Conference Honors in Softball
BEREA, OHIO -- Three Baldwin-Wallace College softball student-athletes have been named to the 2004 Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference team. Each athlete is selected by the OAC faculty athletics representatives. To be eligible for Academic All-OAC, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.25 cumulative grade point average, be a starter or key reserve and be in at least her second year of participation in the sport.
The three Yellow Jackets chosen are senior pitcher Liz Fries (Columbus/ Bishop Watterson), junior pitcher/ designated player K.C. Young (Olmsted Falls) and sophomore All-American catcher Nicole Loudin (Sheffield Lake/ Elyria Catholic).
Fries and Loudin were selected Academic All-OAC and Young earned honorable mention Academic All-OAC honors. The trio helped B-W post a 21-15 overall mark for its third straight 20-win campaign.
Fries had an outstanding senior year both on the field and in the classroom. She graduated with a 3.933 grade point average with a degree in sports medicine/ health promotion and business administration. She also was 9-2 overall with a 1.49 ERA in 80 innings pitched. Fries has also won 34 games during her B-W career to rank third all-time. Her selection to the team marked the third straight year that she has been tabbed Academic All-OAC. In addition to earning Academic All-OAC accolades, Fries was also named CoSIDA Academic All-District IV for the third straight year and to the first team for the second consecutive season.
Loudin, a first-team National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American this year and a second-team choice in 2003, has a 3.6 grade average in psychology. She hit .430 with seven doubles, two triples and a school single-season record 11 homers and drove in 34 runs. In her first two years at B-W, Loudin has hit 21 homers and driven in 75 runs, including a school-record 41 a year ago. Loudin was also named as a first-team CoSIDA Academic All-District IV selection.
Young hit .324 with eight doubles, one homer and 16 RBI and was the ace of the pitching staff despite a 5-9 mark and 2.35 ERA. She carries a 3.47 grade average in early childhood education. Young was also named as a first-team CoSIDA Academic All-District IV selection as a utility player. Fries, Loudin and Young all now qualify for the national CoSIDA Academic All-America ballot.
Kaya, a 3.868 student in education and Spanish, hit .382 despite missing 10 games this year with an injury. In 26 games, Kaya had a double and 10 RBI.
"We are pleased that all four young women received recognition from the Ohio Athletic Conference," said veteran Yellow Jacket Head Coach Joe Yocabet. "By being named Academic All-OAC, it shows that each was able to excell both in the classroom and on the field. It is truly what Division III is all about. Each is very deserving of their honor."
FOR MORE B-W SPORTS INFORMATION, please call B-W Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327, FAX him at 440-826-2329 or e-mail him at kruple@bw.edu.
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