Ferris' Stevenson Earns All-Region Honor From Daktronics

Ferris State University senior pitcher Kayle Stevenson picked up some much-deserved recognition for her softball exploits during the 2010 campaign.

The Holland native, who prepped at West Ottawa High School, was named a member of the 2010 Daktronics, Inc. All-Midwest Region Softball Second-Team earlier this month. Stevenson, the talented left-handed pitcher who was a solidifying force for the team, in general, and the pitching staff, in particular, earns a nice honor at the close of her softball career.

Stevenson finished with a 12-6 record and a 1.98 earned run average this spring. A two-time All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference pitcher, Stevenson tossed five shutouts for the Bulldogs in 20 games.

Also of note, Wayne State standout Casey Hanes earned Daktronics Midwest Region Pitcher of the Year honors while teammate Alison Allen was named Daktronics Midwest Region Player of the Year. That is evidence enough of the banner season that Wayne enjoyed on the softball this season under long-time head coach Gary Bryce.

Sports information directors voted on the honors.

Daktronics, Inc. All-Midwest Region Second Team

Pitchers

April Ehlers (#7) Northern Kentucky P 5-10 Jr. Greenville, IN (Floyd Central)
Logan Hursey (#18) Ashland P/DP Jr. Zanesville, OH (John Glenn)
Kayle Stevenson (#8) Ferris State P 5-5 Sr. Holland, MI (Hillsdale)

First Base

Jennifer Berlet (#5) Hillsdale 1B 5-9 So. Walton, IN (Lewis Cass)

Second Base

Rose Broderick (#14) Northern Kentucky 2B 5-7 Sr. Cincinnati, OH (Oak Hills)

Third Base

Meaghan Baurer (#10) Missouri-St. Louis 3B 5-4 Sr. Glasford, IL (Illini Bluffs/Illinois Central)

Shortstop

Jessica Farris (#23) Northern Kentucky SS 5-5 So. Independence, KY (Simon Kenton)

Catcher

Brittany Omelanchuck (#19) Wayne State (MI) C 5-11 Fr. Brooklin, Ontario

Outfield

Christine Holthus (#9) UW-Parkside OF 5-2 Jr. Elgin, IL (Burlington Central)
Jaci Messmer (#9) Findlay OF 5-10 Jr. Forest, OH (Forest)
Stephanie LeClair (#3) Wayne State (MI) OF 5-9 Sr. Kitchener, Ontario

Designated Player

JaCee Ellis (#8) Missouri-St. Louis DP 5-7 Jr. Frankford, MO (Bowling Green HS)

Utility Player

Emily Schwaeble (#21) Northern Kentucky P/OF 5-6 Fr. Cincinnati, OH (Colerain)

Here Is An Outline Of The GLIAC Tournament

Here is the breakdown as posted on the Web site of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference:

Tournament Format

The 2010 GLIAC Tournament will be a double-elimination format. If conditions dictate a change in format, only the Tournament Director may make the decision to shorten the tournament.

Tournament Draw

The top eight teams based on regular season conference winning percentage will compete in the tournament.

#1 Wayne State University Warriors

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#2 Ashland University Eagles

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#3 Northwood University Timberwolves

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#4 Ferris State University Bulldogs

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#5 Tiffin University Dragons

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#6 Saginaw Valley State Universtiy Cardinals

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#7 Grand Valley State University Lakers

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#8 Hillsdale College Chargers

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Tournament Schedule

Friday, May 7 - Emerson Park
10:00 am Game 1 (Currie Stadium) #2 Ashland vs. #7 Grand Valley State

10:00 am Game 2 (Diamond 3) #3 Northwood vs. #6 Saginaw Valley State

Noon Game 3 (Diamond 3) #4 Ferris State vs. #5 Tiffin

Noon Game 4 (Currie Stadium) #1 Wayne State vs. #8 Hillsdale

2:00 pm Game 5 (Currie Stadium) Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2

2:00 pm Game 6 (Diamond 3) Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4

4:00 pm Game 7 (Diamond 3) Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

4:00 pm Game 8 (Currie Stadium) Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4

Saturday, May 8 - Emerson Park

10:00 am Game 9 (Diamond 3) Loser Game 8 vs. Winner Game 5

10:00 am Game 10 (Currie Stadium) Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 6

Noon Game 11 (Currie Stadium) Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8

Noon Game 12 (Diamond 3) Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10

2:00 pm Game 13 (Currie Stadium) Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 11

Sunday, May 9 - Emerson Park

10:00 am Game 14 (Currie Stadium) Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 13

Noon Game 15 (Currie Stadium) If necessary

Ferris Remains 10th In Regional Rankings

BIG RAPIDS - Ferris State University has held steady in the most recent listing (April 19) of the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Rankings for softball.

The Bulldogs of head coach Keri Becker remain

ed 10th in the poll (the top eight at the end of the season will advance to the NCAA Division II Tournament). This poll shows that Ferris remains in striking distance for a bid to the NCAA Tournament with some key doubleheaders and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament in Midland in early May.

