Stucke, Robinson and Schnipke Earn All-HCAC Honors

GREENWOOD, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference released its list of 2010 softball award winners on Wednesday, with three Yellow Jackets receiving recognition. Marah Robinson and Tasha Stucke were placed on the All-HCAC First Team, while Kelly Schnipke received honorable mention.  [All-HCAC Teams]

Robinson was the heart of the Yellow Jackets' lineup this season, leading the team in nearly every offensive category. The former HCAC Freshman of the Year ended the season ranked in the top-four in the conference in hits (52) and total bases (77), and second in batting average (.448). Robinson's season was one of the best in school history, as she posted a new school record with a .515 on base percentage, and became the all-time leader in home runs with 16 in her first three seasons.

Stucke was invaluable for the Yellow Jackets both offensively and defensively this season. The Coldwater, Ohio, native led the team with 29 runs on the season, and placed second on the team in hits (43), batting average (.358), runs batted in (25), slugging percentage (.508) and on base percentage (.439). In addition to her offensive production, Stucke held down the shortstop position for the HCAC's leading defense, with 89 putouts and 80 assists on the season.    

Schnipke stepped into the role of ace of the staff this season, and came through with a team-high seven wins, including nine complete games. The junior hurler really found her groove during the second half of the season, as she watched her ERA drop for 11-consecutive starts to close out the season, and was tabbed as the HCAC Pitcher of the Week on April 26, after going 2-0 on the week with a 0.00 earned run average. Schnipke finished the season with a 3.51 earned run average and held her opponents to a collective .332 batting average.

The Yellow Jackets wrapped up their season on May 1, with an 18-18 overall record and a 7-9 mark in the HCAC. The season marked the seventh-straight year that Defiance has fished with a .500 record or better.