lancaster, Wis.) was named to the third team. Five All-Region picks ties for the most in school history. Eau Claire also had five selected in 1998, 1999 and 2006.
Fischer, an outfielder who played in 43 of the Blugolds' 47 games, led the team this season with nine home runs, 84 total bases and a slugging percentage of .718. Her nine homers rank fourth best in a single season in program history while tying for second most in the league this year. Her 84 total bases also tied for second most in the conference this year. Fischer was also second on the team with a .385 batting average and was tied for second with 10 doubles and 32 RBI.
Pierce, who was selected at the designated player position, started all 47 games this season. She led the Blugolds and was fourth in the conference with 54 hits while leading the team with two triples. Pierce was also second on the team scoring 35 runs, which tied for third most in the league, and was second on the team and third in the conference with 17 stolen bases. She batted .355 this season and had three home runs and seven doubles along with 27 RBI.
Bromelkamp, who was selected as an at-large pick, played in 45 games this year, starting 44 total games, including 41 at catcher. She led the Blugolds this year with a .388 batting average and 43 RBI, a mark that was second in the conference this year and tied for fifth best in a single season in school history. She completed her time with the Blugolds playing in 121 games. Bromelkamp finished second in career rankings with nine sacrifice flies and was second in highest fielding percentage with a mark of .987. She also tied for 10th with 413 putouts.
Wishau, who was selected as a pitcher, led the Blugolds and was second in the conference with a 1.70 ERA this season. Making 28 appearances, she finished with a 15-7 record and had one save. She pitched 160.2 innings and struck out 96 batters. Wishau pitched 19 complete games this year, a mark that tied for fourth most in a single season in school history.
Muller, who was an at-large selection, was fifth on the team this season with a batting average of .319 (46 hits in 144 at-bats). She started 47 games this year, 45 at shortstop, and was second on the team with 87 assists while also compiling 83 putouts. Playing in 159 games in her career, her 96 career runs rank ninth best in all-time rankings while her six sacrifice flies tied for seventh most.
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