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May 28, 2013

Autumn Isaacson was named MVP of the NWAACC North Region. photo by Rich Dworkis

NWAACC AND NFCA AWARDS FOR BULLDOGS SOFTBALL

Members of the Bulldog softball team were recognized with honors throughout the NWAACC, both athletically and academically, as well as a National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) award. In the NWAACC North Region, Autumn Isaacson was selected MVP and Brielle Bray, Pitcher of the Year, while teammates Hanna Sauget (Pitcher), Larissa Johnson (Infield), Lindsey West (Outfield), Brittany Jacobsen (Catcher), and Lauren Burchak (Designated Hitter/Designated Player) were selected to the North Region First Team, and Meagan Ransier (Infield), Cassidy DeWaele (Infield), and Miranda Granger (Outfield) received Second Team honors. Bellevue’s Head Coach Leah Francis was selected North Region Coach of the Year. Bulldogs receiving NWAACC All Academic Sports Team nominations included Miranda Granger, Meagan Ransier, and Jessica Tingley. Granger and Ransier were also selected to the NWAACC Softball All-Tournament Team.

National honors went to Autumn Isaacson who was named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Americans Team 2013, and also received the Adidas Golden Shoe Award. The team is selected by NFCA-member NWAACC coaching representatives, based on nomination from the season.

Congratulations to all our Bulldogs softball student-athletes for an truly outstanding year!

Suchada Anusuriya was the medalist in the NWAACC Championships and helped lead the Bulldogs to their second consecutive title. photo by Rich Dworkis

BC GOLFERS’ RECEIVE WELL-EARNED RECOGNITION

The Bellevue men’s and women’s golf teams enjoyed a share of award-winners from the 2012-13 season. On the women’s side, the All Academic Sports Team nomination went to sophomore Corey Rois for her 4.00 cumulative GPA, and freshman Suchada Anusuriya was selected to the NWAACC Women’s Golf All-Stars First Team. Colten Kleis was named to the NWAACC Men’s Golf All-Stars, and teammates Eric Frank and Ryan Maul were selected for the All Academic Sports Team for Spring Quarter.

NWAACC PLAYER OF THE YEAR HONOREES

Two Bellevue College student-athletes have been selected as Baden Player of the Year for their respective sports: Rixing Xu of the BC women’s tennis team and Suchada Anusuriya of the BC women’s golf team were chosen from among NWAACC member schools. 

WOMEN’S TENNIS HONORS

Sophomore Jullie Le of the BC Women’s Tennis team was recognized for the All Academic Sports Team for Spring Quarter 2013.  

Max Brown was named All-NWAACC first team outfielder. photo by Rich Dworkis

BELLEVUE’S PLAYOFF RUN ENDS WITH 3RD PLACE FINISH AT NWAACC BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Bellevue College baseball's magical run came to an end at two o’clock in the wee hours of Monday morning as Everett defeated Bellevue in the NWAACC Championship semi-final game by a score of 10-5. Due to various rain delays ongoing throughout the day, the game finally got started on Sunday, May 26 at 11:00 p.m. and ended on Monday, May 27, at 2:00 a.m. The tournament held at Lower Columbia College in Longview, WA, began Friday, May 24, and Bellevue lost the opening round game 4-3 to Yakima Valley. Although the Bulldogs collected 15 hits (as compared to six by Yakima), the majority were with two outs which produce minimal run production. Yakima converted leadoff free passes (two walks and a hit batter) on three separate occasions into runs to turn the lopsided hit affair into a win for Yakima Valley. The Bulldogs bounced back with an 11-2 win over Linn-Benton on Saturday, May 25. Nick Kiel carried a shutout into the ninth inning to lead Bellevue, along with catcher Ryan Malone and center fielder Max Brown who each had three hits in the game.
On Sunday, May 26, Bellevue topped Mount Hood 7-2 behind the eight-strikeout performance by Alex Hatch, who carried a one-hitter through the first six innings. Injured for the first half of the season, Hatch came on late with two big wins in the post season and ended the year as one of the Bulldogs' top hurlers. Aaron Stroosma had three hits to lead the offense. It was Stroosma's second three-hit performance of the tourney. The win over Mt. Hood would be the final win of the season before losing to Everett on Sunday morning.
This spring was a season of highs and lows for the youthful Bulldog squad, which featured only eight sophomores and 21 freshmen. The team was ranked number one in the pre-season poll, then fell on hard times, losing nine players for the season due mostly to injuries. The 'Dogs then went on a skid, falling to .500 overall and a 6-10 league record and in a tie for fifth place in league, with only four qualifying for the league playoffs. During this time, numerous players made position changes due to the depleted roster. John Bodenhamer, an outfielder, was converted into a first baseman and pitcher, while pitcher Aaron Sandefur was converted into a third baseman. Shortstop Ryan Malone had to become Bellevue's one and only catcher after three catchers were lost for the season. Infielder Trai Patrick was shifted to the outfield after left fielder Kurt Lindemann was lost for the year with a broken hand. The role changes were accepted as the numbers on paper showed improvement. The team batting average rose 40 points during league play and the pitching staff ended up leading the entire NWAACC in strikeouts which was an initial goal at the beginning of the season. The squad went on a torrid 14-3 run to end the season heading into the NWAACC Championships to finish with a 32-20 record, a North Region Tourney title, and a third place overall finish at the NWAACC Championships. Although the team did not get back to where they were pegged at the beginning of the season, the 'Band-Aid' rookie squad came close in a valiant effort to get back to the top.

HONORS ANNOUNCED FOR BELLEVUE BASEBALL ATHLETES
Both the All-NWAACC teams and team awards were announced this weekend as fellow outfielders Jordan Richartz and Max Brown were both unanimous selections as All-NWAACC First Team outfielders. The pair hovered around the .400 batting clip all season long and were impact players on both the offensive and defensive sides.

The team also voted for the annual team awards last week. Brown received the Silver Bat Award, narrowly defeating Richartz, and also won the MVP Award. Richartz did not go home empty-handed, as he was selected by his teammates as the Gold Glove Award winner. Brady Kerr, who on paper was one, if not The top catcher in the NWAACC slated to return this year, was forced to sit out the entire season due to elbow surgery. His presence among the club was still evident as he won the Paul Villiott Most Inspirational Award easily. Cody Culp, a reliever, edged out starters Jake Reppert and Nick Kiel for Most Valuable Pitcher Award. And in the tightest race, Sheldon Stober won the Most Improved Award by a narrow margin over fellow-infielder-converted-catcher, Ryan Malone. The award was based on improvement from the fall to end of spring of this season. Brown was also selected for the NWAACC All Academic Sports Team.

Please visit the BC Athletics website http://bellevuecollege.edu/athletics/ for additional
team information. For complete standings, coaches’ polls and up-to-the-minute results go to http://nwaacc.org

GO BULLDOGS!