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News
Seven Lady Cougars Earn NCCAA East Region
Honors
written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - Seven members of the
Mount Vernon Nazarene University women’s
fastpitch softball team and their head coach
were honored when the National Christian
College Athletic Association East Region
awards were announced recently.
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Laura Kot |
Kristin Eyerman |
Karly Clay |
Laura Kot, a senior second baseman from
Tallmadge, Ohio, highlighted the list for
the Lady Cougars as she was selected as the
NCCAA East Region Player of the Year. The
former Tallmadge High School star posted a
.462 batting average with a team-high 60
hits and 17 stolen bases to go with three
doubles, one triple, 12 RBI, and 27 runs
scored.
Kristin Eyerman, Karly Clay, Michelle
Gastin, Leslie Banichar, and Tasha Konkle
were also named to the NCCAA East Region
Team, while Caitlin Murphy was an NCCAA East
Region Honorable Mention pick.
Eyerman, a junior pitcher from Delaware,
Ohio, was the top pitcher selected. The
former Buckeye Valley High School standout
went 13-6 on the mound with a 1.80 ERA. In
128.1 innings of work, she struck out 85
batters and issued just 25 walks. Opponents
hit just .235 against her.
Clay, a sophomore third baseman from
Blacklick, Ohio, was the second infielder
selected behind Kot. The former Gahanna
Lincoln High School star batted .376 with a
team-high 14 doubles, four triples, and 28
RBI. She also registered one home run and 19
runs scored.
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| Michelle Gastin |
Leslie Banichar |
Tasha Konkle |
Gastin, a freshman from Mount Vernon,
Ohio, was selected as the designated player
on the NCCAA East Region Team. The former
Mount Vernon High School product batted .324
with five doubles, one home run, 16 runs
scored, and 21 RBI.
Banichar, a freshman outfielder from
Shelby, Ohio, batted .296 with two doubles,
two triples, 11 runs scored, and 16 RBI in
her first collegiate season. The former
Shelby High School standout also stole 14
bases and started all 36 games.
Konkle, a freshman shortstop from Urbana,
Ohio, batted .327 with six doubles, one home
run, five stolen bases, 15 RBI, and 24 runs
scored. The former West Liberty-Salem High
School star started all 36 games and
committed just 10 errors at shortstop in 164
fielding chances.
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| Caitlin Murphy |
Jeana Howald |
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Murphy, a freshman catcher from Gahanna,
Ohio, batted .322 with nine doubles, three
triples, two home runs, 15 RBI, and 27 runs
scored. The former Gahanna Lincoln High
School standout also threw out 17 of the 38
runners who tried to steal on her and picked
off six others.
Head coach Jeana Howald was also selected
as the NCCAA East Region Coach of the Year
as she guided the Lady Cougars to a 22-14
overall record. Howald also registered her
400th career victory during the season and
now has a 400-306 mark in 18 seasons at
MVNU.
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