Tigers’ Bergman repeats on All-CLC first team

Steph Bergman, senior third baseman for the Howards Grove Tigers, was named to the All-Central Lakeshore Conference softball first team for the second consecutive season.

Two of Bergman’s teammates were also voted to the first team by the league coaches – freshman outfielder Amber Reinemann and sophomore outfielder-catcher Brenna Steines. Steines, a second-team outfielder last year, was selected at the utility position.

The CLC champion Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah Resorters have three first-team players in junior pitcher Abbey Neils, senior first baseman Katelyn Winkel and sophomore outfielder Haley Kammerzelt. All three players were unanimous choices.

The Resorters’ other All-CLC players are second-teamers Casey Sippel, senior third baseman, and Emily Grunewald, freshman second baseman; and honorable-mention choice Chelsea Watry, senior outfielder.

The Tigers’ other all-league selections include: second team – sophomore pitcher Brittani Rooker and sophomore infielder Emily Schuh; and honorable mention – sophomore pitcher Lexi DeRuyter and freshman infielder Ashley Rose.

Bergman, a unanimous first-team pick, had a monster CLC season at the plate – batting .456 with 32 RBIs and a slugging percentage of .877. She had three home runs, five triples and five doubles.

“I believe Steph to be the best power-hitting athlete in the conference. Steph has been an impressive hitter the last two years but what sticks out the most is her willingness to adapt and learn new positions,” said Tiger head coach Tom Heier.

Bergman also played some first base.

Neils, a second-team hurler in 2009, had an impressive season on the mound. In league action, she posted a 14-1 record, a 2.38 ERA and 132 strikeouts in only 94 innings. She also batted a hefty .436.

“Abbey did an excellent job. She kept her walks down and had a lot of strikeouts. She was able to hit her spots,” said Resorter head coach Keith Knepfel.

Winkel hit an outstanding .440 with 31 RBIs, three triples and one home run. She had an excellent slugging percentage of .660.

“She hit the ball real well and always put the ball in play, especially in clutch situations,” Knepfel said. “She was a good leader and one of our captains.”

Kammerzelt batted only .233 but was strong on defense as a center fielder. She knocked in 13 runs.

“Haley really came around with her fielding. She covered a lot of ground in center field. She hit the ball much better than her average shows,” Knepfel said.

Steines had a strong year at the plate with a .446 average to go with 17 RBIs.

“Brenna is the most versatile and adaptable player I have on my team. She is the definition of the phrase ‘whatever needs to be done for the team,’ ” said Heier.

“She also batted behind and protected Steph Bergman in our lineup so when people pitched around Steph, Brenna cashed in on her opportunities.”

Reinemann hit an impressive .422 with 10 RBIs.

“She had eight assists [overall] from the outfield and eliminated many hits for the opposition hitters. Amber was our leadoff hitter and best base stealing threat as she stole 12 bases this year,” the Tiger coach said.

Sippel batted .359 with 11 RBIs in CLC play. Grunewald hit a scorching .455 with 13 RBIs. Watry batted .250 and had nine RBIs.

Rooker was 6-6 with a 2.70 ERA. DeRuter finished 4-0 with a 4.53 ERA.

Schuh hit .378 with 11 RBIs. Rose batted .300 and had six RBIs.

The other first-team repeaters are senior outfielder Julie Raeder and junior infielder Danielle Hurlbutt of Oostburg. Raeder made the team as a pitcher last year.

Also being voted unanimously to the first team were senior pitcher Jess Kanz of Sheboygan Lutheran/Kohler and junior catcher Morgan Mullikin, Oostburg.
All-CLC Softball
FIRST TEAM
P – Abbey Neils, EL-Glenbeulah…….…Jr.
P – Jess Kanz, Sheb. Luth./Kohler..…..Sr.
C – Morgan Mullikin, Oostburg……..……Jr.
IF – Katelyn Winkel, EL-Glen. …………Sr.
IF – Steph Bergman, H. Grove……..…..Jr.
IF – Kylee Summers, Oostburg..…..……Sr.
IF – Danielle Hurlbutt, Oostburg..….……Jr.

OF – Haley Kammerzelt, EL-Glen. …..So.
OF – Amber Reinemann, H. Grove…...Fr.
OF – Julie Raeder Oostburg………..……..Sr.
Util. – Brenna Steines, H. Grove……..So.
SECOND TEAM
P – Brittani Rooker, H. Grove………….So.
P – Steph Ruppel, Cedar Grove..………..Jr.
C – Steph Kempf, Luth./Kohler….……..Sr.
IF – Casey Sippel, EL-Glenbeulah….…Sr.
IF – Emily Grunewald, EL-Glen…..….…Fr.
IF – Emily Schuh, Howards Grove…...So.
IF – Katelyn Kempf, Luth./Kohler.….…So.
OF – Briana Weavers, Cedar Grove….…Jr.
OF – Megan Osladil, Sheb. Luth. ………Sr.
OF – Taylor Wallace Oostburg…….…....So.
Util. – Alex Emmer, Luth./Kohler…..…..Sr.
HONORABLE MENTION
P – Lexi DeRuyter, H. Grove……….….So.
C – Abi von Heimburg, Cedar Grove..…Jr.
IF – Jessica Burant, Cedar Grove……...So.
IF – Ashley Rose, Howards Grove…....Fr.
IF – Olivia Bruyette, Oostburg..….………So.
IF – Justine Schmitz, Sheb. Luth. .…..…Sr.
OF – Chelsea Watry, EL-Glen. ………...Sr_.__________________________