The National Christian College Athletic Association's (NCCAA) North-Central region announced their 2021 softball all-region team, with a pair of TIU Trojans being selected to the roster. Senior pitcher Hailey Baker and junior catcher Brooke Hearty were selected, with Baker headlining the roster as the region's pitcher of the year.
A native of Crystal Lake, Illinois, Baker made 21 starts in the pitcher's circle for the Trojans this season, and led TIU pitchers with 12 wins, fourth most in the conference this year. Her 104 total strikeouts in 2021 are tied with teammate Alyssa Frey for the second most punchouts in a single season in program history and ranking top five in the CCAC. Her 3.07 earned run average ranked in the top ten in the league, while her 141.1 innings pitched are the second most in the conference.
Heraty, a native of Hainesville, Illinois, started 37 games behind home plate for TIU, and was Trinity's top bat in 2021. Brooke led the Trojans in batting average (.385), hits (42), doubles (9) and RBI's (21). Heraty posted a .983 fielding percentage while catching, and ranked second on the team with 213 total putouts.
TIU finished the 2021 season with a final record of 17-22, and an 8-13 mark against CCAC opponents in regular season conference play. Trinity won games against Cardinal Stritch and Judson in last week's CCAC Tournament before being eliminated from the postseason by Calumet St. Joseph in Crown Point.
FULL 2021 NCCAA All-North Central Softball Honors
Player of the Year: Ellie Ronning (Northwestern-MN)
Pitcher of the Year: Hailey Baker (Trinity International)
Coach of the Year: Alicia du'Monceaux (Northwestern-MN)
TEAM: Michael Badger (Hannibal-LaGrange), Hailey Baker (Trinity International), Briggs Carlson (Northwestern-MN), Kendall Far (Greenville), Hannah Frady (Bethel-IN), Yadi Gomez (Bethel-IN), Brooke Heraty (Trinity International), Sydni Mitchell (Trinity Christian), Emily Montalvo (Trinity Christian), Ellie Ronning (Northwestern-MN), Mariah Spivey (Judson), Taylor Thome (Maranatha Baptist), Abby VanBeek (Trinity Christian), Erin Yancey (Maranatha Baptist), Mahri Younger (Bethel-IN)
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Trinity International University is a comprehensive, national university affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America and located in Bannockburn, Illinois, 25 miles north of Chicago. TIU educates men and women to engage in God's redemptive work in the world by cultivating academic excellence, Christian faithfulness and lifelong learning.
