HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky University softball player
Ashley Gates has been selected to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II All-America second team.
Gates, a junior outfielder from South Bend, Ind., led the Great Lakes Valley Conference in both batting average (.423) and on-base percentage (.510) this season. She finished with nine home runs, 33 runs batted in and 12 doubles. Gates also posted a .738 slugging percentage and scored 22 runs.
Gates, who is NKU's all-time career leader with 31 home runs, earned All-Midwest Region and All-GLVC first-team honors earlier this season. She is the first NKU softball player to earn All-America honors since 2006, when Ricki Rothbauer and Sarah King each received the recognition.
This marks the seventh time in the program's history that an NKU player has been named an All-American by the NFCA. Krystal Lewallen and Rothbauer were both two-time All-Americans, while King and Stephanie Leimbach each earned the honor once.
NKU posted a 29-17 record this season and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the third straight year.
2011 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II All-Americans
FIRST TEAM
Pitcher Hope Bitzer Rollins College
Pitcher Jessica Coan North Georgia College & State University
Pitcher Brittney Tanner Midwestern State University
Catcher Lacy Mauro % Bloomsburg University
Catcher Christine Roser +~ Rollins College
First Base Molly Link Winona State University
Second Base April Jowers Armstrong Atlantic State University
Third Base Nicole Hagenah C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University
Shortstop Bailey Vrazel Texas Woman's University
Outfield Grace Slone Collins Barry University
Outfield Kimberly LeComte ^ West Texas A&M University
Outfield Katelyn Lovato Adams State College
Designated Player Katie Martin Grand Valley State University
Util./Pitcher Lindsey Slocum ^ University of Nebraska at Omaha
Util./Non-Pitcher Mary Kelley The University of Alabama in Huntsville
At Large/P Erin Holloway Indiana University of Pennsylvania
SECOND TEAM
Pitcher Torie Bunzell % Quincy University
Pitcher Camille Gaito University of California, San Diego
Pitcher Beth Haley University of Nebraska at Omaha
Catcher Alisa Heronema ~ Regis University (CO)
Catcher Bri Shoemake Carson-Newman College
First Base Chrissy Stalf Humboldt State University
Second Base Angela Mahan Emporia State University
Third Base Kelsey Rummel University of Indianapolis
Shortstop Marti Littlefield # Valdosta State University
Outfield Alison Allen % Wayne State University
Outfield Elena Bennett Midwestern State University
Outfield Chelsea Harold University of New Haven
Designated Player Lindsay Erickson Minnesota State University, Mankato
Util/Pitcher Brianna Smith Barry University
Util/Non-Pitcher Kristen Jones Augusta State University
At Large/OF
Ashley Gates Northern Kentucky University
THIRD TEAM
Pitcher Katie Goetzinger % Wayne State College
Catcher Amanda Self Emporia State University
First Base Megan McCormick % Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Second Base Hope Cornell Shippensburg University
Third Base Traci Fransen Augustana College
Shortstop (Tie) Christina Gelardi University of New Haven
Shortstop (Tie) Jillian Russell California University of Pennsylvania
Outfield Valisha Fincher University of West Alabama
At-Large/C Kathy Crudo Winona State University
At-Large/P Kayla Jackson + University of Arkansas at Monticello
At-Large/3B Nicole Henninger Kutztown University
At-Large/OF Jeana Keyes Southeastern Oklahoma State University
At-Large/OF Leah Price Carson-Newman College
At-Large/OF Felicia Viveiros Humboldt State University
KEY
^ 2010 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II First-Team All-America
+ 2010 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II Second-Team All-America
% 2010 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II Third-Team All-America
~ 2009 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II First-Team All-America
# 2009 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II Third-Team All-America
