Best Of The Decade (2000): Softball

BIG RAPIDS - Under the direction of head coach Keri Becker, Ferris State University's softball program has ranked among the best at the NCAA Division II level.

As most coaches will say, however, it's impossible to have great teams without great players doing great things. Becker's early teams, those that competed during the late 1990s, achieved great things on the diamond. A few of those standout student-athletes continued to produce through the 2000 campaign.

It's difficult (if not impossible) to think of some of those great teams and not remember players like Anne Bentley, Nadine Crowl, Jody Gifford and others who took Ferris to the brink of an NCAA Division II National Championship in 1998, back to the national championships in 1999 and to a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament title in 2000 on its home diamond.

So, Ferris clearly has had no shortage of great players over the years.

One of the challenges of choosing this team is weighing the strong contributions of players who played most of their career in the 1990s, but competed one season in 2000. On one side, Ferris has had great competitors like Bentley and Crowl who were dominant players in the late 1990s and took the program to unprecedented heights on the regional and national scenes. On the other side, Ferris has had players such as Emily McLean (pictured) and Sarah Mueller, who enjoyed outstanding success, also was a part of a team that advanced to the national championship and played her entire career during the decade.

With that being written, my choice for captain of the Best of the Decade Softball Team is Emily McLean, who has a softball resume that doesn't have to play second fiddle to anyone else's credentials.

Here is the Best of the Decade (2000) Top Six:

Anne Bentley: One of the outstanding utility players to suit up in the crimson and gold for Ferris State University on the softball diamond. The Wyoming, Mich. native played all over the infield and was dependable at any position (whether it was shortstop, second base or first base). If needed, she probably could have pitched, too. Her hitting was solid throughout her career. More than anything, however, it might have been her will to win and drive to be successful that put her ahead of so many of her competitors on the diamond (or on the tennis court where she was one of the best to play for the Bulldogs at her spot in the tennis lineup). Back on the diamond, however, she capped a strong softball career by being named a third-team All-American in 2000. Anne batted .302 with five home runs and 25 runs batted in during the 2000 campaign.

Nadine Crowl: A workhorse of a player who not only got it done with a powerful bat, but also made it happen in the circle where the lefty was a dominant pitcher (particularly during that storybook 1998 season. Down to the end of her career, during the 2000 season that witnessed Ferris win the GLIAC Softball Tournament championship on their home field in Big Rapids, the Coleman native was a key component of that success. She wasn't the most vocal player who has ever suited up for the Bulldogs, but she led by example (a very good example). Throughout her career, she was the model of consistency and efficiency in her production for head Coach Becker. During her final season, in 2000, Nadine was named team MVP as she batted .286 40 hits an six multi-hit games. She tied for the team's lead with 29 RBI and scored 26 runs with 10 doubles, two home runs, a .400 slugging percentage and a .355 on-base percentage

Emily McLean (Captain): She capped her career by being named to the 2006 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Great Lakes Region First Team. This was one year after being named the 2005 GLIAC Player of the Year. Emily was a third baseman who was converted into an outfielder to fill a need for the Bulldogs. In a lot of ways, she could have played in a number of different spots on the diamond and achieved a level of success defensively that would also include success at the plate as well - where she swings a strong bat. The native of Rogers City was first-team All-GLIAC two seasons in a row (2005-06). As a senior, Emily led her Bulldogs with a batting average of .399, a career-best 71 hits and team-best totals in hits, RBI (42), home runs (seven). That is just a small part of the resume for one of the best ever to play for the Bulldogs. She had a career batting average of .355 (that is second all time only to Gifford).

Katie Kraai: A player people once doubted could succeed as a college softball player ended her Ferris career as an all-time great (both as a leader and as a player). Katie came to Ferris and turned into the rock over at third base who got the job done at the hot corner with her glove. As a senior, Kraai was a 2008 All-GLIAC first-team pick as she batted a career single-season best .297 and posted 51 hits, 17 doubles, three home runs and 32 runs batted in. Beyond her play on the field, and her tremendous leadership qualities, Katie was a dedicated student who put the student in student-athlete. The Zeeland native was a three-time GLIAC All-Academic Team choice. By the time the final chapter was written on her career, Katie had become the career Ferris leader in doubles (49) and ranked well in several other categories among the all-time greats at FSU. She willed herself and her teammates to great things in softball.

