Redman, Young, Espy, Adler and Erickson named NJCAA Div. I Softball All-Americans
Five Butler softball players were named to the National Junior College Athletic Association Div. I Softball All-American list as announced by the association Friday afternoon.
Complete list- HERE
Maddie Redman, Madi Young and Shayna Espy garnered first team honors while Izzy Erickson and Emily Adler were named to the third team All-American list.
Five honorees tie the most in a single season in Butler softball history matching the 2017 total of five (Mergele, Minor, Schulte, Hayter and Young).
Maddie Redman, freshman pitcher from Stillwell, KS, was named First Team All-American after one of the best seasons inside the circle in the purple and gold. Redman finished the season with a record of 26-1, with her lone loss coming in a 5-4 battle with Yavapai in the National Tournament. In her 33 games she appeared in, Redman pitched four complete games and recorded two shutouts. She finished with an ERA of 1.22, good for fourth best in the entire NJCAA. Redman pitched 120.1 innings this season and recorded 156 strikeouts for an average of 9.07 punch outs per seven innings. Redman gave up only 13 walks and just 21 earned runs in her 33 appearances. Opposing players batting averaged against her was .257 allowing nine doubles, no triples and only seven homeruns. She finished with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage recording six putouts while assisting on nine. Redman was also named First Team NFCA All-American, First Team All-Region VI and First Team All-KJCCC.
Madi Young, freshman (athletically) from Derby, KS was named First Team All-American after putting together one of the best offensive seasons any Grizzly has done in program history. Not only did Young lead her team in a number of offensive categories this season but also led the entire NJCAA across a number of stat categories this season. Young finished first in the entire NJCAA in runs scored (111), doubles hit (34) and stolen bases (58). She was second in the country in total hits (102) was third in the nation in batting average as she hit .544 on the season and third in the NJCAA in on-base percentage at (.608). Young has yet to be struck out in her collegiate career in over 250 plate appearances. Young also finished the season with 12 homeruns and six triples while recording 54 RBI's. She also had a slugging percentage of 1.000 throughout the season. Young had a fielding percentage of .918 assisting on 88 outs, recording 58 putouts and was part of 12 double plays during the year. Young set new school records this season in runs scored (111) and doubles (34) and started in all of the Grizzlies 55 games. Young was also a First Team NFCA All-American, First Team All-Region and Second Team All-KJCCC player.
Shayna Espy, sophomore outfielder from Olathe, KS, was named NJCAA First Team All-American after leading the Grizzlies to a fifth-place finish at Nationals. After her sophomore season was cut short due to COVID-19, Espy decided to return to Butler this year to finish out her second season of eligibility and made the most of every moment and opportunity. Espy finished 5th in the NJCAA in batting average this season hitting .542 on the year. She drove in 82 runs, scored 91 times while chalking up 25 doubles and eight triples. Espy finished the season hitting seven homeruns and struck out just twice in her 166 at bats. She had a .958 fielding percentage recording 62 catches in the outfield while assisting on six with one double play. Espy was also a First Team All-Region VI recipient and made First Team All-KJCCC.
Izzy Erickson, freshman pitcher from Kimberling City, MO was named to the Third Team All-American list after a stellar freshman campaign. Erickson finished her freshman season with 16 wins, two losses and one save. Erickson pitched a total of 87.0 innings giving up just 23 earned runs on the year for an ERA of 1.85, good for 15th best in the NJCAA. She struck out 99 batters while walking just 18 throughout the season. Opposing batters hit .306 against Erickson this season totaling only 66 hits in 216 batters faced. She also hit .414 on the season recording 12 hits, two doubles and a triple. She drove in five runs and scored nine on the season while stealing six bases.
Emily Adler, freshman infielder from Derby, KS was named to the Third Team All-American list. Adler hit .539 on the season, finishing 7th best in the NJCAA in batting average. She totaled 83 hits, 16 doubles, three triples and seven homeruns on the year while scoring 71 runs. She drove home 78 runs and stole 12 bases on the season. Adler had an on-base % of .587 and a slugging % of .818. She ended the season with a fielding percentage of .975 from her second base position recording just three errors in 119 total chances. Adler also made the All-Region VI list along with garnishing First Team All-KJCCC honors.
In his 17 seasons, Head Coach Doug Chance has now coached 31 All-Americans.
See complete list of Butler Softball All-Americans- HERE