Perkins First Team selection leads Softball in 2016 NACC awards
WAUKESHA, Wis. – Senior Melissa Perkins already had plenty of accolades during her impressive four-year run with the Concordia University Wisconsin Softball team. Now Perkins can add First Team All-Conference Selection as she landed the honors Thursday, when the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference released the 2016 awards.
Perkins (Park Forest, Ill.) was one of five Falcons to receive accolades from the NACC. Three players, juniors Carly Sobrilsky and Lexi Holsten, along with sophomore Deidra Weinberger received Honorable Mention honors, while freshman Maddie Zazas (Mundelein, Ill.) was named to the NACC All-Freshmen Team.
"First of all, I am proud of our five All-Conference players for getting the recognition they deserve from strong seasons," said head coach Steve Crook. "While happy for them, I am a little disappointed we didn't have more players honored. To finish second in the conference, I felt we had other players deserving of All-Conference awards."
Perkins led the way with a 15-7 record, while also recording a pair of saves. She posted a 2.65 ERA in 140 innings in the circle. Perhaps the most impressive stat for the senior was she issued just 24 walks during the season, compared to 65 strikeouts. She also set the Falcons career wins mark, which now stands at 57.
Holsten (Oshkosh, Wis.) landed her second All-Conference honors after being named to the Second Team a season ago. She hit .330 over the season, including .386 in conference games. During the 22-game NACC season, Holsten scored 15 runs, doubled seven times and drove in six runs, while adding a couple of steals.
Sobrilsky (Brookfield, Wis.) was recognized for the third straight season, earning All-Freshman team accolades in 2014, while being named to the Second Team last spring. The junior catcher hit .325 this season with 25 RBI and a team-leading five home runs. In NACC play, she drove in 16 runs with four home runs and a triple.
Weinberger (Mayville, Wis.) made big strides in her sophomore season, batting a robust .387 this season, including .397 in conference games. She drove in 19 runs in NACC play, with seven doubles, a home run, a triple, all while scoring 18 times. Add in strong defense from the shortstop position and it was a very strong season for the sophomore.
Zazas (Mundelein, Ill.) was the Falcons lone selection on the All-Freshmen Team. The leadoff batter for CUW hit .372 this year, which included a program-record 14 doubles. She scored 24 runs, drove in 27, tripled three times, homered twice and stole 10 bases providing balance at the top of the Falcons lineup.
CUW finished the regular season with a 15-7 NACC record and a 25-15 overall mark. The Falcons earned the No. 2 seed in the NACC Tournament, which is set to begin today. CUW will take on either Benedictine or Concordia Chicago at 2 p.m.
