Four Flashes Earn College Sports Madness Preseason Honors
1/29/2016 9:57:00 AM | Softball
2016Â College Sports Madness Preseason All-MAC Teams
Kent State was well-representing on College Sports Madness' Mid-American Preseason All-Conference Teams that were recently announced. Junior Maddy Grimm was tabbed Field Player of the Year and Hailey Hopkins was named Freshman of the Year. Additionally, junior Ronnie Ladines and sophomore Holly Speers garnered Second Team accolades.
A two-time NFCA All-Mideast Region selection, Grimm has made her claim as one of the best hitters in Kent State history in her first two collegiate seasons. Last season, the slugger set program records for home runs (19), RBIs (54) total bases (1211) and slugging percentage (.852) while also leading the Golden Flashes in batting average (.373), doubles (11) and walks (21). She also ranked among the top 10 in the MAC in runs scored (37) and on-base percentage (.452) during her sophomore campaign.
A pitcher who also has pop in her bat, Hopkins was a standout the last three years at Florida softball powerhouse Canterbury School. Hopkins helped the Crusaders to back-to-back 2A state championships after transferring in as a sophomore, followed by a state semifinal appearance last season. As a senior, she posted a 6-2 record with a 0.46 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 60.1 innings while batting .284 with 7 doubles, 2 home runs and 20 RBIs en route to earning Miracle Sports High School Softball All-State First Team honors.
Ladines will move into the ace role of the Flashes' pitching staff, which ranked third in the country with a 1.55 earned run average in 2015. Last season, she went 12-6 with a 2.35 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 110.0 innings in the circle. She went the distance in 9 of her 18 starts, including a pair of shutouts. At the plate, Ladines had two doubles, two home runs and four RBIs while showing a good eye by drawing 11 walks in 72 at-bats.
An All-Freshman Team selection, Speers led all MAC rookies in hits (44), walks (20), on-base percentage (.416) and slugging percentage (.493) last season. The shortstop batted .328 and added seven doubles and five home runs as the Flashes' cleanup hitter.
Kent State begins the 2016 season with five games from February 10-12 at the FGCU Kickoff Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. The Flashes will look to repeat as MAC regular season champions after winning 41 games, the third-most in program history, last season.
Field Player of the Year                                   Â
Maddy Grimm, Kent State                                Â
Pitcher of the Year
Amber Logemann, Miami
Freshman of the Year                                                Â
Hailey Hopkins, Kent State                                         Â
Coach of the Year
Clarisa Crowell, Miami
First Team                                                  Â
P         Amber Logemann, Miami       Â
P         Erin Seiler, Akron                                 Â
P         Nicole Steinbach, Ball State                                 Â
IF        Kayti Grable, Northern Illinois                              Â
IF        Maddy Grimm, Kent State                                 Â
IF        Emily Dabkowski, Ball State                                Â
IF        Katelyn Rentschler, Central Michigan                    Â
IF        Chelsea DeLamielleure, Central Michigan               Â
OF       Michelle Kriegshauser, Eastern Michigan                Â
OF       Ivy Schaaf, Western Michigan                              Â
OF       Sara Hansen, Central Michigan                             Â
UTL      Emily Naegele, Northern Illinois                Â
Second Team
PÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Rachel Knapp, Central Michigan
PÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Keegan Hayes, Northern Illinois
PÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ronnie Ladines, Kent State
IFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Melissa Palmer, Western Michigan
IFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Taylor Wagner, Eastern Michigan
IFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Abi Clark, Eastern Michigan
IFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Holly Speers, Kent State
IFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kelsea Cichocki, Western Michigan
OFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Jessica Lemieux, Toledo
OFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Sarah Fruin, Akron
OFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Sloan Walker, Ohio
UTLÂ Â Â Â Â Â Aspen Searle, Bowling Green