Sarah Mueller: Near the end of the decade, Sarah proved to be the top player for the Bulldogs as an outstanding utility player who was a top-notch pitcher, a great hitter and a strong presence in the outfield. A native of Santa Clarita, Calif., her dedication to softball and her teammates was evidence as she fought through some painful physical issues near the end of her career to come back and try and will her team to success at the close of the 2009 campaign in the NCAA regional tournament. She could hit for power, she could hit for average, she could pitch, she could run ... she could flat out do it all. Multiple times she was named an All-GLIAC First-Team player for the Bulldogs as a the result of her all-around play for Ferris. She had a career batting average of .317, a career slugging percentage of .486, 108 runs scored, 40 doubles, nine triples and 106 hits. As a sophomore, she was named to the 2007 Daktronics, Inc. All-America Third Team.

Nicki Merchant: A highly-recruited player, the Wayland native became a strong infielder for the Bulldogs and an excellent hitter. She was a first-team All-GLIAC pick her senior season after being named a second-team all-conference performer as a junior. As a senior, she led Ferris in hits with a career-best total of 53. She also was tops on the team in runs scored (23), doubles (12), home runs (three) and RBI (25). She batted .340 as a senior. By the time the final chapter was written on great career in crimson and gold, Nicki ranked second among Ferris' career leaders in home runs (14). Coming from an amazing family of outstanding student-athletes, Nicki was fourth in doubles (36), sixth in hits (175), seventh in RBIs (83) and tied for 13th in batting average (.293). To this day, she continues to rank well among the best to ever play the game for Ferris in softball.

Honorable Mention

Jaymee Kent: Came to the Bulldogs from Grand Rapids Community College and immediate paid dividends as a great hitter and solid fielder...
Allison McKibbin: Very good catcher who didn't play long for the Bulldogs, but played well while she was in crimson and gold. Also a very good hitter...
Dana (Peuler) Conklin: Came out of the Grand Rapids area with good credentials and ended her career as a solid player, a great leader and a person of unmatched character...

Amanda Opbroek: Another player of second-to-none character, Opbroek was a strong pitcher and a solid hitter who was a quiet leader during her era...

Melissa Worsley: A strong catcher who helped solidify the Bulldogs' batter combination during her time and also a solid hitter and tremendous leader...

Navreet Gill: One of the better utility players ever to perform for the Bulldogs on the diamond. She was a strong hitter and remarkably consistent...

Laura Crower: A very solid first baseman who was a good hitter. A great student and leader who set a good example...

Amanda Jager: An excellent hitter who could hit for power, had good discipline at the plate and brought great personality to the team...

Krystle Bailey: A rock of stability as a catcher who was an iron woman with the work she did behind the plate game in and game out...

Holly Bruntjens: Another rock of consistency in the pitcher's circle who didn't overpower, but knew how to move the ball. Emerged as a strong hitter and solid outfielder, too...
Lindsay Riskovitch: A quietly efficient middle infielder who has offensive numbers that might surprise a lot of people.

New recruits, old faces returning create optimism

HOUSTON – A veteran group is expected to return next spring to the softball diamond for Ferris State University.

Ferris’ strong junior class is led by all-region players in first baseman Amanda Jager and pitcher/outfielder Sarah Mueller. In addition to Jager and Mueller, the Bulldogs’ veteran group includes 2008 NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region Tournament Most Valuable Player Holly Bruntjens, a pitcher; and catcher Krystle Bailey. That quartet leads an experienced group of players head coach Keri Becker is expected to lean on next spring.

