Release courtesy of Dan McDonnell and the University of Southern Indiana Sports Information Department

Click here for printer-friendly (pdf) version of release 

For Immediate Release,

May 13, 2009 

Daktronics, Inc. All-Midwest Region softball team announced,

SVSU's Beaubien, UMSL's DeFosset headline squad 

EVANSVILLE, Ind.-Saginaw Valley State's senior outfielder Marsha Beaubien and the Missouri-St. Louis's senior hurler Allyson DeFosset were named the 2009 Daktronics, Inc. Midwest Region Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively, in a vote by the Midwest Region's sports information directors. 

Beaubien has compiled a .384 batting average with nine home runs and 36 RBIs in 2009. The 2009 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year led the Cardinals to the GLIAC Tournament title and the first-ever NCAA II Midwest Super Regional, where her squad is playing host to Indianapolis. 

DeFosset, the Great Lakes Valley Conference's Pitcher of the Year in 2009, led the Tritons to the NCAA II Midwest Region Tournament and the GLVC regular-season crown after compiling a 22-6 record with a 0.74 ERA and 298 strikeouts. DeFosset recorded her second-career no-hitter in the opening round of the regional tournament, leading her squad to a 1-0 victory over Ashland in its first regional appearance in 20 years. 

Joining Beaubien and DeFosset on the first team was Ashland's Shannon Gray (first base) and Logan Hursey (utility) as well as Wayne State's Rebecca Stanley (third base) and Casey Hanes (pitcher). Hanes was the 2009 GLIAC Pitcher of the Year after recording a 30-9 mark with a 0.79 ERA and 283 strikeouts. Gray and Hursey led Ashland to a 36-14 mark and the top seed in the GLIAC Tournament. 

GLVC Player of the Year Meagan Russell (designated player) also was selected to the first team after leading Indianapolis inside the pitching circle and at the plate. Russell is hitting .344 with eight doubles, two triples, 17 home runs, and 50 RBIs heading into this weekend's NCAA II Midwest Super Regional. She also is 17-9 with a 1.39 ERA as a pitcher. 

Rounding out the first team was Ferris State's Amanda Harrington (second base), Northern Kentucky's Jessica Farris (shortstop), Grand Valley State's Breanne Kronberg (catcher), Saginaw Valley State's Angela Kaiser (outfield), and Quincy's Erin Gregory (outfield) and Torie Bunzell (pitcher). 

The second team infield was comprised of Saginaw Valley State's Stacy Kraatz (first base), Tiffin's Lauren Mazzuca (second base), Ashland's Alyssa Kelley (third base), Findlay's Kara Hochevar (shortstop), and Lake Erie's Megan Foley (catcher). 

Wayne State's Alison Allen was selected second-team designated player, while Tiffin's Delaney Talmage earned second-team honors as a utility player. The second-team pitching staff was comprised of Saginaw Valley State's Jade Fulton, Ashland's Emlyn Knerem, and Ferris State's Holly Bruntjens. 

Rounding out the second team were outfielders Emily Tucker (Missouri S&T), Ashley Gates (Northern Kentucky), and Maggie Swanson (Indianapolis). 

The NCAA II Midwest Super Regional is May 15-16 in University Center, Michigan. Saginaw Valley State and Indianapolis will play a best-of-three game series for the right to represent the Midwest Region at the 2009 NCAA II Softball Championships May 21-25 in Salem, Virginia.  

2009 Daktronics, Inc. All-Midwest Region Softball Team