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Six Cardinals Earn All-Great Lakes Region Honors
May 14, 2009
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - The University of Louisville softball team has placed a program-high six players on the 2009 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I All Great Lakes Region team. Kristin Austin, Chelsea Bemis, Kristi Cunningham, Melissa Roth, Kristen Wadwell and Colby Wherry each earned the honor and will be eligible for Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America first, second or third teams. The all-region teams were chosen by NFCA member coaches from each region. Austin, a freshman outfielder from Hartsburg, Mo., earned a starting role as an outfielder early in the season and has played in 52 games with 48 starts. She leads the team with 17 stolen bases, is third with 39 runs and fourth on the team with a .352 batting average. She was named U of L Freshman of the Year at the All-Sport Banquet in April. Bemis, a sophomore third baseman from San Diego, Calif., is second on the team with a .382 batting average and 43 RBI. The two-year starter is already eighth on the career home runs list with 13 and is tied for seventh in career RBI with 93. Bemis is a 2009 first team all-conference selection. Roth, a junior from Long Beach, Calif., has led the Cardinals in virtually every offensive category this season including team-high numbers in batting average (.431), home runs (16), RBI (51), runs scored (62), slugging percentage (.863) and on-base percentage (.558). The 2009 BIG EAST Player of the Year and was also a four-time league Player of the Week this season. She also recently became the first Louisville player to be invited to the USA Softball National Team Selection Camp. Cunningham, a senior from Gallatin, Tenn., has been the Cardinals' starting centerfielder for the past four seasons. She carries a .308 batting average with 12 home runs and 42 RBI. Her 31 career homers place her second on the school's all-time list. She is also ranked among the top five in career runs scored (112) and RBI (118). The two-time All-BIG EAST selection has also been a team captain for the past two seasons.
Wadwell, a junior from Sydney, Australia, has compiled a nation-leading 40 wins. The three-time All-BIG EAST Conference selection carries a 1.39 ERA with 244 strikeouts and 11 shutouts on the season. Wadwell owns several school records including career (74) and single season (40)wins and strikeouts in a game (16). She earned BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week honors three times this year. Wherry, a sophomore shortstop from Goodlettsville, Tenn., stands third on the team with a .362 batting average and has 31 RBI and 27 runs. is a two-year starter for the Cardinals and is a two-time All-BIG EAST selection. She earned All-BIG EAST Player of the Week once this season. The No. 18/19 Cards (47-9) will open NCAA tournament play against Purdue (29-18) Friday at 6 p.m. at Ulmer Stadium. No. 7/6 Arizona (41-14) and UT Martin (38-22) will kick off the Louisville regional at 4 p.m. Friday. 2009 Louisville Regional Schedule (All times Eastern)
Great Lakes Region First Team |
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