Two GV softball players named All-Midwest Region Second Team

Grand Valley State’s Ellie Balbach and Kaylie Rhynard were both awarded with All-Midwest Region Second Team honors on May 6. This is the first time either player has received all-region honors, but both players were also named All-GLIAC First Team this season.

Balbach is slashing a .344 batting average, which leads the team. She is also leading the team in hits, doubles and slugging percentage. Balbach’s contributions are also coming from the mound, where she is 7-3 and posting a 3.04 ERA in 83 innings this year.

Just behind Balbach is Rhynard, who is batting .340 with 55 hits on the season. Rhynard is also a perfect 18-for-18 in stolen bases this season. Her contributions from behind the plate include a .992 fielding percentage in 49 starts as a catcher.

Matt Williams among finalists for Brett Tomko award

Grand Valley State pitcher Matt Williams is one of 41 finalists for the Brett Tomko Division II Pitcher of the Year award. The award is given to the best pitcher in the nation in the Division II level.

Williams has the highest number of saves along with the lowest earned run average among the finalists for the award. He has notched 14 saves and 3 wins so far this year with a 0.29 ERA. Williams has logged 30.2 innings this year, striking out 44 batters in that time. Opponents are batting a mere .082 against him.

Along with being announced a finalist for the Brett Tomko award, Williams was named GVSU Student-Athlete of the Week.

The winner of the Brett Tomko award will be announced on June 6 following the Division II National Championship game.

GV 2016 Athletics Hall of Fame Class announced

Six individuals will be inducted into the Grand Valley State Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2016. GVSU Athletic Director Tim Selgo announced the six alumni on May 5. The inductees include: Julia Braseth (women’s basketball 2003-07); Icis Charles (track 2000-03); Sue Christenson (women’s soccer 2004-07); Jason Jamerson (men’s basketball 2004-08); Brent Lesniak (football 1999-2002) and Melissa Sager (softball 1998-2001).

Braseth played 119 career games for the Lakers, helping the team to a National Championship in the 2005-06 season. Charles was a six-time All-American during her time on the GVSU track and field team. Christenson followed Charles as a two-time First-Team All-American during her time with the Lakers.

Jamerson is the all-time leader for three-pointers made in a career and in a season for GVSU. Lesniak tallied 15 career 100-yard rushing games and was a part of the 2002 National Championship team. Sager holds the highest batting average in GVSU history with a .494 average in the 1999 season.

The 2016 class will be inducted on Oct. 14 at the Hall of Fame banquet.