LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Five members of the Trine University softball team were named to the 2019 NCAA Division III All-Region team for the central region, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) has announced.
Junior Makenna Hartline (Niles, Mich. / Brandywine) headlines the group with her third appearance on the list and first as a member of the first team squad. Junior pitcher Hannah Kampmann (St. Paul, Minn. / Cretin Derham Hall) and senior Lainey McCue (Westlake, Ohio / Westlake) both came in as second team selections, both earning the first honors of their career. Rounding out the honoree for the Thunder were senior pitcher Kate Saupe (Farwell, Mich. / Farwell) and sophomore Mercede Daugherty (Watervilet, Mich. / Watervilet) both of appear on the third team list.
The at-large first team selection adds to a growing collection of honors for Hartline who was recently named the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Position Player of the Year. During the regular season Hartline led the team with ten homers, 34 runners batted in, 31 walks, 12 stolen bases and with a .567 on-base percentage and a .859 slugging percentage. During MIAA play she finished second among competition with a .905 slugging percentage and five home runs while leading the conference with a .590 on-base percentage and with 17 walks.
Kampmann was named to the second team as a pitcher, after being named the MIAA Pitcher of the Year and as a member of the Greencastle, Indiana All-Regional Team last weekend. Kampmann finished the regular season leading the team with 83 strikeouts in her 100 innings pitched. She also tied with most wins and came in second with a 1.51 ERA. She finished MIAA play with a perfect 7-0 record and topped the stat chart with wins and strikeouts (44). She finished second in the conference with a 2.21 ERA.
McCue made her first appearance on an All-Region team as an at-large selection to the second team. Last weekend McCue was named most outstanding player at the team's regional after finishing the weekend with four home runs including the championship-winning solo shot in the team's 1-0 victory over host DePauw University. During the regulars season she finished second on the team with six home runs, 29 runners batted in and 41 hits.
Saupe earns her first third team all-region honor after leading the Thunder with a 1.51 ERA during the regular season and with 13 wins. She also finished second with 68 strikeouts and led MIAA play with a 1.56 ERA. She pitched just one game in the team's regional last week, but it was a big one as she recorded her fifth shutout of the season over DePauw to give the team the victory in the championship contest. She was named to the all-regional team following her efforts.
The final selection, Daugherty makes her debut on the all-region team as an at-large selection. She leads the team with 15 doubles so far this season and second with 43 hits so far this season. She also comes in third with 33 runners batted in and with a .577 slugging percentage among team starters.
For a full list of all-region selections visit the NFCA's release.
Trine finished the regular season 30-4 overall and 14-2 in MIAA play, earning their ninth regulars season title. They will continue their postseason tomorrow, May 17 when they host SUNY Geneseo for an NCAA 2019 Super Regional contest. For up to date times and scores check out the super regional webpage.