In addition to the veterans, Ferris (which finished its season 35-18) boasts a solid recruiting class for 2009. Big Rapids High School star Makenzi Peterson, a talented and competitive local product who plays shortstop for the Cardinals; Rockford High School’s Stephanie Dusendang, who is a catcher and outfielder and has prepped for former Bulldog softball star Casey Munger-Dunham; Jenison’s Chelsea Morris, a talented first baseman, third baseman and outfielder from Jenison; and Frankfort’s Allison Webber, who plays third and short, comprise the four signees Becker has commitments from.

“I am very encouraged by our recruiting class,” said Becker, whose team had its 2008 spring season end at the hands of top-ranked Lock Haven by a 3-0 score in an elimination game at the 2008 NCAA Division II Softball National Championships at Memorial Park in Houston on Friday afternoon. “We already have four players who are signed and we could be adding maybe another walk-on or two depending on how some things work out. I think we’re going to have a nice mix of experienced players returning with some good new players coming in.

“The loss of (senior third baseman) Katie (Kraai) is going to mean some big shoes for us to fill,” added Becker. “But, I think we have some good players on our team and some quality players coming in who will compete to try and help us fill in those big shoes.”

Ferris Survives A Marathon; Records A Big Win

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – It was a marathon, but Ferris State University finally had the answer ... deep into the 15th inning in a game that evolved into a test of wills perhaps even more so than a test of skills.

Junior catcher Krystle Bailey – standing at the plate with the bases loaded – was the last of many heroes in truly a team-oriented victory in a winner’s bracket game of the 2008 NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region Tournament at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. Bailey, composed and disciplined, drew a walk with the bases loaded to earn the Bulldogs (32-15) a huge 1-0 win, in 15 innings, over Lewis University to remain unbeaten and in the winner’s bracket of the regional tournament.

“It’s a real big deal for us to be able to get this win and to stay in the winner’s bracket … It was a great team win and we really came out pumped up and ready to go,” said Bailey, who batted 1-for-5 with the all-important RBI in the 15th inning. “It was nice for us to be able to come out the way we did because we had to sit out all day Thursday (due to rain and games that had to be made up) and not have the chance to play. Even with the weather and everything we all stayed pumped up.”

After 14 and a half scoreless innings, Ferris finally benefited from a golden opportunity as Lewis committed two costly errors – on Bulldog bunts – to set the stage for Ferris’ win. After sophomore second baseman Amanda Harrington dropped a sacrifice bunt moved the runners and opened up first base, the Flyers chose to use a little strategy to try and cut down a runner at the plate. With two runners already on base, Lewis pulled its outfield in and elected to intentionally walk junior pitcher Sarah Mueller, to put Bailey in the position to make the play.

Ferris’ starting catcher worked the count and drew a walk on a pitch that was called a little high to leave the Bulldogs exhilarated and Lewis angry and frustrated at the close of a grueling contest.

“I knew I had to look for a good pitch, be patient and lay off of the high stuff,” Bailey said. “When the (home plate) umpire said “ball four” I was excited and the only thing I was thinking was to make sure I touched first since I knew we had it. This is just a huge win for us to keep this going.”

The Bulldogs face Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference rival Wayne State which remained alive in the winner’s bracket with a 2-1 win over Southern Illinois-Edwardsville late on Friday.

Five Bulldogs Named To GLIAC All-Conference Softball Teams

MIDLAND – Ferris State University had five of its players named to the 2008 All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Softball Teams and two others who were honorable mention selections.

Earning first-team All-GLIAC honors were junior first baseman Amanda Jager, and junior utility player Sarah Mueller. Named to the second-team all-league were junior pitcher Holly Bruntjens and sophomore second baseman Amanda Harrington. The honorable mention picks for Ferris were junior catcher Krystle Bailey and freshman outfielder Lynsay Weaver, who also has played at shortstop for the Bulldogs.

“You don’t have the success we’ve had without good players and the players who were recognized have played a big role in the success of our team this season,” said Ferris State head coach Keri Becker, who was named the “Michael J. Corbett” GLIAC Coach of the Year. “For me, winning an individual award, like Coach of the Year, can only happen if you have players who perform well on the field.”

