(Ann Arbor, MI) The National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) announced their regional softball awards on Wednesday and four Cardinals were recognized with All-Regional honors. Shannon McAlinden led the softball honors, being named the Midwest Region Player of the Year. McAlinden also made the All-Regional Team, as did Abbie Begley, Maddy Grueter, and Payton Lewis. The Midwest region consists of Cairn University, Cedarville University, Geneva College, Grace College, Houghton College, Huntington University, Lancaster Bible College, Malone University, Ohio Christian University, and Concordia University Ann Arbor.
Sophomore Shannon McAlinden led Concordia with a .449 batting average, 70 hits, 6 triples, and 24 stolen bases (all team bests). The WHAC 1st Team All-Conference and All-Defensive Team member finished 2nd in triples, 3rd in the NCCAA in hits, and 6th in steals. McAlinden also finished 11th in batting average and 14th in OPS among NCCAA batters with at least 50 plate appearances.
Senior Abbie Begley finished the year with a .326/.379/.384 (BA/OBP/SLG) slash, driving in 23 runs and drew 12 walks. Begley also stole 16 bases, good enough for 3rd on the team and 22nd in the NCCAA.
Freshman Maddy Grueter batted for a .340 average on the year and led the team with a .642 slugging percentage. Grueter finished the season 4th in the NCCAA in home runs with 10, 6th in doubles with 17, and 10th in hits with 56. The WHAC 1st Team Third Baseman also finished 17th in the NCCAA in SLG% among qualified batters and top-40 in assists with 67.
Freshman Payton Lewis recorded a .390 batting average with 5 home runs and a team leading 41 RBI's as she guided the powerful Cardinals offense. The WHAC Newcomer of the Year ended the year 4th in the NCCAA in runs scored (44), 5th in hits (64), and 7th in runs batted in. Also a member of the WHAC All-Defensive Team, Lewis led the NCCAA with 119 assists.
This is now back-to-back years that McAlinden and Begley have been named to the NCCAA Midwest Division 1 All-Regional Team.
