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)

GLIAC Tournament Officially Canceled Due to Rain, Playing Conditions

MIDLAND - It was a painful blow to head coach Keri Becker's Ferris State University's softball seniors (Amanda Harrington, Rachel Wade, Rhea Flores and Kayle Stevenson) as word officially came down Saturday (May 8) morning that the 2010 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Softball Tournament, scheduled to take place over the weekend at Emerson Park in Midland, was officially canceled.

A steady rainfall, concerns about field playing conditions, the safety of the student-athletes and the time to finish the tournament were among reasons the tournament was officially canceled.

The decision to cancel the tournament is a painful blow to teams like Ferris and Northwood University - teams on the bubble with respect to the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Rankings. There were not too many dry eyes in the hotel when the announcement was made to the Ferris team on Saturday morning. In the most recent rankings, Northwood was ninth and Ferris was 10th (the top eight teams at the end of the season (Sunday night) will earn bids to the NCAA Tournament.

With no more opportunities to prove themselves, on the softball diamond, the NCAA outlook is fairly bleak for the softball student-athletes at schools like Ferris and Northwood.

The picks for the NCAA-II Regional Championships officially will be announced Monday (May 10) at 10 a.m. via a Web cast selection show on NCAA.com.

Ferris is holding steady at 26-16 overall after a third-place finish (tied) in the GLIAC standings at 17-9.

As a result of the cancellation of the tournament, Wayne State University, the regular-season GLIAC champions, will receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.