Jager’s honor is well deserved with her consistency hitting the ball and, in general, getting on base for teammates to drive her in. Through Friday morning’s game against Mercyhurst, to start the GLIAC Tournament, Jager was batting .389. Mueller, with her pitching and her hitting near the top of the Bulldogs’ order, has been doubly important for the team throughout the spring. Harrington and Bruntjens bring a steady component for Ferris that avoids peaks and valleys. Bailey has been a rock of stability behind the plate and Weaver is just scratching the surface of her great potential.

In other awards news, “Player of the Year” was Saginaw Valley State’s Stacy Kraatz, “Pitcher of the Year” was Wayne State’s Molly Yetman and the “Freshman of the Year” was Ashland’s Erica Miller.

SPRING 2008 BLOG 18: Two Huge Wins And A Loss – Make Good Times For Ferris

BIG RAPIDS – Ferris State’s softball team enjoyed one of its best Saturday afternoon’s in recent memory this past weekend.

In sweeping visiting Hillsdale, 5-0 and 8-6, head coach Keri Becker’s Bulldogs had plenty to smile about. Ferris secured a regular-season first-place finish in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference standings (tied with Wayne State) and the No. 1 overall seed in the upcoming league tournament at Emerson Park in Midland. Then, on top of all of that, Ferris keeps itself in a solid position to earn a spot in the NCAA Division II Tournament for a second straight season.

“We’re still playing a little streaky right now, but we’ve put ourselves into a good position now that we’re heading into the GLIAC Tournament,” Becker said as her team finished the regular season 27-14 overall and 16-4 in the GLIAC as it prepares to make the trip to Midland for the league tournament. “Even though we’ve still been a little streaky, the good thing about it is we’re finding ways to get wins and we’ve been able to win the tough games we’ve had to win.”

Game two, against the Chargers, was one of those close and tough wins the Bulldogs had to earn. Ferris dug a 3-0 hole for itself, but fought back to take a 5-3 lead. Hillsdale tied the score at 5-5, but Ferris pulled away and then held on for the 8-6 victory to cap the regular season and finished 11-1 at home.

“I’m stoked,” said Ferris junior pitcher Sarah Mueller, who earned the win in game one of the twinbill as she threw seven innings, allowed four hits, no runs and struck out one. Her record now is 13-5 this season. “It’s hard for me to put my finger on exactly one thing (the team has been doing well since Florida), but there are a lot of things that seem to be coming together and we’re playing well, but we still have some work to do.”

In the opener, Mueller’s pitching performance was aided by a 3-for-3 hitting performance with two runs scored and one driven in. Mueller also got some help from senior third baseman Katie Kraai, who added three hits in three trips to the plate with her 13th double of the season and a total of four runs driven in.

In game two, Hillsdale transfer Kayle Stevenson picked up the win in relief as she tossed three innings, allowed five hits, one run (earned), walked two and struck out four to improve to 4-1 on the season. Offensively, Mueller, second baseman Amanda Harrington, catcher Krystle Bailey and Kraai each recorded two hits. Kraai drove in two more runs and shortstop McKenzie West drove in a pair. Earning one RBI apiece were Harrington and outfielder Lynsay Weaver.

Grand Valley State earning a split with league leader Wayne State helped the Bulldogs secure a regular-season first-place tie with the Warriors and possibly the No. 1 overall seed based on tiebreakers. The league tournament begins Friday morning at Emerson Park in Midland.

SPRING 2008 BLOG 11: Ferris Seeks To Get Back Its Killer Instinct

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – Ferris State is hopeful its killer instinct is back.

After returning from Florida one game below .500, at 7-8, the Bulldogs could hardly wait to get back on the softball diamond. After having a tournament canceled and a home game canceled – both do to poor weather conditions – Ferris looked toward this past weekend to get started with a pair of Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheaders against Gannon and Mercyhurst.

