Four Wolverines Earn NFCA All-Great Lakes Region Accolades
5/18/2024 12:05:00 PM | Softball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The University of Michigan softball team placed four players on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Great Lakes Region teams, the organization announced Thursday (May 16). Sophomore third baseman Maddie Erickson and junior outfielder Ellie Sieler were named to the all-region first team, while junior pitcher Lauren Derkowski and senior utility player Keke Tholl earned second- and third-team honors, respectively.
The awards honor softball student-athletes from the Association's 10 regions with first-, second- and third-team selections. NFCA member head coaches from each respective region voted on the teams, and all student-athletes now become eligible for the 2024 NFCA Division I All-America squads. The 2024 NFCA Division I All-America teams will be announced on Wednesday, May 29.
Erickson is a first-time all-region honoree after earning her first All-Big Ten first-team accolade last week. She has enjoyed a breakout season as a sophomore with career highs in all offensive categories, including team bests with a .357 batting average -- a 122-point improvement from her average last season -- 66 hits, 45 RBI and a.622 slugging percentage (16 doubles, 11 home runs). Erickson also has shown the propensity for clutch hitting with six game-tying hits and eight go-ahead hits on the season.
Sieler, who like Erickson is a first-time all-region honoree after garnering All-Big Ten first team honors, owns a .345 batting average -- a 54-point improvement over her previous career high (.287), leads the team with a .431 on-base percentage from the Wolverines' leadoff spot and similarly owns career highs in runs (46), hits (58) and RBI (19). She is batting .433 (29-for-67) when leading off an inning with four doubles, two triples and four home runs.
Derkowski and Tholl were both named to the all-region team for the second consecutive year.
Derkowski is 19-8 on the season with wins in seven of her last eight appearances and similarly leads the Wolverines with a 2.16 earned-run average, three complete-game shutouts, three saves and 202 strikeouts. She was named to the All-Big Ten first team and earned Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors after throwing all 19 innings last weekend, going 3-0 with a 1.84 ERA and 20 strikeouts.
Tholl earned all-region selection as a utility player after splitting time between catcher and first base this season. She also was named to the All-Big Ten first team and joined Derkowski on the Big Ten All-Tournament Team last weekend. Tholl is batting .274 with 43 hits and 42 RBI and leads the Wolverines with a career-high 15 home runs, including three at Michigan State to tie the Michigan single-game program record.
Michigan will kick off NCAA Tournament play against Kentucky on Friday (May 17) at 2 p.m. CDT at Cowgirl Stadium in Stillwater, Okla.
