2009 Softball Weekly Awards

April 27-May 3

Jessica Goetz, Alverno College
...5-6...Junior...RHP...Milwaukee, Wis. (Greendale Martin Luther)...
Goetz's week was highlighted by her 17-strikeout performance in game one versus MSOE on Tuesday, in which the Inferno won 3-1. The 17 Ks sets a new single-game school record, and ties the NAC record set by Aurora's Anna Snyder in 2008. The junior right-hander had a 3.37 ERA and averaged 1.15 strikeouts per inning last week.

Other nominees: Jenna Ryan (Edgewood College).

Abbey Bullerdick, Dominican University
...5-6...Sophomore...C...New Market, Ind. (Southmont)...
Bullerdick helped the Stars reach the championship game of the NAC Softball Tournament, blasting four home runs last week, including two in game two against Edgewood College in the Stars' final regular season contest of the season, an 11-4 win over the Eagles. The sophomore hit .385 scoring eight runs and sending home nine.

Other nominees: Jamie Kurt (Edgewood College).

April 20-26

Anna Snyder, Aurora University
...5-6...Junior...RHP...Grayslake, Ill. (Grayslake)...
Snyder was 6-0 on the week in which AU clinched their third straight NAC Softball Championship. She won all four games over conference leaders Lakeland College and Marian University. In 43.0 innings pitched, she allowed eight earned runs and struck out 61 batters.

Other nominees: Jessica Goetz (Alverno College), Brittany Andrews (Edgewood College).

Aimee Mahoney, Benedictine University
...5-10...Junior...RF...Gardner, Ill. (Gardner)...
Mahoney drove in the game-winning runs with two-RBI single in the first game versus Marian University. She also scored the game-winning runs three times last week in the teams eight victories. For the week she had a .536 batting average, a .750 slugging percentage, and a .552 on base percentage. She also did not strikeout last week in 29 plate appearances.

Other nominees: Melissa Bankenbush (Alverno College), Nikki Veen (Aurora University), Courtney Campbell (Concordia University Chicago), Sarah Budz (Dominican University), Brittany Miller (Edgewood College), KC Blahnik (Lakeland College).

April 13-19

Sara Roberts, Lakeland College
...6-0...Junior...RHP...Escanaba, Mich. (Escanaba)...
Roberts threw three complete game shutouts for the Muskies as Lakeland finished the week a perfect 6-0. Roberts allowed only 10 hits and struck out 21 in 17 innings pitched and gave up zero runs.

Other nominees: Jessica Goetz (Alverno College), Anna Snyder (Aurora University), Shelley Kurcz (Dominican University), Jenna Ryan (Edgewood College), Emily Turba (Marian University).

KC Blahnik, Lakeland College
...5-8...Junior...2B...Gladstone, Mich. (Gladstone)...
Blahnik led Lakeland with an incredible .842 batting average in five games this week. She hit home runs in four straight games, and scored a team-leading 16 runs as the Muskies remained undefeated in league play.

Other nominees: Andrea Spindler (Alverno College), Briana Martin (Aurora University), Lauras Christensen (Benedictine University), Clarissa Geiseke (Concordia University Chicago), Carolyn Rogers (Dominican University), Colleen Joyce (Edgewood College), Ashley Engler (Marian University), Morgan Dittmar (Wisconsin Lutheran College).

April 6-12

Anna Snyder, Aurora University
...5-6...Junior...RHP...Grayslake, Ill. (Grayslake)...
Snyder followed up her NAC Student-Athlete of the Week performance from a week ago with another outstanding week. She struck out 26 hitters and didn't allow a run in 11 innings pitched. She walked one and allowed only five hits in 38 opponent at bats.

Other nominees: Brittany Adcox (Benedictine University), Sara Roberts (Lakeland College).

Carolyn Rogers, Dominican University
...5-8...Junior...SS...Moline, Ill. (Moline)...
Rogers led the Stars to a 7-1 record last week, posting outstanding numbers along the way. Against NAC opponents last week, Rogers numbers inflate to a .727 batting average with nine extra-base hits including a 6-for-6 with six doubles performance against Wisconsin Lutheran College and blasting a pair of homeruns in a doubleheader sweep of Rockford College. The Stars' junior shortstop drove in 20 runs last week, 17 in conference play.

Other nominees: Rebecca Schmid (Alverno College), Shannon Starr (Aurora University), Kristin Bonk (Benedictine University), Colleen Joyce (Edgewood College), Chelsea Coenen (Lakeland College), Ashley Engler (Marian University), Jolisa Gold (MSOE).

March 30-April 5

Anna Snyder, Aurora University
...5-6...Junior...RHP...Grayslake, Ill. (Grayslake)...
Snyder went 3-0 on the week in which Aurora was 4-0. In AU's 24-0 win over Maranatha Baptist, she combined to throw a no-hit shutout. She had 29 strikeouts, just one walk and allowed two unearned runs in 14-2/3 innings pitched last week.

