Three Cardinals Earn NFCA All-Great Lakes Region Honors
May 16, 2013 | Softball
May 16, 2013
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - Three University of Louisville softball players were selected to the2013 National Fastpitch Coaches' Association Division I All-Great Lakes Region teams. Senior Alicja Wolny and junior Katie Keller were named to the first team while junior Maggie Ruckenbrod was selected to the second team. The awards honor softball student-athletes from the Association's 10 regions with first and second teams selected for each region.
The all-region teams were chosen by NFCA member coaches from each respective region, and all the honorees now become eligible for selection to one of three 2013 NFCA Division I All-American teams.
Wolny, a senior first baseman from El Dorado Hills, Calif., takes home her second straight All-Great Lakes Region first team award. The four-year starter and four-time All-BIG EAST Conference team member leads the Cardinals with a .417 batting average and has 10 home runs, 52 RBIs and 39 runs on the season. She was selected as Louisville Co-Senior Female Athlete of the Year and earn BIG EAST Player of the Week honors this season.
Keller, a junior second baseman from Livermore, Calif., carries a .412 batting average and leads the team with 12 home runs and a school single season record 54 RBIs. The three-year starter and two-time All-BIG EAST selection became the first player in program history to sweep Louisville Slugger/NFCA and USA Softball National Player of the Week honors earlier this season. She is a two-time All-Great Lakes Region selection.
Ruckenbrod, a junior catcher from St. Louis, Mo., is batting .349 with seven home runs, 40 RBIs and 35 runs. The 2013 All-BIG EAST selection has thrown out 15 base stealers and has 10 pickoffs on the season. She holds the school record for season (11), career (23) pickoffs and set a record with three runner caught stealing earlier this season.
No. 12 Louisville (46-11) earned the overall No. 15 seed and will serve a regional host for the 2013 NCAA Softball Tournament May 17-19. The No. 12/12 Cardinals (46-11) will face IPFW (32-14) at 7:30 p.m. Friday while No. 13/16 UCLA (37-18) and UAB (37-16) will meet at 5 p.m. Friday at Ulmer Stadium.
