[Softball] Five Vikings earn National Fastpitch Coaches Association NAIA All-Midwest Region honors
LOUISVILLE, Ky. –The National Fastpitch Coaches Association has announced that five Grand View athletes have received 2017 NFCA NAIA All-Region accolades. Second baseman Devin Brown (SR/Indianola, Iowa), outfielder Lexie Biehl (JR/Maquoketa, Iowa), pitcher Claudia Farrell (JR/Des Moines, Iowa) and DH Kate Crow (JR/Ames, Iowa) earned first team while first baseman Lexi Merritt (FR/Waukee, IA) earned second team.
Brown ranked No. 3 in the nation for total doubles (24), No. 10 in doubles per a game (.421), No 14 in total runs scored (60) and No. 17 in total hits (79). Her overall batting average was .397 in the 2017 season.
Biehl recorded 31 RBI for the Vikings off 58 hits, with a batting average of .363. She had 36 putouts for the Vikings with a .973 field percentage.
Farrell had a 25-7 pitching record for the Vikings in 2017, with a 1.28 ERA. She ranked No. 6 in the nation for wins (25), No. 15 for innings pitcher per a game (6.121), No. 18 for earned run average (1.28), and No. 20 in hits allowed (4.85).
Crow ranked No. 2 in the nation in total doubles (26) and No. 39 in total runs batted (49). He recorded 49 RBI off 67 hits. She recorded 30 runs for the Vikings as well. She had a batting average of .383 in the 2017 season.
Merritt ranked No. 2 in the nation for total putouts (459) and 23rd in total runs batted (53). She recorded 53 RBI and 36 runs off 68 hits with a batting average of .362.
The awards honor softball student-athletes from the Association's six regions with first and second-team recognition. NFCA member coaches from each respective region voted on the teams, and all the honorees now become eligible for selection to the 2017 NFCA NAIA All-American squads.
The 2017 NFCA NAIA All-America teams will be announced on Monday, June 5, via NFCA.org.