The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) released its 2014 softball all-conference team and six Northwestern College players earned the postseason honor.
Three players, Clare Ipema (Crete, Ill.), Katie VandeVoort (Brandon, S.D.) and Jillian Kleinhesselink (Everson, Wash.) earned first team accolades. Ipema led the Red Raiders and ranked eighth in the conference with a .378 batting average, totaling 59 hits in 156 at-bats. The sophomore outfielder scored 30 runs and ranked fifth in the league with 22 stolen bases. VandeVoort, now a three-time all-conference selection, led the Red Raiders with a 13-4 record and 2.18 earned run average, third lowest in the GPAC. The senior gave up just 113 hits in 125.1 innings, striking out 69 and giving up a mere 23 walks. Teams hit just .234 against VandeVoort, who closed out her Red Raider career tied for sixth in career wins (48) and sixth in strikeouts (282). Kleinhesselink, a repeat first team selection, hit .324 with 55 hits in 170 at-bats. The junior outfielder ranked third in the league with 39 runs scored and totaled 17 extra-base hits. Kleinhesselink led the GPAC for third straight year in stolen bases (39) and is the program’s all-time leader with 102 for her career.
Two Northwestern players, Alex Price (Hastings, Neb.) and Keely Bracelin (Milford, Iowa), earned second team honors. Price, now a three-time all-conference selection, ranked second on the team with a .333 batting average, totaling 51 hits in 153 at-bats. The senior scored 34 runs and ranked fourth in the GPAC with 38 RBIs. Price went a perfect 13-for-13 in stolen bases and had an impressive 95% fielding percentage at shortstop. She finishes her career tied for seventh with 30 doubles and tied for sixth with 103 RBIs. Bracelin, a four-time all-conference selection, posted a 12-8 record and ranked fourth in the GPAC with a 2.21 earned run average. The senior ranked sixth in the league with 113 strikeouts, eighth in innings pitched (149) and led the conference in opponents batting average against (.219). Bracelin finishes her career tied for sixth with 48 wins and third all-time with 385 strikeouts.
Laura Hurley (Canton, S.D.) earned honorable mention honors after hitting .318 with a team-high five home runs and 42 RBIs, ranking second in the GPAC. The sophomore totaled 15 doubles and had a .513 slugging percentage.
Northwestern finished its season with a 31-18 overall record and shared the GPAC regular season title with Morningside at 15-5.
GPAC Press Release
