Begle and Finch Achieve 1st Team; Quartet of Softball Players on USCAA All-American Teams
AKRON, Ohio - The 2016 USCAA All-American and End of Year Awards were announced at the 2016 USCAA Softball National Championship Banquet at Guy's Party Centre in Akron, OH. The USCAA awarded more than 45 All-Americans, as well as this year's Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, and Student-Athlete of the Year. Congratulations to all winners on a great season on the field.
Headlining four players from the University of Dallas were senior Erin Begle (Houston, Texas) and junior Avery Finch (Jamul, Calif.). The duo each earned a spot on the USCAA All-American First Team, which is the second year in a row that the Lady Crusaders have placed that many on that list.
Begle notched her first postseason accolade from the USCAA in her career. The 2016 Team MVP produced incredible numbers in her final campaign with the Lady Crusaders. The four-year letterwinner paced the squad with a .360 batting average, 13 doubles, five home runs, and 30 RBI. Begle also tied second on the team with 45 base knocks. The shortstop added 22 runs scored, two triples, 13 walks, and eight stolen bases.
Finch earned her second straight USCAA All-American after claiming a spot on the second team in 2015. This season, the program's all-time leader in stolen bases (86) accomplished that feat this spring as she re-broke her own single-season record with 36. Finch leads the USCAA with that many thefts, and has been atop the leaderboard most of the campaign. The centerfielder batted leadoff in a UD record-breaking 44 started (tied 3 players with mark) also paced the team in hits (52), triples (4), and runs scored (35). She batted .351 and tied an SCAC Tournament record with five stolen bases.
Boasting her second nod with a USCAA All-American Honor in as many seasons was junior Katie Lee (Houston, Texas). The three-year letterwinner, right-handed pitcher claimed a spot on the USCAA Second Team All-Americans. Lee is currently tied for second in wins (15) on the USCAA leaderboard, and was near or at the top the majority of the spring. Lee's overall numbers with the Lady Crusaders follow: 15-14 record, 1 save, 3.12 ERA, 177.1 Innings Pitched, 35 appearances (24 starts), and 70 strikeouts.
Rounding out the unit with a spot on the USCAA Honorable Mention All-American Team is junior Allison Kotlar (Edna, Texas). This marks Kotlar's first time receiving an All-American, and is her second USCAA Postseason Award this spring. Kotlar was named to the National All-Academic Team that same evening. Kotlar batted ninth in a UD record-breaking 44 starts (tied 3 players with mark), and etched personal bests in several offensive categories. These included: batting average (.341), hits (42), doubles (8), home runs (3), runs scored (27), and RBI (22). She also swiped 10 stolen bases and added a pair of triples.
This group competed for third-year head coach Beth Krysiak in just as many seasons. Each had an integral part to help the program win 21 games, which is the most in a spring campaign.
Complete List of UD All-Americans