MIAC Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced the 2009 MIAC Softball Awards today, May 13, 2009. Bethel is represented by Rebecca Akerson (So., Lakeville, Minn.) and
Kelly Berg (So., South Haven, Minn.) on the All-MIAC team. Four others earned all-conference honorable mentions.
As part of a conference-wide sportsmanship initiative, the MIAC announced the third annual All-MIAC Sportsmanship team for softball. Members of the All-MIAC Sportsmanship team are selected by their coaches and teammates as individuals who demonstrate ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the field of competition.
Amber Beasley (Sr., Medina, Minn.) is Bethel's representative to the team.
Akerson led the Royals in pitching in several categories, including ERA (1.55), wins (12), apperances (21), complete games (14), innings pitched (117.1), strikeouts (94), and opponent batting average (.208). Her ERA gives her a single season school record and her strikeout total is the third best in team history. One of the highlights for Akerson was striking out 13 batters in one game against St. Olaf on April 22. At the plate, she batted .262 with a double, triple, four stolen bases, six runs, and 10 RBI. This is Akerson's first all-conference award.
Berg led the team in several offensive categories, including batting average (.425), runs (32), hits (51), home runs (9), and total bases (92), as well as slugging percentage (.767) and on-base percentage (.477). Her nine home runs sets a new single season school record and, when combined with her three homers from last season, she now has a new career school record as a sophomore. Berg was instrumental in helping Bethel earn its first-ever MIAC playoff berth as she helped the Royals close out the regular season by winning nine of their last 13 games. She had a home run in five of those games, including two two-home run performances against Saint Benedict on April 24.
Beasley has been a leader on the team for each of her four seasons, whether it be on the field or off. This season, she hit .292 with 16 runs, three doubles, and 14 RBIs and five stolen bases. Defensively, Beasley was a four-year starter in the infield and made many great plays, robbing the opposition of hits, base runners, and runs. In addition to her all-conference honorable mention, Beasley is also Bethel's sportsmanship team representative for the second season in a row.
Lauren Habisch (Jr., Lakeville, Minn.), along with Berg, was another long-ball threat for the Royals and she helped account for five of Bethel's 16 blasts. Habisch led the team in at bats (130), triples (5), and RBIs (31) - the fifth highest single season total in school history. An everyday player in each of her three seasons, she made the transition from outfield to first base with relative ease and had a fielding percentage of .980 on the season. This is the second consecutive season Habisch has earned an all-conference honorable mention.
Ashley Lindberg (Jr., Sartell, Minn.) had a breakout season after serving in a supporting role her first two years with the program behind two-time All-MIAC catcher
Molly Trombley. Lindberg took the reigns both at and behind the plate as she was second on the team in batting average at .342 and led the team in doubles with 11. This is Lindberg's first recognition from the conference.
Lynnae Thompson (Jr., Stewartville, Minn.) transferred in from Nyack College in New York, where she was a two-year starter and she made an immediate impact for the Royals. Thompson had the third highest batting average on the team at .327, was second in doubles with nine, and third in RBIs with 21. Her walk-off two-run home run against Saint Mary's gave Bethel its first-ever sweep of the Cardinals and she was flawless in the field as the Royals starting rightfielder. This is Thompson's first award from the MIAC.