As important as it was for the Bulldogs to get wins, it also was critical to reestablish their killer instinct. Several times, while in Florida, Ferris struggled to finish some games it felt it should have won. That was not the case this past weekend – in chilly weather conditions in Big Rapids. After giving up the first two runs to Gannon, in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader, the Bulldogs took control. Ferris was dominant through the next three-plus games to beat the Lady Knights 4-2 and 5-0, on Saturday, and the Lakers 5-0 and 10-0, on Sunday.

The performances had a lot of people in crimson and gold smiling.

“The offensive machine is up and running right now … we had some good and key hits in these games and we’re starting to string together a lot of those hits we need to get runs up on the scoreboard,” said Ferris head coach Keri Becker, whose squad is now 11-8 on the season and 4-0 in the GLIAC. “We wanted to get it started and we did that, but we were also able to keep it going and that was one of the best things to see about our offense.”

In the first game, Ferris struck early with three runs right off the bat and added two more for insurance – one apiece in the third and fifth innings. Senior Katie Kraai, batting cleanup, had two hits in two trips to the plate with a home run, three runs driven in and one run scored. Sophomore Amanda Harrington was 2-for-4 with two runs scored as Ferris tallied five runs on six hits.

Junior pitcher Sarah Mueller proved superb with seven innings pitched, four runs allowed and three strikeouts for her fifth win of the young season against three losses.

In game two, the Bulldogs turned the killer instinct up a little more right off the bat with all 10 of their runs scored in the top of the first inning. Mueller had two hits in two trips with two runs scored and three runs driven in. Junior Krystle Bailey had two hits (with two RBI) while freshman Lynsay Weaver had a pair of hits with a pair of runs driven in. Juniors Amanda Jager and Holly Bruntjens, along with Harrington, each had one hit with a run driven.

In the circle, Bruntjens and sophomores Rhea Flores and Kayle Stevenson combined on a one-hitter effort with nine strikeouts. Bruntjens, who pitched only the first inning, earned the win to improve to 6-3 on the season. All of the pitchers, including Mueller, toughened up when they needed to over the weekend in front of a solid defense.

Ferris’ wins were complete team efforts – just what the doctor ordered for the Bulldogs who next are scheduled to see some tougher competition next weekend on the road at Northwood, in Midland, and at Saginaw Valley State, in University Center.

SPRING 2008 BLOG 5: Another Important Day Begins With A Fresh Start For The Bulldogs

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Facing Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, the defending NCAA Division II national softball champion is tough enough, but facing the Cougars on a three-game losing streak is even tougher.

Still, that was precisely the position the Bulldogs found themselves in as they took the field at Fortune Road Complex in Kissimmee, Fla. as part of their schedule at the Rebel Spring Games. That was just to start a pivotal day of softball, however, as the Bulldogs then had to face the challenge of Southern Indiana. Then, on top of all that, Ferris came face to face with the realization SIUE and USI are regional opponents in games that could – ironically enough as it is still March – loom large at the end of the season when regional bids are awarded in May.

The challenge for the Bulldogs was to rediscover a higher energy level, remember that softball is fun, and clean up those little mistakes that appear large in the middle of a big game. It was evident – fairly early in the morning game against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville – the Bulldogs were closer to playing their brand of softball – well ahead of their performances the day before in a tripleheader that featured a heartbreaking loss to American International followed by decisive losses to C.W. Post and regional rival Indianapolis.

Thursday, the Bulldogs also had to face SIUE’s top pitcher Kaitlin Colosimo – a thrower they and a lot of other opponents have had a tough time with over the years. Colosimo pitched eight innings, allowed 10 hits, four runs (one earned run), walked one and struck out six. She had a solid effort as she did her best to bend – with those 10 hits and four runs allowed – without totally breaking. Colosimo was mostly matched, however, by Ferris’ Sarah Mueller, a junior pitcher, who allowed eight hits and four runs (only one earned) in eight innings with six strikeouts.

Ferris trailed 3-1 entering the seventh inning when a 2-run single by Amanda Jager knotted the score at 3-3 on the scoreboard and ultimately forced extra innings. It was one of those clutch hits the Bulldogs have desperately sought in key situations during several games so far this spring.

