Six Central Community College softball players — two of them from Wayne — and its head coach have earned 2018 Region IX Division II Softball honors.
Freshman infielder Ashten Gibson, sophomore catcher Danica Schaefer — both of Wayne — along with sophomore shortstop Mackenzie Eller, sophomore pitcher Katelyn Keene and sophomore infielder Jenna Robinson were named to the All-Region IX team. Freshman outfielder Shelby Behnk joined Eller, Keene, Robinson and Schafefer on the Region IX All-Tournament team.
The Raiders fared well in individual honors as Gibson earned Region IX Freshman of the Year honors and Schaefer took Region IX Offensive Player of the Year honors. Eller was named as the Region IX Defensive Player of the Year, while Keene was tabbed as the Region IX Outstanding Pitcher. Additionally, CCC head coach Jack Gutierrez was named as the Region IX Coach of the Year.
For the second consecutive season, Schaefer was the leading hitter for the Raiders with a .488 batting average to go along with 33 RBIs and a team-high 39 runs. She netted two home runs, a team-best 18 doubles and a triple.
Gibson finished the season with a win-loss total of 8-9 with a 4.06 ERA and seven strikeouts in 91.1 innings pitched.
Behnk maintained a .259 batting average, recorded 18 RBIs and scored 35 runs. She recorded a pair of home runs, six doubles and a triple.
Eller sported a .338 batting average, logged 18 RBIs and scored 35 runs. She also logged a home run and 15 doubles, while only committing eight errors all season.
Keene logged the lowest earned ERA in the conference at 3.21 to go along with her 12-6 win-loss record. She also totaled 48 strikeouts in 131 innings pitched.
Robinson sported a .381 batting average, a team-best 55 RBIs and 32 runs. She also tallied a team-high 13 homers and three doubles.
The Raiders won the Region IX championship on Saturday with a pair of wins over Southeast Community College. CCC defeated the Lady Storm 11-3 in the first game, followed by a 12-4 triumph in the second. Both were five-inning victories. CCC is 20-19 on the season.
“Our girls were totally locked in for both games,” said CCC head coach Jack Gutierrez. “They prepared well during the week and we all wanted the Region IX championship to happen in two games on our home field. All 13 girls on our team contributed in the wins and we have a big challenge ahead of us.”
Up next, the Raiders will meet Kirkwood Community College (Iowa) in the NJCAA District G Playoffs in Columbus on Thursday. The playoff is a best-of-three format with the first two games set for 12 and 2 p.m. respectively. If a third game is necessary, it will be played on Friday at 12 p.m.
The Eagles won the Region XI-B championship over the weekend with a pair of wins over Iowa Central Community College. Kirkwood is 46-11 on the season.
“Kirkwood is a very good team and we will have to match the effort and approach plus some to beat them,” said Gutierrez.
