LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – After putting together an impressive campaign with the Mount Mercy softball team, LJ Putzier took home the top honors in the Association of Independent Institutions on Wednesday night as she was named Player of the Year at the annual pre-tournament banquet on the campus of Georgia Gwinnett College.
Putzier, who leads MMU with 37 scores, 17 doubles and 12 homers, is one of four honorees to take home a special award from the league. Georgia Gwinnett's Ashley Beyke repeated as the league's Pitcher of the Year, and she was joined by teammate Hailey Burnham, who was named Newcomer of the Year. Kentucky Christian's Jenna Edwards took home Freshman of the Year.
GGC's Kat Ihlenburg, who led the 11th ranked Grizzlies to a 41-15 record on the season, split the Coach of the Year honors with KCU's Dave Miller, who guided the Knights to a 28-18 record.
A league-best six GGC players were named to the All-A.I.I. First Team, as catcher Alycia Fields, outfielders Alyssa Hathcoat and Tori Heinemann as well as utility player Brashante Dareus each grabbed a spot alongside Beyke and Burnham.
Ashford earned four spots on the first team with pitcher Nicole Schmidt, outfielder Allie Klasen and the infield duo of heavy-hitting Siera Spahiu and Taylor Ellestad. Fellow Iowa schools Clarke and Mount Mercy combined for five more players on the first team, and KCU's Katelyn Miller rounded out the squad.
KCU led the way on the second team with four honorees, and Central Christian added another three. GGC and MMU each boasted of two apiece, and Ashford, Clarke and Fisher rounded out the squad with one piece.
The A.I.I. Softball Championship will begin on Thursday from Grizzly Softball Complex on the campus of GGC.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR LJ Putzier, Mount Mercy
PITCHER OF THE YEAR Ashley Beyke, Georgia Gwinnett
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR Jenna Edwards, Kentucky Christian
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR Hailey Burnham, Georgia Gwinnett
CO-COACH OF THE YEAR Kat Ihlenburg, Georgia Gwinnett / Dave Miller, Kentucky Christian
FIRST TEAM
P - Katelyn Miller, Kentucky Christian
P - Nicole Schmidt, Ashford
P - Ashley Beyke, Georgia Gwinnett
C - Kayla O'Brien, Clarke
C - Alycia Fields, Georgia Gwinnett
IF - Siera Spahiu, Ashford
IF - Allyson Renforth, Clarke
IF - Amanda Gaffey, Mount Mercy
IF - Hailey Burnham, Georgia Gwinnett
IF - Taylor Ellestad, Ashford
OF - LJ Putzier, Mount Mercy
OF - Alyssa Hathcoat, Georgia Gwinnett
OF - Allie Klasen, Ashford
OF - Tori Heinemann, Georgia Gwinnett
DP - Sarah Crews, Clarke
UT - Brashante Dareus, Georgia Gwinnett
SECOND TEAM
P - Jenna Edwards, Kentucky Christian
P - Katie Lange, Georgia Gwinnett
P - Tawny Menster, Mount Mercy
C - Cassandra Adkins, Kentucky Christian
C - Sydney Nelson, Central Christian
IF - McKenzie Vanover, Kentucky Christian
IF - Haley Thompson, Georgia Gwinnett
IF - Lyssa Ritchhart, Central Christian
IF - Morgan Selmi, Fisher
IF - Brie Tauber, Clarke
OF - Hannah Peterson, Mount Mercy
OF - Emma Conley, Kentucky Christian
DP - Ashlee Amador, Ashford
UT - Kasi Kraus, Central Christian