In the eighth, with International Tiebreaker rules in effect, SIUE picked up one run on an RBI triple to left field and another on a sacrifice fly to right to grab a 5-3 lead.

Junior Holly Bruntjens singled in a run for the Bulldogs, but that was all the offense Ferris could muster – in the eighth – as SIUE shut the door and held on for the 1-run win.

In the day’s second contest, those key hits finally came around as the Bulldogs grabbed a rare early lead going up 3-0 on Southern Indiana – right off the bat – in the first inning. Third-year catcher Krystle Bailey singled and doubled, senior third baseman Katie Kraai drove in a run on a fielder’s choice and then one more on a single. Junior first baseman Amanda Jager was credited with an RBI on a single.

The loss to USI could be a confidence builder for Ferris as the Bulldogs proved to themselves that they could come through in big games.

SPRING 2008 BLOG 2: ‘Just a matter of time’ before Ferris’ offense comes to life

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Its understandable if first baseman Amanda Jager and her teammates felt a little concerned as their offense sputtered a bit during their first day of competition at the Rebel Spring Games inside of the Osceola County Softball Complex.

For the first six innings of their opening game, the Bulldogs struggled to do much of anything against St. Joseph’s (Ind.) starting pitcher Sara Somogyi. There was, however, no panic button pressed. Then, at practically the proverbial 11th hour, Ferris’ offense finally came to life – albeit aided by fielding miscues from the regional rival Pumas. Ferris’ hitting confidence returned and soared and the rest was – as some people like to say – history. The Bulldogs escaped with a 4-3 nine-inning big regional win, over St. Joseph’s, and ended the day in style with another important victory against a regional foe – a stunningly-easy 10-2 triumph over Northern Kentucky in just five innings.

“It did take us a while to get our bats going (Saturday), but then again we were also facing a good pitcher (Somogyi) and that had something to do with it,” said Jager, who has moved over to first base this spring to take over for Laura Crower, who had become a mainstay for the Bulldogs at that corner. “Then, after struggling to hit the ball in the first game … we really got it going in the second game.”

That was indeed the case as the Bulldogs confidence soared in its second game of the day – against a Northern Kentucky team that, perennially, has ranked among the best teams in the region and in the nation. The Bulldogs rolled to a decisive rout of the Norse, in just five innings due to the mercy rule, to begin the spring 2-0. While Florida has been a place where the offense has struggled to get going early, over the years, Saturday’s nightcap was the perfect ending to the first day of competition on the diamond for Ferris.

With the GLIAC shaping up to be one tough doubleheader after another, the Bulldogs now understand they must have their “A+” game from start to finish to match last year’s achievements (reaching the NCAA Division II Tournament) or perhaps go even beyond that. That “A+” game looked good on Saturday against NKU. In the circle, steady junior pitcher Holly Bruntjens’ patented drop ball was practically unhittable as she ended up with seven strikeouts and kept the Norse off balance from start to finish while she was out there.

At the plate, Ferris was at least as impressive swinging the bat with 10 runs on 12 hits, three players with more than one hit. On top of that, the Bulldogs got help from one of their rookies as freshman outfielder Lynsay Weaver belted a 2-run homer to fire up her teammates a little more. Junior catcher Krystle Bailey, senior third baseman Katie Kraai and junior shortstop McKenzie West all had at least two hits – including Bailey’s 3-for-3 effort with the bat.

“It felt amazing when we finally got it going against Northern Kentucky,” Jager said as she finished 1-for-2 with two runs scored in the win over NKU after she scored the winning run in the day's opening win over St. Joseph's. “We have good pitchers and going against them everyday in practice has been making us better and giving us even more confidence. We felt like, even though we struggled in the first game, that it was only a matter of time before we adjusted to what was happening and really started to hit the ball the way we know that we can hit it.”

Hopefully, for the young Bulldogs, it’s just a sign of more good times to come.