FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Louis Groce, Graduate Assistant to the Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

Full Release

(May 10, 2013) – The North Central College softball team placed three players on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Great Lakes Region Team on Friday.  Junior Vlasta Mangia was named to the second team, while Kiersten Tinkoff and Amanda Walker were both named to the third team. 

This is Mangia's second appearance on the All-Region team after being selected to the third team as a freshman in 2011.  So far this season, Mangia has won 23 games, good for second all-time in a season, including yesterday's 12-10 thriller over the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.  She has also tossed the second most innings in a year by a Cardinal pitcher (203 2/3) and has shutout eight opponents. 

Mangia is also the North Central career leader in wins (51) and innings pitched (522 2/3).  She is third in career strikeouts (258) and her 14 shutouts are good for fourth. Recently, she was named First Team All-CCIW. 

Tinkoff, a sophomore and also a First Team All-CCIW selection, has had a big impact on the Cardinal program in just her first season with the team.  She has broken the North Central single season record for putouts (426) and is currently leading the squad in batting average (.412) and on-base percentage (.485).  In yesterday's win, she had two hits and two walks and drove in a run. 

Walker, who was named First Team All-CCIW and Newcomer of the Year for the conference, has had a huge freshman season for the Cardinals.  She continued to hit the ball well yesterday, going 2-for-4 with four RBI, including three on a moonshot over the left field fence. 

Walker is leading the Cardinals in nearly every offensive category.  Her slugging percentage (.626), hits (50), RBI (35), doubles (15), home runs (5), and total bases (82) all lead the team.  Walker's 15 doubles are also third all-time in a single season. 

North Central will play CCIW rival Illinois Wesleyan University in the second round of the NCAA Regionals in Whitewater, Wisconsin this evening at 6:00 p.m.