05/14/2015
2015 Highland College Softball Season Review
The Lady Cougar’s season record fell far below expectations, but at times this very young team played as well as any team in the Midwest. Thank you to the Ashley Nepean, Susanna Thompson, Logan Skeel and Morgan Patterson for their contributions this year, and good luck next year at Illinois State, UW-Platteville or with your new careers! You will be missed!
Courtney Swalve the powerful clean up hitting catcher finished the regular season the team leader in many statistics on her way to becoming the Cougars MVP for 2015. Court finished the regular season with a team leading 44 hits, .449 avg overall, .414 avg in conference and a .643 slugging percentage. Swalve finished 2nd on the team with 12 extra base hits which included 3 home runs and a team leading 25 RBI’s.Courtney lead the team with 14 multiple hit games. She also picked up two post season awards; being named to the All Arrowhead Conference Team and the All NJCAA All Region IV Team.
Taylor O’Leksy the lead-off hitting second baseman finished the regular season 2nd on the team in batting with 36 hits, .321 avg overall, .355 avg in conference, while scoring 21 runs and chipping in 11 RBI’s. She was also second on the team with 11 multiple hit games. Taylor led the team with 109 At Bats while only striking out a team low 8 times! Taylor was also 2nd on the team in fielding percentage, while turning a team high 5 double plays. Not bad for a 2nd Team All State center fielder in high school, being converted into a college middle infielder.
Olivia Peterson the power hitting shortstop finished with a .298 avg overall, .328 in conference and led the team with 25 runs scored, 13 extra base hits, 4 home runs and was 3rd on the team with 19 RBI’s. Liv really had the knack for the dramatic this season, coming through twice late in games with big home runs, including a grand slam, to help the Cougars to victory! Who knows what Olivia can do next year when that injury bug leaves her alone!
Logan Skeel the spunky right fielder finished the season 3rd on the team with a .307 avg overall, .304 in conference. Logie collected 7 extra base hits including a home run and 12 RBI’s. Logan's home run came in a close 6-4 loss to eventual Arrowhead Conference Champs and National Tournament Qualifying Sauk Valley College in which she went 2x3 with 3 RBI’s.
Allison Thulen batted 2nd in the lineup for most of the season, pitched and played the outfield. Allison finished the 2015 campaign 4th on the team with a .305 avg overall and 3rd on the team with 32 hits. She pitched 72 innings striking out 43. Allison’s best pitching performance came in the East/West Tournament when she helped the Lady Cougars defeat the College of DuPage 5-4. On the mound she threw 7 great innings, allowing only 5 hits, 2 walks, while striking out 7.
Alysha Monahan was a jack of all trades utility player for the Lady Cougars, playing everything from all 3 outfield positions, catcher, first base and even a short stint at shortstop. She batted .298 overall and .316 in conference. Alysha collected 28 hits which included 2 home runs and she finished 2nd on the team with 21 RBI’s. Monahan’s best game came in a win against Madison College when she went 3x4 with a double, home run and had 5 RBI’s!
Ashley Nepean was also a jack of all trades, playing third base, shortstop and pitching. Ashley led the team with 7 wins on the mound while also leading the team with 104 innings and 47 strikeouts. At the plate Ashely finished the regular season with a .230 batting average and collected 7 extra base hits including a home run and 16 RBI’s. Ashley best game came against Black Hawk College when she went 4x5 with a double, home run, 4 RBI’s and she also picked up the win on the mound.
Katy Sprague was the starting 1st baseman this season with a brief stint at 3rd base. Katy finished the season with a .222 batting average with one home run and 18 RBI’s. Katy’s best game came against Northland Technical College in Florida when she went 3x3 with 2 RBI’s. However who could forget Katy’s solo home run vs the defending National Champion Golden Eagles of Rock Valley College.
Susanna Thompson played in the outfield, pitched and was always smiling! Susanna finished the regular season with a .128 batting average with 2 RBI’s. Susanna’s best game at the plate was against Monroe Community College in Florida when she went 2x3 with a run scored, and her best pitching performance came in a 6-4 win vs Bethel University when she pitched 2 innings giving up 1 hit, no runs and striking out one.
Morgan Patterson played third base for the Lady Cougars. She finished the regular season with a .194 batting average which included 7 hits, 5 runs scored and 1 RBI. Mo’s best game came against Waubonsee College when she went 2x3.
Bethany Shuman was the starting center fielder for the majority of the season. Unfortunately Bethany was limited to only playing the field and pitch running due to a shoulder injury. She led all outfielders in fielding percentage and her best games came against eventual conference champion Sauk Valley College. In two games Bethany made a total of 8 putouts!
There is a lot of talent that will return next spring and with a few new freshman additions Highland College has the potential to have a great season next year!
GO LADY COUGARS IN 2016!
