(Charlotte, NC) – Record-setting freshman Emily Hurst highlighted a contingent of nine members of Waubonsee Community College's Softball team that were recognized for their outstanding performance this past Spring on the diamond. Hurst established nine new Chiefs' records on the way to being named an NJCAA Division II Third Team All-American. Waubonsee's shortstop and lead-off hitter was also chosen the NJCAA Region 4 Division II and Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC) Player of the Year. Teammate Taylor Warren was also selected All-Region First Team and was tabbed the ISCC Pitcher of the Year. In addition, Hurst was named All-Region First Team and Warren All-Region Second Team by the Louisville, Kentucky based National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), which is voted on by coaches from each region.
Taylor Hamaker joined Hurst and Warren on the All-Region First Team and was also named to the All-ISCC Second Team. Second baseman Katie Baker was selected to the All-Region Second Team and was also chosen All-ISCC First Team, while first baseman Kayla Tranter rounded out a quartet of Chiefs' All-ISCC First Teamers. Dyani Rivera and Ariana Ikis were each tabbed All-ISCC Second Team, and Sarah Sandusky was an All-ISCC Honorable Mention selection. Head Coach Joe Spitzzeri was named the ISCC Softball Coach of the Year after leading the Chiefs to the ISCC title and the semi-finals of the Region 4 Tournament.
A Rosary High School graduate, Hurst rewrote the Chiefs' softball record book compiling new program highs with 22 home runs, 26 doubles, 95 hits, 76 runs batted in, a .543 batting average, a .590 on-base percentage, a 1.126 slugging percentage, 31 multi-hit games and 197 total bases. Among all NJCAA Division II players Hurst ranked 3rd in total extra base hits (53), 4th in total hits and doubles, 5th in runs scored (84) and total bases, 6th in slugging percentage, 7th in batting average, 12th in on-base percentage, 14th in home runs and 18th in runs batted in while hitting from the lead-off spot in the order all season. Along the way the right-handed slugger also put together a 21-game hitting streak that was immediately followed by a 19-game hitting streak, hitting safely in 40 out of 41 games from March 14 through May 13. The freshman reached base at least once in 50 of the 51 games the Chiefs' played, including starting out her collegiate career with a streak of 28 games. Midway through the season Hurst had a streak of 11 games with at least one extra base hit, had a 13-game streak where she scored at least once in every contest and even stole 21 bases in 22 attempts on the season. Hurst was selected the NJCAA Division II Player of the Week in mid-March after recording a school-record 14 consecutive hits in as many official at bats.
Warren, a Yorkville High School graduate, went 22-7 in the circle overall to set a new Chiefs' record for wins in a season and finish tied for 8th in victories among all NJCAA Division II hurlers. The sophomore also posted a 1.92 earned-run-average (ERA) over 193 and two-thirds innings pitched, the third-best ERA mark and second most innings pitched in program history. The right-hander also established a new Chiefs' career record by winning 33 games the last two years, while also setting program marks for complete games in a season with 26 and career with 41. Warren was tied for second nationally in complete games and ranked third in innings pitched. Among NJCAA Region 4 players Warren finished first in ERA and innings pitched, second in wins and fourth in strikeouts with 161. At the plate the right-handed hitter batted .324 with 13 doubles over 108 at bats. She will be continuing her collegiate playing career at North Central College in Naperville.
Hamaker, an Oswego High School product, batted .341 with four home runs, 46 hits and 40 runs scored. The Chiefs' left-fielder also stole 18 bases in 21 attempts while posting a .403 on-base percentage. As a pitcher Hamaker went 6-2 in the circle with a 2.59 ERA, striking out 40 batters in 48 and two-thirds innings pitched. A freshman from Serena, Baker batted .365 with 66 hits, 45 runs scored and 41 runs driven in primarily as Waubonsee's number two hitter in their lineup. The right-handed batter only struck out four times in 181 at bats, and stole 19 bases in 21 tries. Tranter ripped 16 doubles and four home runs on the way to booking a .322 batting average. The sophomore from Yorkville registered 49 hits and knocked in 35 runs, while compiling a .520 slugging percentage. Defensively, the Chiefs' first baseman posted a .971 fielding percentage.
Rivera, a freshman from Aurora West High School, batted .324 with nine doubles, 26 runs scored and 20 runs batted in. Waubonsee's catcher was also 9 for 10 in stolen bases and played flawless defense with no errors in 169 total chances. An Oswego East graduate, Ikis batted .316 with 37 hits and 37 runs scored on the season. The fleet-footed right fielder stole 22 bases in 23 chances and recorded four outfield assists as well. Sandusky, a sophomore from Genoa-Kingston High School, smacked eight doubles, a pair of triples and a home run on the season. The Chiefs' center fielder drove in 25 runs, scored 33 times and was 11 for 13 in stolen bases attempts.
In his second year as head coach Spitzzeri guided Waubonsee to a 35-16 overall record and the ISCC championship with a 10-0 mark. The conference title was the 10th for the program overall, first league title since 2017 and the eighth time Waubonsee has won 30 or more games in a season. Spitzzeri's Chiefs also posted a .331 team batting average and finished in the top-40 in 10 other offensive categories, while Waubonsee pitchers compiled a team earned-run-average of 2.78 to place them 20th nationally among NJCAA Division II staffs.
Emily Hurst Taylor Warren Taylor Hamaker Katie Baker Kayla Tranter
Dyani Rivera Ariana Ikis Sarah Sandusky Head Coach Joe Spitzzeri
