Softball Snags Seven NACC Honors
MEQUON, Wis. – The Concordia Wisconsin softball team had the honors roll in on Friday morning when the Northern Athletics Colligate Conference (NACC) announced its all-conference teams and major awards. The Falcons claimed two of the four major awards and had five players land on an all-conference team.
Concordia Wisconsin landed three onto the All-NACC First Team with Sydney Erdmann, Gina Followell and Claudia Utz. Nicki Becker and Jess Pozezinski were voted to the All-NACC Honorable Mention.
Gina Followell was named the NACC Pitcher of the Year and the Falcons also claimed the Coaching Staff of the Year.
A senior pitcher from Romeoville, Illinois, Gina Followell is claiming her fourth major NACC Award and her fourth appearance on the All-NACC First Team. Followell was the 2022 NACC Pitcher of the Year, 2021 NACC North Division Pitcher of the Year and the 2019 NACC Newcomer of the Year. Followell boasts a perfect 22-0 record with three saves on the season. The Illinois native has 13 10 or more strikeout performances, with a season-high 16 against Wisconsin Lutheran. She leads the NACC in earned run average, wins, opponent batting average, and earned runs. Second in total strikeouts and shutouts
A senior outfielder from Geneva, Illinois, Sydney Erdmann is securing her second All-NACC Honor with an All-NACC North Division selection in 2021. Erdmann has recorded 29 runs on 56 hits with 16 RBIs. Batted .434. Stole 14 bases. Recorded a .982 fielding percentage with 55 putouts. Second in the conference for batting average and total hits.
A senior catcher from Lockport, Illinois, Claudia Utz is making her third-straight appearance on the All-NACC First Team. She recorded 32 runs on 40 hits. Had 21 extra-base hits including eight home runs and three triples. Utz has a .370 batting average with 40 RBIs and four stolen bases. She caught seven runners stealing and put up a .990 fielding percentage and Utz was first in runs batted in and was second in the conference in home runs and putouts.
A senior pitch from Brodhead, Wisconsin, Nicki Becker is making her second appearance on an All-NACC team, with an All-NACC North selection in 2021. Becker has earned a 12-3 record with an earned run average of 1.59. 92.1 innings pitched with 79 strikeouts.
A sophomore shortstop from Lake Villa, Illinois, Jess Pozezinski is making her second-straight appearance on an All-NACC team. Pozezinski has scored 27 runs on 43 hits with 33 RBIs. Batted .350 with 19 extra-base hits including five home runs and one triple.
Coaching Staff
The CUW softball coaching staff, led by Steve Crook was voted the NACC Coaching Staff of the Year. In his 24th season, Crook has guided Concordia University Wisconsin to a 34-3 record overall headed into the day. The Falcons went 23-0 in league play to capture a fourth-straight NACC regular-season title (2019, 2021,2022 and 2023). This is the sixth time that coach Crook and the staff with the Falcons took the title in 2002 and 2004 in the Lake Michigan Conference and in 2019, 2021 and 2022 in the NACC.
Lexi Martin of Wisconsin Lutheran was voted the NACC Position Player of the Year and Jasmin Lozano of Benedictine was the NACC Freshman of the Year.
For a complete list of selections, click here.