Ferris is 20-14 overall and 11-7 in the GLIAC following Wednesday's 2-1 home loss at the FSU Softball Field to Northwood University. The Bulldogs hope to get on a roll beginning this weekend with showdowns against two of the better teams in the GLIAC, the region and the nation. Ferris is on the road to face nationally-ranked Saginaw Valley State University (17th) and nationally-ranked Wayne State University (ninth) in a pair of doubleheaders. The Warriors are first in the region while Saginaw Valley is third.

This is a perfect weekend for the Bulldogs to get on a roll as they are at Saginaw Valley on Saturday and at Wayne State on Sunday. If Ferris can come away with wins this weekend it can greatly strengthen its position in the regional tournament at the time of the year when it wants to be playing its best basketball.

Midwest Region	Division II	In-Region
1. Wayne State (Mich.)	37-8	24-5
2. Ashland	26-10	25-8
3. Saginaw Valley State	19-7	15-6
4. Lewis	23-9	20-5
5. Indianapolis	27-12	22-6
6. Quincy	27-10	24-8
7. Northern Kentucky	24-13	23-12
8. Tiffin	22-15	20-12
9. Northwood	16-11	14-8
10. Ferris State	18-13	16-10

PHOTO CAPTION:

Ferris State's Dana Bowler has already paid dividends in her freshman season pitching for the Bulldogs. (Photo/Sandy Gholston)

Ferris Ranked 10th In the Region In Latest Poll

BIG RAPIDS - There remains a lot of softball left to be played this season, but Ferris State University currently is ranked 10th in the NCAA Division II Midwest Region rankings that were released on April 14.

The rankings mean that, as of right now, Ferris is within striking distance of earning a spot in the NCAA Division II Tournament (the top eight teams in the region at the end of the season will qualify for the NCAA Division II Tournament). The top two teams host sub-regional tournaments (May 14-16) and the winners of the two sub-regional tournaments (May 21-22) will play in the super regional for the right to advance to the NCAA Division II Championships (May 27-31) which will be played in St. Joseph, Mo.

The current regional rankings show that Ferris still has a lot of work to do to remain in those regional rankings, but also has a lot of opportunities to move up.The Bulldogs have yet to face No. 2 Ashland University, No. 3 Wayne State University and No. 8 Tiffin University (all teams ranked ahead of the Bulldogs in the region). Also, Ferris still has three games to make up against No. 9 Northwood University.

Grand Valley State University, among other programs, is right there with a good record and the potential to move up.

Lots of softball remains to be played for Ferris and others.

Midwest Region	Division II	In-Region
1. Saginaw Valley State	18-4	14-3
2. Ashland	21-9	20-7
3. Wayne State (Mich.)	31-8	18-5
4. Lewis	19-7	16-3
5. Indianapolis	26-11	21-5
6. Northern Kentucky	21-10	20-9
7. Quincy	23-8	20-6
8. Tiffin	16-13	14-10
9. Northwood	12-9	10-6
10. Ferris State	15-10	13-7

It's Still Early In The Race, But Ferris Needs To Be Road Warriors

Ferris State third baseman Makenzi Peterson puts the squeeze on a ball as she attempts to get an out against a sliding Saginaw Valley State runner. (Photo/Sandy Gholston)

BIG RAPIDS - It's still early in the race for the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, but not too early to begin to track initial trends.

The early returns are somewhat interesting. Saginaw Valley State is the GLIAC leader at 6-0 entering the week (April 5). That is no surprise. Grand Valley State is 5-1. That is not a huge surprise. Ashland already has played 10 games and is 8-2. That also is no big surprise as the Eagles were expected to contend for the GLIAC championships and NCAA post-season action. Right now, the upper division of the league includes Northwood at 4-1. Wayne State is the fifth team with a winning conference record so far at 4-2.

Ferris State is 2-3 in league play with two of its three losses coming against Saginaw Valley and one coming against Northwood (game two of Saturday's series was made out and likely will be rescheduled at some point). Head coach Keri Becker's Bulldogs know this race will be an especially tight one from start to finish.

The early results this spring appear indicative of a conference race that will be hard fought from start to finish.

Having lost three games at home already, the Bulldogs need to go on the road and steal some victories while protecting their home diamond from here on out.

Ferris is scheduled to play in Midland at Northwood on Tuesday and that is as good a place as any to get started with some road success.

GLIAC Softball Standings (entering April 5)

Team	GLIAC	ALL
Saginaw Valley	6-0	19-2
Grand Valley St.	5-1	17-9
Ashland	8-2	18-6
Northwood	4-1	12-10
Wayne St.	4-2	26-7
Ferris St.	2-3	11-10
Tiffin	2-4	14-10
Findlay	1-5	11-17
Hillsdale	1-7	6-14
Lake Superior St.	0-8	5-25