MINOT, N.D. – While preparing to open play at the NSIC Tournament, the Minot State softball team racked up honors from the NSIC for its play this season on the diamond as the league announced its All-Conference and All-Defensive Teams on Tuesday.
The Beavers'
Reegan Floyd,
Anna LaCount, and
Sara Van Wickler each were voted to the All-NSIC 2
nd Team by the league's coaches for their play during the regular season, while Minot State second baseman
Abbey Kelley was voted to the NSIC All-Defensive Team.
The All-NSIC honor is the first for Floyd and Van Wickler, and the second time LaCount has been named to the All-NSIC 2
nd Team. The All-Defensive Team honor is the first for Kelley.
Playing in 50 games at second base for the Beavers (27-24 overall, 15-13 NSIC), Kelley was a standout as she had 101 putouts with 86 assists and just two errors all season. She added a 2.40 batting average on offense for Minot State with 9 runs scored and 15 RBIs for the Beavers.
As for LaCount, she was named to the 2
nd Team for the second straight year as the Beavers' catcher after she led the team hitting .368 in 50 games with a team-high 7 home runs, 28 RBIs, 8 doubles, and 24 runs scored. Defensively, she added 188 putouts with 19 assists, and she threw out 10 of 26 opposing base stealers.
Van Wickler was second on the Beavers' roster in batting average, hitting .331 in 48 games with 5 homers, 21 RBIs, 12 doubles, and she shared the team lead with 6 triples with
Taylor Smith. Van Wickler also had 9 stolen bases. Defensively, the Minot State outfielder also had 78 putouts with 9 assists.
As for Floyd, one of the Beavers' two main starting pitchers, she led the team in wins with 13 and shared the team lead in ERA with
Jasmine Blizzard at 2.20. Floyd struck out 112 opposing batters in 149.1 innings in the circle and threw 12 complete games in 26 appearances, starting 23 games.
The quartet of NSIC honorees lead the way for Minot State, which opens the postseason on Wednesday playing Minnesota State Moorhead (19-36) in the first round of the NSIC Tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D., at 2:30 p.m. The winner advances to face Minnesota State, Mankato (37-17) in the NSIC Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday at 3 p.m.