SEWARD, Neb. – A trio of freshmen represented the Concordia University softball team on the NAIA/NCAA Division III All-Nebraska Softball Teams unveiled by the Omaha World-Herald on Saturday (June 23). GPAC Player of the Year Hhana Haro headlines the list as the third baseman for the All-Nebraska Team. Rookies MacKinsey Schmidt and Allysia Thayer were listed as honorable mention choices.
The first Bulldog to be named GPAC Player of the Year since 2009, Haro also reeled in honorable mention All-America accolades. Haro topped all GPAC players in batting average (.494), on-base percentage (.530) and hits (76) in 2018. Over 42 games (154 at bats), Haro broke program single-season records for hits and doubles (20) while adding 35 runs scored, two triples, five home runs, 38 RBIs and 115 total bases. She slugged .747 and struck out only 10 times all season.
Schmidt, a Crete, Neb., native, kept getting better in her first season with the Bulldogs. Overall in 41 games (38 starts), Schmidt batted .333 (39-for-117) with a .394 on-base percentage, 28 runs, five doubles, one triple and 17 RBIs. All the while, Schmidt played exceptional defense whether placed in center or left field. She also produced a team high seven stolen bases. In GPAC games only, Schmidt also batted .333 (22-for-66).
Thayer, who hails from Etiwanda, Calif., took over the starting catcher role and played in 35 games in 2018. She batted .256 (23-for-90) with three doubles, a home run and nine RBIs. She also threw out six runners attempting to steal.
All-Nebraska NAIA/D-III Softball Team
C: Katlin Anders, so., Midland, .339, 36 RBIs
1B: Rachel Carlos, sr., Peru State, .356, 29 RBIs
2B: Brittney Amezquita, sr., Doane, .404, 47 R, 36 RBIs
SS: Nicole Fernandez, sr., Doane, .412, 56 R, 33 RBIs
3B: Hhana Haro, fr., Concordia, .494, 5 HRs, 38 RBIs
OF: Andrea Cespedes, fr., Midland, .310, 40 R, 17 2Bs
OF: Grace Glotfelty, fr., Bellevue, .400, 10 HRs, 37 RBIs
OF: Jordan Van Roy, jr., Doane, .478, 50 R, 46 RBIs
EP: Corrin Ziepke, sr., Hastings, .390, 12 HRs, 36 RBIs
*U: Erin Sharpe, jr., Bellevue, .409, 19 HRs, 16-7
P: Jaylee Hinrichs, jr., Midland, 23-11, 2.00 ERA, 317 Ks
P: Lexi LeCalsey, sr., Bellevue, 13-8, 2.57 ERA
P: Kailey Meyer, fr., Nebraska Wesleyan, 15-7, 2.59 ERA
P: Madison Plummer, jr., Midland, 11-4, 3.26 ERA
P: Josie Schnakenberg, fr., Doane, 14-8, 3.03 ERA
*— denotes honorary captain
Honorable mention: Bellevue, Emily Gigax, Lexi LeCalsey, Sayde Woten. Concordia, MacKinsey Schmidt, Allysia Thayer. Doane, Haileigh Tardiff, Tayler Mashburn, Jordyn Stearns. Hastings, Alyssa Carter, Alex Schmidt. Midland, Sierra Athow, Nicole O’Haver, Bobbi Singleton. Nebraska Wesleyan, Jordan Arndt, Morgan Shipley, Nicole Vana. Peru State, Tyler Farrell. St. Mary, Brittney Banks, Whitney Chamberlain, Nicki Larsen. York, Lia Hamamoto, Mikayla Lawrence, Alysia Rodriguez.