Contact: Ashleigh Jones, Sports Information Graduate Assistant
2018 All-CCIW Selections
May 7, 2018- The North Central College softball team claimed seven honors in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) on Monday, May 7. Of the seven honors, the Cardinals had five members selected for the All-CCIW team and received the CCIW Coaching Staff of the Year as well as Softball Batting Champion.
The all-conference team is selected by the CCIW's head softball coaches, which includes 30 student-athletes (15 first team members, 15 second team members) representing all nine conference institutions.
The North Central coaching staff was recognized as the CCIW Coaching Staff of the year for the eigth time in conference history. The Cardinals head coach Jim Kulawiak has led the Cardinals for the last 30 years, posting a career record of 827-371-3. With seven conference championships, seven CCIW tournament championships, 13 regional tournament appearances and a fifth-place finish in the NCAA tournament in 2001.
Kulawiak is assisted by Tom Kulawiak and Carley Dundee. Tom Kulawiak has been an assistant coach for the Cardinals for thirteen seasons, bringing over 30 years of softball experience to the coaching staff. Dundee the Cardinals' graduate assistant played a crucial role in preparing the North Central pitching lineup, following a successful four years at the DII level at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
Samantha Phelps was honored with a first team selection in her final season as a Cardinal. Finishing with a .358 batting average, 375 putouts and three home runs for the season. Phelps appeared and started in all 41 games this season at first base and holds the third highest slugging percentage of the team (.511).
Emily Miller was selected as a first team recipient and named the CCIW Softball Batting Champion of the year batting an incredible .486 for the season, and .509 in conference. Batting over .500 for most of the season, Miller broke two North Central single season records for doubles (24) and hits (70). Defensively she had a fielding percentage of 1.000 and was honored as CCIW Player of the Week on April 17, 2018.
Fellow outfielder Jenna Trojniar was the third Cardinal selected as a first team recipient in her final season with the Cardinals. Trojniar is a two-time All-CCIW first team player, finishing this season with a .419 batting average, and tied Phelps and two other players for the most homeruns for the season (3). She recorded a total of 38 runs and tied for second in RBI (32) with Phelps. Trojniar finished with a slugging percentage of .588 and a fielding percentage of .886.
Anna Seffernick was selected as a member of the All-CCIW second team. Seffernick finished her second year with North Central with a batting average of .360 and the second highest on base percentage of .448 on the team. At third base she had a fielding percentage of .938 and recorded 90 assists. Seffernick was also honored as an Academic All-CCIW player in 2017.
Sarah Esposito was also selected as a member of the All-CCIW second team. With a stellar record of 10-1 for the season and joining the Cardinals 20-win club with a career record of 28-7. Esposito finished the season with an ERA of 2.27 and 22 strikeouts.
North Central went 1-2 in the CCIW tournament this past weekend falling to Illinois Wesleyan in the semifinals. The Cardinals finished the season 31-10, making them the 29th team to win 20 or more games in the last 30 years.
