Softball lands five on First Team All-NACC

WAUKESHA, Wis. – The Concordia University Wisconsin Softball team was well-represented as the NACC released its 2017 Softball Awards Friday. The Falcons had five players selected to the First Team, leading the conference in First Team selections.

Seniors Carly Sobrilsky and Lexi Holsten, junior Emily Brekke, sophomore Maddie Zazas, and freshman Molly O'Connell (New London, Wis.) were all named First Team All-NACC after leading the Falcons to a 17-5 league record. O'Connell landed on the All-Freshman Team as well.

The five First Team selections are the most for CUW since joining the NACC in the 2007 season. The five players being recognized also ties a NACC mark for the Falcons. 

Sobrilsky (Brookfield, Wis.) landed on the First Team for the first time in her impressive four-year career. She was a Second Team selection in 2015 and received Honorable Mention recognition in 2016. This year, Sobrilsky finished the regular season with a .375 batting average with six home runs and 39 RBIs. The CUW career home run leader ranked second in RBIs in conference games, driving in 25 runs over 22 games.

Holsten (Oshkosh, Wis.) followed the same path as Sobrilsky in receiving Second Team recognition in 2015 and Honorable Mention honors last season. This year, the senior outfielder ranked second in the NACC with a .429 batting average, collecting 51 hits. Holsten tied for fourth in the NACC with 21 RBIs in conference-only games and finished the regular season with 10 doubles, eight of those coming against NACC competition.

Brekke (Waterford, Wis.) was one of the top pitchers in the NACC all season and it showed with her First Team recognition. The junior ranked in the top three in each of the major pitching categories, finishing first in saves (5), second in ERA (1.27), second in strikeouts (143), and third in wins (17). Brekke threw two no-hitters during the season. In conference-only contests, Brekke posted a 1.02 ERA in 95.2 innings of work, striking out 97 batters.

Zazas (Mundelein, Ill.) lands on the First Team after an All-Freshman nod last season. The Falcons leadoff hitter had an impressive campaign, batting .382 with 31 runs scored and 32 RBIs. Zazas tallied 33 hits in 22 conference games, tying for third most in the league. She batted .388 in those contests with 19 runs scored and 16 RBIs. The sophomore posted a .417 on-base percentage during the regular season and added 10 steals.

O'Connell (New London, Wis.) impressed in her first year with the Falcons and the conference took notice as she was one of two freshmen to gain First Team honors. The rookie pitcher/outfielder ranked fifth in the NACC with a .415 batting average. She batted .429 in conference-only games with 16 runs scored and 12 RBIs. As a pitcher, O'Connell posted a 2.45 ERA in 68.2 innings of work, finishing the regular season with an 8-4 record. O'Connell was also named to the All-Freshman Team. 

Emily Snow of MSOE was named the league's Position Player of the Year, while Holly Haberkorn of regular season champion Benedictine landed Pitcher of the Year honors. Snow and Haberkorn's coaches, Kyle Knoblauch of MSOE and Kate Heidkamp of Benedictine, were chosen as Co-Coaches of the Year. Dominican's Cat Klostermann rounded out the major awards, being chosen as the Freshman of the Year.

A list of the 2017 All-NACC Softball Teams can be found here.