Seven WCC softball members recognized by ISCC and Region IV
Seven members of Waubonsee Community College’s softball team were recognized by the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC) and the NJCAA’s Region IV Committee for their performances this past spring on the diamond. Chiefs’ centerfielder Courtni Neubauer was selected the ISCC’s Softball Player of the Year, while catcher Mary Wackerlin, infielders Alycia DeLuca, Nicole Krupp, Lexi Moky and Shannen Sutherland were each named to the All-ISCC First Team. Neubauer, Wackerlin, DeLuca and Krupp were each chosen to the All-Region First Team. Head Coach Perry Clark was tabbed the ISCC and Region IV Coach of the Year after leading Waubonsee to the NJCAA National Tournament for the first time ever.
In 10 ISCC games Neubauer batted .680 going 17 for 25 at the plate, with 28 runs scored, 14 walks drawn and 15 stolen bases. Overall on the season the Chiefs’ leadoff hitter batted .462 and led all NJCAA Division II players with 46 walks. The sophomore was also second nationally with 95 runs scored and 71 stolen bases. The Burlington Central High School product smacked 79 hits and compiled a .580 on-base percentage.
Wackerlin batted .381 over eight conference games played with 11 runs batted in. The right-handed hitter drilled four doubles and a home run to go along with four runs scored and four walks. A Mendota High School graduate, Wackerlin batted .424 overall on the season with 38 runs driven in and 29 walks drawn. The Chiefs’ catcher blasted 10 doubles, two triples and six home runs while posting a .667 slugging percentage.
DeLuca batted .482 in nine league games with nine run knocked in and seven runs scored. In the circle she went 3-0 with a 1.56 earned-run-average, allowing just nine hits while striking out 21 in 18 innings pitched. On the season the Bolingbrook High School alumnus batted .465 with 65 runs batted in. The sophomore ripped 12 doubles, two triples and seven home runs while compiling a .722 slugging percentage. The right-hander won 14 games with a 2.92 earned-run-average, striking out 121 batters in 131 and two-thirds innings.
Krupp batted .577 in eight conference contests, driving in 12 runs with three doubles, a triple and six runs scored. A right-hander pitcher as well, Krupp went 3-0 with a 1.00 earned-run-average. She struck out 18, walked only four and allowed just 17 hits over 21 innings pitched. Overall for the season the Somonauk High School graduate batted .485 with a team-leading 80 hits. The freshman drove in 58 runs, drilled 16 doubles, three triples, seven home runs and posted a .745 slugging percentage. In the circle she won 14 games while posting a 3.36 earned-run-average.
Moky, an Oswego High School product, batted .546 in eight ISCC games, smacking a pair of doubles and a pair of home runs while driving in 16 runs. Overall the Chiefs’ third baseman batted .370 with 61 hits, 48 runs scored, 37 runs driven in and 27 walks drawn.
Sutherland, a sophomore from Sandwich High School, batted .417 in conference action with five runs knocked in and six scored to go along with smacking two doubles and a home run.
Clark led unranked Waubonsee to a 37-20 record overall, winning the Region IV Division II District B title for the first time and earning the program’s first trip to the National Tournament. Clark’s crew went 1-2 at the National Tournament, including a 7-4 loss to eventual National Champion LSU-Eunice. In ISCC play the Chiefs went 10-0 en route to the program’s seventh straight conference title. Over that span Waubonsee has compiled an 80-8 record in conference action.
