College Softball: Blazers' Wennerstrand on national watch list
ST. JOSEPH--Sara Wennerstrand had a big season for the College of Saint Benedict softball team as a junior in 2017, but coaches around the nation expect her to do even bigger and better things as a senior this spring.
ST. JOSEPH-Sara Wennerstrand had a big season for the College of Saint Benedict softball team as a junior in 2017, but coaches around the nation expect her to do even bigger and better things as a senior this spring.
Wennerstrand is one of 50 Division III softball student-athletes from around the country named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III National Player of the Year Watch List Tuesday. She is one of seven athletes from the MIAC on the list, and the first CSB softball player in program history to make the list.
Wennerstrand wrapped up her junior year with NFCA All-Region and All-MIAC First Team honors in 2017. She finished second on the team and fourth in the MIAC in hits (54), including 10 doubles, two triples and three home runs. After setting the school record for RBIs in a season (45) as a sophomore, she finished her junior season with 39 RBIs. She also had a .570 slugging percentage.
She was just as good or better in the field. Wennerstrand, who was named the team's defensive MVP as a junior, made just five errors in 38 games at shortstop, and finished the year with a .952 fielding percentage. She had 55 putouts and 104 assists.
Wennerstrand is joined on the watch list by fellow MIAC athletes Melissa Barry (St. Thomas), Julia Carpenter (Macalester), Emily Carr and Julie Graf (St. Olaf) and Krista Flugstad and Jenna George (St. Kate's).
The list, which is compiled by the NFCA's Division III All-America committee, will be cut to 25 and 10 as the season progresses. The winner of the NFCA Division III Player of the Year will be announced following the completion of the 2018 National Championship.
The list will be adjusted throughout the season, and the winner will come from the group of 10 finalists.
Related Topics: COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Women's College Hockey: King unsure about what her hockey future might look like
Former Brainerd Warrior Olivia King is enjoying her senior season as a member of the University of Minnesota Gopher women's hockey team.
By Jeremy Millsop
Men's College Basketball: Raiders' bench key to win
The Central Lakes College Raiders traveled to Ely to face Vermilion.
By Dispatch staff report
Athletics: 6 Raiders make fall elite team
The Central Lakes College Raiders landed six student-athletes on Elite Team
Women's College Basketball: CLC's Quigley honored
Quigley enjoyed a big week for CLC.