All-Region Team Features Five Titans

UW-Oshkosh placed five players, including three first-team selections, on the 2014 NCAA Division III All-Great Lakes Region Softball Team.

Junior catcher Katie Koepsel earned her third all-region award. She was joined on the first team by at-large pick Tess Fadness and outfielder Hayden Krueger.

Shortstop Haley Bayreuther was voted to the second team, while Kassie Krueger gained an at-large spot on the third. The teams were chosen by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).

Fadness topped the WIAC with her .450 batting average. She posted 50 hits, including three home runs and 14 doubles, with 38 RBI. Fadness also hit seven sacrifice flies to lead the NCAA Division III.

Over the last four years, Fadness started all 150 games. She ranks second in school history with 112 RBI, third with 40 doubles and fifth with 19 home runs. Fadness totaled a .365 average, 170 hits, 85 runs and nine stolen bases.

Koepsel led the nation with 20 doubles, tying a league record. She topped the WIAC with 43 RBI, while ranking second with a .791 slugging percentage. Koepsel booked a .418 average with seven homers and 29 runs scored. During a doubleheader sweep at UW-Platteville, Koepsel totaled six hits, four home runs and six RBI.

Koepsel's career numbers include a .369 batting average with 22 home runs, 31 doubles and 88 RBI in 109 games. She made the All-Region Second Team during 2012 and 2013.

Hayden Krueger finished the season on fire, counting 14 hits in the last nine games. She compiled a .413 average with six homers, 10 doubles, 31 runs and 33 RBI. Krueger hit a single, double, triple and home run in her first four at-bats against UW-Superior on April 27.

Bayreuther led the WIAC with four triples, 24 walks and a .496 on-base percentage. She hit .370 while totaling three homers, five doubles and 13 RBI. Bayreuther ranked second in the conference with 39 runs and third with 13 stolen bases.

Kassie Krueger batted .382 with one homer, eight doubles, 18 RBI and 13 stolen bases (third in WIAC). At UW-Whitewater, she went 4-for-4 with two runs and three RBI. Krueger also played stellar defense, committing zero errors in her last 39 games.

Illinois Wesleyan University was the only other school with three players on the All-Region First Team. The 15-member squad also included UW-Whitewater's Jo Jablonski and Morgan Krisch.

The Titans set several school records this year, including team batting average (.344), slugging percentage (.521), doubles (76) and fielding percentage (.974).

UW-Oshkosh went 23-11 for its 11th straight winning season.

By Jon Feyen