Other nominees: Brittany Adcox (Benedictine University), Sheri Weidner (Concordia University Wisconsin), Jenna Ryan (Edgewood College), Sara Roberts (Lakeland College), Laura Konop (Wisconsin Lutheran College).

Michelle Ciric, Concordia University Chicago
...5-5...Sophomore...OF...DesPlaines, Ill. (Elk Grove)...
Ciric, dividing her time between catcher and the outfield, helped the Cougars to conference wins last week over Dominican University and Marian University. She went 2-for-4 with a run and RBI in a 12-3 win over Dominican on Monday. She then had a season-high four hits with a run scored in Saturday's win over Marian. Ciric hit her first collegiate homer, a two-run shot, against Dominican and compiled a 1.067 slugging percentage for the week.

Other nominees: Andrea Spindler (Alverno College), Abby Young (Aurora University), Erin Galloway (Benedictine University), Tara Wagner (Concordia University Wisconsin), Colleen Joyce (Edgewood College), Sam Shepeck (Lakeland College), Kristi Nelson (Marian University), Laura Konop (Wisconsin Lutheran College).

March 23-29

Jori Cicale, Dominican University
...5-4...Freshman...RHP...Steger, Ill. (Marian Catholic)...
Cicale picked up her first win in NAC play as she went the distance against Concordia University Wisconsin, scattering four hits and three walks over seven innings while striking out six in a 6-3 (only two earned runs) win for Dominican.

Other nominees: Jessica Goetz (Alverno College), Brittany Adcox (Benedictine University), Laura Konop (Wisconsin Lutheran College).

Abby Bullerdick, Dominican University
...5-6...Sophomore...C...New Market, Ind. (Southmont)...
Bullerdick helped the Stars to a doubleheader sweep of Concordia University Wisconsin as she drove in five runs on five hits, including a pair of home runs and a double.

Other nominees: Rebecca Schmid (Alverno College), Cassie Cappetto (Benedictine University), Andrea Hundertmark (Rockford College), Morgan Dittmar (Wisconsin Lutheran College).

March 16-22

Susanna Gonzalez, Dominican University
...5-3...Senior...RHP...Lockport, Ill. (Lockport)...
Gonzalez pitched a complete-game five hitter as Dominican rolled over North Park University, 7-2, in the second game of doubleheader sweep. Gonzalez faced 28 batters, striking out two while walking none.

Other nominees:

Cassie Cappetto, Benedictine University
...5-6...Sophomore...1B...Oak Lawn, Ill. (Marist)...
In the Eagles' doubleheader split with Wheaton College (Ill.), Cappetto collected a total of five hits (including two doubles) and four RBI in her seven plate appearances.

Other nominees: Carolyn Rogers (Dominican University).

March 9-15

Anna Snyder, Aurora University
...5-6...Junior...RHP...Grayslake, Ill. (Grayslake)...
Snyder went 3-0 on the week in which Aurora went 5-1 to conclude their spring trip. She had a 0.43 earned run average while striking out 26 hitters in 21 innings and only giving up 10 hits, six runs (only one earned).

Other nominees: Jori Cicale (Dominican University), Aletha Cunningham (Rockford College).

Briana Martin, Aurora University
...5-10...Junior...C...Andalusia, Ill. (Rockridge)...
Martin led the Spartans to a 5-1 week on their spring trip to the Rebel Classic. She hit .412 with a home run, double and six runs batted in and walked four times to give her a .524 on base percentage and .647 slugging percentage for the week.

Other nominees: Sarah Budz (Dominican University).

March 2-8

Jori Cicale, Dominican University
...5-4...Freshman...RHP...Steger, Ill. (Marian Catholic)...
Cicale picked up the win in her first collegiate start as she went five innings in a 10-1 (6 Inn.) win over Carroll College. Cicale allowed just two hits while scattering four walks and striking out two.

Other nominees: Jessica Goetz (Alverno College).

Lea Marzolo, Dominican University
...5-3...Junior...OF...Fairview, Mich. (Fairview)...
Marzolo helped the Stars to a pair of wins to open the season as she rapped out five hits in her first seven at-bats of the season, including a pair of hits, one a base-clearing triple, in a seven run seventh in a 10-6 win over RPI. The junior posted an impressive 1.143 slugging percentage with a double and a triple to go with four RBI and five runs scored on the week.

Other nominees: Melissa Bankenbush (Alverno College), Briana Martin (Aurora University), Jessica Starr (Rockford College).

February 23-March 1

Ashley Engler, Marian University
...5-6...Junior...2B...Waterford, Wis. (Waterford)...
Engler hit a team-high .333 (4-for-12) over the weekend for Marian in the Finlandia University Invitational. She led the team in total bases with five and was flawless in her seven attempts in the field.

Other nominees: Melissa Bankenbush (Alverno College).