WICHITA, Kan. – Four Evangel Valor softball standouts have earned spots on KCAC All-Conference teams, highlighted by conference pitcher of the year, Maddy Meierer, as well as conference coach of the year, Jay Halbrook, and Ellie Facklam earning the conference gold glove at third base.
Maddy Meierer was named a unanimous first-team pitcher, while Madi Bentley earned a unanimous first-team relief pitcher nod. Karlie Romines earned unanimous second-team catcher honors while Kenna Mayfield rounded out awards by being named to the third team as a second baseman.
Coach Jay Halbrook was named as the conference coach of the year, helping guide the Valor to a 31-7 regular season record and a regular season KCAC conference title, leading the Valor back to the NAIA postseason for the first time since 2008.
Meierer, the Nixa native, claimed her first conference nod in her first collegiate season. Maddy led the Valor in the circle, going 14-1 overall with six shutouts and 12 complete games pitched. Meierer struck out 91 batters this year and is currently tied for 16th in Evangel history in wins in a single season.
A sophomore pitcher from Diamond, Mo., Bentley earned her first conference award in her first year at Evangel. Madi recorded 13 appearances, pitching 40.2 innings, the majority of which came in relief. Bentley recorded a 1.72 ERA and allowed just 10 earned runs in relief this season.
A junior catcher from Oak Grove, Missouri, Romines earned her first conference award in her third season at EU. Karlie hit .339 from the plate this season, the second highest on the team, while leading the team in home runs with six.
Rounding out All-Conference winners was Mayfield, who garnered conference recognition for the first time in her career. A sophomore infielder from Ozark, Mayfield had a nice season at the plate, leading the team with a .391 batting average and the most hits on the team with 50. Mayfield also is currently tied for sixth in stolen bases in a single season with 30.
Facklam, the junior from Springfield, earned the gold glove award at third base for the conference. Ellie currently boasts a 99.1 percent fielding percentage, only committing a single error this season in the hot corner on 62 chances. The Valor take the field on Wednesday, May 1st to take on the eighth-seeded Tabor Bluejays at 11:00 a.m. in Great Bend, Kansas.
