Latest news, weather, high school sports for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

HANCOCK -- Courtesy:  Finlandia University

Finlandia University pitcher/catcher Brittany Garland and St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) pitcher Alyson Chiaramonte were the major award winners as the 2011 All-Independent Softball teams were announced today by the Association of Division III Independents.

Garland, a junior from Long Beach, Calif., was named the player of the year after posting stellar numbers on the mound and at the plate.  She hit .500 with 14 home runs, 75 runs batted in and had a slugging percentage of 1.009.  She also went 22-11 with a 3.82 earned-run average as a starting pitcher.  In 34 starts, she completed 31 games and struck out 150 batters in 209 innings pitched. 

Chiaramonte, a junior from Staten Island, NY, was named the pitcher of the year after she went 17-3 with a 1.21 earned-run average.  She started 19 games and had 18 complete games, including five shutouts.  In 120 innings pitched, Chiaramonte struck out 154 and walked only 12 batters.

 India Slayback, a freshman outfielder from Finlandia University, was named the rookie of the year.  The Belle Center, Ohio, native hit .413 with 44 runs scored and 21 runs batted in to bolster a revived Lions attack in 2011.

Shawn Hendrickson, who just finished his fourth season as Finlandia's head coach, was named the coach of the year.  The Lions improved to 25-11 this season after finishing the 2010 campaign with a 7-29 record.

Softball coaches at member institutions of the Association of Division III Independents selected the award recipients during a conference call.


First Team

Pitcher – Alyson Chiaramonte, Junior, St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) (Staten Island, NY)

Pitcher – Brittany Garland, Junior, Finlandia University (Long Beach, CA)

Pitcher – Alysia Wittmaack, Senior, Nebraska Wesleyan University (Lincoln, NE)

Pitcher – Krista Coffin, Freshman, University of Maine-Presque Isle (Presque Isle, ME)

First base – Marcia Kennedy, Senior, Nebraska Wesleyan University (Omaha, NE)

Second base – Kayla Sax, Junior, Finlandia University (Los Angeles, CA)

Third base – Malinda Henning, Junior, Mount Mary College (Milwaukee, WI)

Shortstop – Brittany Humphrey, Senior, University of Maine-Presque Isle (New Gloucester, ME)

Catcher – Caitlyn Kakavas, Junior, St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) (Bayside, NY)

Outfield – Dani Bryant, Junior, Nebraska Wesleyan University (Lincoln, NE)

Outfield – Emily Barker, Sophomore, Mount Mary College (Oconomowoc, WI)

Outfield – Elisabeth Trickey, Sophomore, North Central University (Waseca, MN)          

Utility – Danielle Marino, Sophomore, St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) (Maspeth, NY)

Utility – India Slayback, Freshman, Finlandia University (Belle Center, OH)

Second Team

Pitcher – Lisa Scheer, Junior, St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) (Bayside, NY)

Pitcher – Brenna Maguire, Junior, Nebraska Wesleyan University (Treynor, ID)

Pitcher – Danielle Anderson, Junior, North Central University (Aurora, MN)

Pitcher – Emily Moore, Junior, University of Maine-Presque Isle (Lisbon Falls, ME)

First base – Maci Dyer, Freshman, Finlandia University (Madison, VA)

Shortstop – (tie) Alex Lindbloom, Freshman, Finlandia University (Hailey, ID); and Brittany Castro, Sophomore, University of Dallas (Houston, TX)

Third base – Jessica Weingarten, Sophomore, Nebraska Wesleyan University (Chesterfield, MO)

Catcher – (tie) Danielle Humphrey, Senior, University of Maine-Presque Isle (New Gloucester, ME); and Michelle Pitts, Junior, Chapman University (Pleasonton, CA)

Outfield – Carolyn Tuck, Junior, University of Maine-Presque Isle (Brewer, ME)

Outfield – Megan Beckstead, Senior, Nebraska Wesleyan University (Bellevue, NE)

Outfield – Andrea Sideli, Sophomore, St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) (Brooklyn, NY)

Utility – Katie Terry, Sophomore, Chapman University (Seal Beach, CA)

Utility – Lara Lijewski, Senior, Mount Mary College (Milwaukee, WI)

Honorable Mention

Pitcher – Kristen Oechsel, Senior, Chapman University (La Canada, CA)

First base – Ashley Leverenz, Sophomore, Mount Mary College (Mauston, WI)

Second base – Jillian Troise, Junior, St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) (Brooklyn, NY)

Third base – Desiree Smith, Junior, University of Maine-Presque Isle (Thomaston, ME)

Shortstop – (tie) Hannah Gordon, Freshman, North Central College (Boise, ID); and Elizabeth Johnston, Sophomore, College of New Rochelle (Plano, TX)

Catcher – Rachelle Cable, Freshman, Finlandia University (Gunnison, CO)

Outfield –Kerry Peterson, Sophomore, Chapman University (Belmont, CA)

Outfield – Ashley Benavidez, Freshman, Finlandia University (Phoenix, AZ)

Outfield – Jackie Marinello, Senior, St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) (Brooklyn, NY)

Utility – Millicia Malvasio, Sophomore, St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) (Brooklyn, NY)

Utility – Becky Bomberger, Freshman, Nebraska Wesleyan University (Crete, NE)

The Association of Division III Independents consists of 13 Division III independent institutions that have joined together to recognize student-athletes at independent institutions, and to provide exempted postseason championship competition. The Association recognizes outstanding athletic achievements of its student-athletes on a weekly, monthly and annual basis. The Association provides statistical services for its members in seven sports. In addition, it announced All-Independent teams at the conclusion of eight other sports this year.

More information about the Association of Division III Independents is available at http://www.d3independents.org