Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Haas selected Great Lakes All-Region First Team
05/15/2008 | 12:00:00 | Softball
May 15, 2008
By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced senior first baseman Lauren Haas as a member of the 2008 Great Lakes All-Region Softball First Team Wednesday afternoon.
This is the first-career Great Lakes All-Region selection for Haas, and third straight year the Salukis placed at least one athlete on the 12-member all-region first team.
Haas, who was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year and All-MVC First Team last week, led the team with a .388 batting average, and tied for fourth and sixth place all-time for single-season doubles (13) and runs batted in (39). Her season batting average was also the seventh-best all-time in the program's history.
Haas, a Bremerton, Wash. native, also moved into a tie for third place at SIU for career home runs with 24, and tied for fifth all-time for career doubles with 33.
Her numbers in conference games were even more astounding, as Haas hit .456 in 23 games, which was 40 points higher than any other player. She also had the league's best slugging percentage (.750), on-base percentage (.506), and most doubles (8) in MVC play.
Haas' consistency at the plate, along with her power helped her set many career-highs during the 2008 season. She broke a career-high with four hits in a game twice, set a personal-best with five RBI, and recorded a pair of doubles in two different games for a new career-high.
During the 2008 season, she also set a personal season-best for batting average (.388), hits (57), RBI (39), on-base percentage (.455), and tied her all-time high for home runs in a season with seven.
The Great Lakes All Region teams are chosen by NFCA member coaches from each region, and Haas will now be eligible for selection to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America first, second or third teams.
The NFCA Division I All-American teams will be announced late on Wednesday afternoon, May 28.
2008 NFCA GREAT LAKES ALL-REGION SOFTBALL TEAMS
FIRST TEAM
Pitcher - Jordan Taylor (Michigan)
Pitcher - Nikki Nemitz (Michigan)
Catcher - Samantha Marder (Ohio State)
First Base - Lauren Haas (Southern Illinois - Missouri Valley Player of the Year)
Second Base - Samantha Findlay (Michigan)
Third Base - Kara Nelson (Illinois State)
Shortstop - Teddi Ewing (Michigan)
Outfield - Jherica Williams (Wright State - Horizon League Player of the Year)
Outfield - Alessandra Giampaolo (Michigan)
Outfield - Nikki Nicosia (Michigan State)
Utility/Pitcher - Amber Smith (Illinois State)
Utility/Non-Pitcher - Brittany Vanderink (Ohio State)
SECOND TEAM
Pitcher - Jackie Hill (Penn State)
Pitcher - Amanda Macenko (Cleveland State - Horizon League Pitcher of the Year)
Catcher - Lana Armstrong (Illinois)
First Base - Ashley Strauss (Eastern Michigan)
Second Base - Gina Mondo (Michigan State)
Third Base - Amy Hudson (Central Michigan)
Shortstop - Bianca Mejia (Michigan State)
Outfield - Danielle Kinley (Penn State)
Outfield - Courtney Waters (Ohio University)
Outfield - Angela Findlay (Michigan)
Utility/Pitcher - Hayley Wiemer (Bowling Green)
Utility/Non-Pitcher - Jessica LeFevere (Michigan State)
