May 11, 2016

All-HCAC release

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University softball team had three of its members recognized when the All-Heartland Conference awards were announced on Wednesday, May 11. Josie McElroy (Mt. Orab/Western Brown) and Kelsi Wilson (Pataskala/Licking Heights) both collected First Team All-HCAC honors while Kelsey Reeder (Galion/Northmor) was named Honorable Mention All-HCAC.

Casting aside any thoughts of a sophomore slump, Josie McElroy put together another superb season as a Beaver. She takes home her second post-season accolade after earning Second Team All-HCAC as a freshman. Her .429 batting average was fifth all-time on Bluffton's single-season list as was her .705 slugging percentage. McElroy is tied for 10th all-time on the single season list with a .483 on-base percentage. Her 14 doubles this season are tied for third all-time and three more than she smacked as a freshman. McElroy's five home runs are tied for ninth on the all-time list. Also tied for ninth were her 74 total bases. The sensational sophomore third baseman was 3rd in the HCAC with her 14 doubles and .705 slugging percentage while her on-base percentage was 4th in the conference. McElroy's five dingers were tied for 6th in the HCAC.

Following two monumental seasons as a Beaver, McElroy stands atop the career record books with a .421 batting average and a .715 slugging percentage. Her .457 on-base percentage is 4th on the career list. She is already tied for third on the career list with 14 home runs, while her 25 doubles are 10th all-time. McElroy is 10th all-time with 70 RBI, just 40 shy of Lindsey Miller's school mark (110).

Fellow sophomore Kelsi Wilson had a breakout season for the Beavers in 2016 and she was rewarded with First Team All-HCAC honors in her first season as a starter. She hit .316 with 13 RBI and 15 runs scored. Wilson tallied 25 hits, including eight doubles and one triple. She saw time in the outfield and also bolstered Bluffton's lineup as the DP for much of the year.

Collecting honorable mention All-Heartland Conference honors in her first year as a Beaver, freshman Kelsey Reeder provided spark at the top of the lineup. The speedy second baseman hit at a .319 clip with 36 hits and 14 runs scored. She stole two bases and walked seven times. Reeder and sophomore Brittany Huff (Clayton/Northmont) formed one of the most dynamic combos defensively up the middle as the Beavers topped the HCAC with 374 assists, including 10 double plays.

In conjunction with the All-Heartland Conference awards, the conference has announced the All-HCAC Sportsmanship Team for 2016. This award has been developed as part of a conference-wide sportsmanship initiative. Members of the All-HCAC Sportsmanship team are selected by the coaches and their teammates as individuals who demonstrate the ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the field/court of competition. Kelsey Reeder was recognized for her sportsmanship this season.

-BEAVERS-