May 16, 2008

CHICAGO - Ellen Kresl (Kankakee, Ill./Bishop McNamara), a sophomore outfielder at Loyola University Chicago has been named National Fastpitch Coaches Association First Team All-Mideast Region it was announced today. The fleet-footed slap hitter is the first player in Loyola history to earn First Team All-Mideast Region honors and is this marks the third straight season at least one Rambler has been lauded on an all-region squad.

Kresl, a First Team All-Horizon League selection, finished the season with a .374 (43 for 115) batting average, the fourth-highest single-season mark in school history, despite being slowed by an injury in the final month of the season. The owner of 12 multi-hit games this spring, Kresl had one of the most impressive days in collegiate softball this season on March 1. In games versus Texas Tech and Oregon State that day, she went a combined 7 for 7 and started the day with a 4 for 4 effort against the Red Raiders. In the nightcap versus OSU, she went 3 for 3 with three stolen bases, while also scoring three times.

Last season, Kat Krause and Amy Solava earned Second Team All-Mideast region accolades, while Tara Miller was also a second-team selection in 2006.

Loyola finished the 2008 season with 22 wins, marking the ninth time in the last 10 seasons it has topped the 20-win plateau. The Ramblers return six starters next season. The complete NFCA All-Mideast Region First Team is listed below.

NFCA First Team All-Mideast Region
P - Lauren Delaney (Northwestern)
P - Brittany Weil (Iowa)
C - Rachel Folden (Marshall)
1B - Brittany Herald (Evansville)
2B - Nicole Pauly (Northwestern)
3B - Amber Patton (DePaul)
SS - Tammy Williams (Northwestern)
OF - Sarah Smith (Notre Dame)
OF - Breanna Robinson (Miami, Ohio)
OF - Ellen Kresl (Loyola)
UT/P - Becca Heteniak (DePaul)
UT - Colleen McGlaughlin (Iowa)
UT - Sandy Vojik (DePaul)