Burnaby's Kelsey Haberl was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's softball player of the year on Wednesday.
The Simon Fraser University first base was ranked first in the conference with a batting average of .465, an on-base percentage of .496 and walks with 38, while finishing second in slugging percentage at .740 and doubles with 17.
Haberl was just as strong on the defensive side of the ball, boasting a .995 fielding percentage, making only two errors during the 2012 season.
SFU chucker Cara Lukawesky was named the conference pitcher of the year.
Both were named to the conference's first team of all-stars while a total of six Clan athletes were named to the all-conference team.
Haberl was a repeat all-star and Lukawesky was a unanimous all-team selection.
"It's definitely nice to be recognized, but it's really been about having great support from the team and being able to trust and rely on each other," said Haberl in a Clan press release. "This is a great honour to receive as I leave the program and the GNAC. I think between this award and the success the team had this year, we've shown we can compete in the NCAA."
Haberl will be attending the Canadian national women's team camp in June.
Lukawesky led all GNAC pitchers in wins with 21, saves with four and shutouts with seven. She also ranked second in strikeouts with 117 and third in earned run average with 2.38.
"I'm honoured to receive this award," said Lukawesky. "There are a lot of good pitchers in the GNAC so in some ways, I just feel really lucky to get this recognition. With pitching, a huge part of the success comes from the catcher. Brittany (Ribeiro) is there through the extra hours of practice, calls the games and supports and motivates. She is a major part in the success of our whole pitching staff."
Leah Riske joined Haberl and Lukawesky on the first team after a season in which she hit .341 and finished fourth in the conference with a team-leading nine home runs.
Carly Lepoutre and Sammie Olexa both earned a spot on the second all-star team.
Lepoutre finished seventh in the GNAC in stolen bases with 10, hit .327, batting predominantly in the leadoff spot for SFU.
Olexa proved to be a clutch hitter for the Clan, with three walk-off home runs during the 2012 season. She also finished fourth in the GNAC with a batting average of .397 and ninth in runs batted in with 33.
Pitcher Kelsie Hawkins rounded out the Clan's selections, receiving an honourable mention.
Hawkins finished seventh in the GNAC with a 2.99 earned run average, third in wins with 11 and fourth in strikeouts with 84.
2012 GNAC SOFTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
FIRST TEAM: Pitchers - +Cara Lukawesky, SFU (5-11, Jr., Coquitlam, BC); Stephanie Fox, WWU (5-4, Sr., Sammamish, WA). Catcher - Nicole Wilkerson, MSUB (5-6, Jr., Lincoln, CA). First Base - *Kelsey Haberl, SFU (5-7, Sr., Burnaby, BC). Second Base - *Lacey McGladrey, SMU (5-6, So., Bothell, WA). Shortstop - Sam Munger, SMU (5-6, Fr., Everett, WA). Third Base - +Morgan Klemm, SMU (5-5, Sr., Everett, WA). Infield - Leah Riske, SFU (5-8, Sr., Cloverdale, BC). Outfield - *+Meg Harasymczuk, MSUB (5-9, Sr., Spring Creek, NV); +Amanda Evola, WOU (5-7, Fr., Beaverton, OR); Rose Harrington, MSUB (5-3, Jr., Missoula, MT); Jessica Carey, WWU (5-7, Sr., Everett, WA). Designated Player - Elena Carter, CWU (5-9, Jr., Olympia, WA). +Unanimous *First team repeater
SECOND TEAM: Pitchers - Amanda Todd, MSUB (5-5, So., Billings, MT); Jessyka MacDonald, MSUB (5-8, Fr., Billings, MT). Catcher - Elizabeth Beaty, NNU (5-10, Sr., Salem, OR). First Base - Joslyn Eugenio, SMU (5-5, Jr., Kapolei, HI); Emily Osborn, MSUB (5-8, Fr., Las Vegas, NV). Shortstop - Arielle Chao, NNU (5-4, Sr., Victorville, CA); Andrea Bailey, WOU (5-3, Jr., Gresham, OR). Third Base - Cheyenne Best, WWU (5-6, Fr., Sedro Woolley, WA); Carly Lepoutre, SFU (5-6, Jr., Pickering, Ont.). Infield - Liz Jusko, CWU (5-8, Sr., Snohomish, WA). Outfield - Bobbie Lee, MSUB (5-7, Sr., Great Falls, MT); Bre Thomas, CWU (5-3, Sr., Vancouver, WA); Megan Antonovich, SMU (5-8, Sr., Kennewick, WA); Meghan Carrillo, WWU (5-3, So., Prunedale, CA). Designated Player - Annaleisha Parsley, MSUB (5-8, Sr., Lacey, WA); Sammie Olexa, SFU (DP, 5-4, So., Surrey, BC).
HONORABLE MENTION: Pitchers - Mary Grace Bywater, MSUB (5-8, Fr., Tualatin, OR); Kelsie Hawkins, SFU (5-8, So., Victoria, BC); Cara Duckworth, NNU (5-5, Sr., Melba, ID). Catchers - Kelsie McGladrey, SMU (5-4, Sr., Bothell, WA); Cassi Ellis, CWU (5-1, Jr., East Wenatchee, WA). Infield - Carrina Wagner, CWU (SS, 5-7, Sr., Tacoma, WA); Taylor Hoke, MSUB (3B, 5-2, Fr., Chehalis, WA); Heidy Wells, CWU (3B, 5-6, Fr., Tacoma, WA); Jourdan Williams, WOU (IF, 5-8, Fr., McMinnville, OR). Outfield - Rachelle Berry, WWU (5-7, Jr., Alger, WA); Baylee Jolliffe, NNU ( 5-4, Jr., Missoula, MT); Kristin Refsland, NNU ( 5-6, Sr., Beaverton, OR); Emily Renfrow, NNU ( 5-5, Sr., Nampa, ID). Designated Player - Tiffany Griffiths, SMU ( 5-2, Sr., Lynnwood, WA).
GNAC SPECIAL AWARDS: Player-of-the-Year - Kelsey Haberl, Simon Fraser (5-7, Sr., Burnaby, BC). Pitcher-of-the-Year - Cara Lukawesky, Simon Fraser (5-11, Jr., Coquitlam, BC). Newcomer-of-the-Year - Taylor Bakos, Saint Martin's (5-6, Jr., Kennewick, WA). Freshman-of-the-Year - Sam Munger, Saint Martin's (5-6, Fr., Everett, WA). Coach-of-the-Year - Rick Noren, Saint Martin's.
