Seven Norse recognized on all-conference team
May 7, 2009
Seven members of the Luther softball team have been recognized by the Iowa Conference on the 2009 all-conference teams. The Norse had three first and second team selections and one honorable mention.
Danielle Armbruster (1B), Lauran Snyder (3B) and Anna Simonson (at-large) were all named to the first team. This is the first time all three have been named to the league's all-conference team.
Armbruster, a four-year starter at first base, led the league with seven doubles and batted .383 with 11 rbi. Her 18 hits ranked second to Simonson. Defensively, Armbruster posted 88 putouts, four assists and no errors.
Snyder posted a slugging percentage of .690 thanks to four doubles and three home runs. Her .381 batting average ranked fifth in the league statistics while her slugging percentage ranked second.
Simonson led the league with 20 hits en route to a batting average of .364. She finished tied for fifth for runs scored with teammate Tiffany Kruse with 12. Defensively, she recorded a fielding percentage of .951 committing just three errors in 61 chances.
Kruse (C), Kim Hess (OF) and Kelsey Hake (OF) were second team honorees. This is the first time Hake has been recognized on the all-conference squad, while Kruse is making her second consecutive appearance and Hess is making her fourth. Hake led the league with 16 rbi while batting .333. Kruse committed just one error, was credited with 14 assists and 103 putouts and batted .250. Hess, who was a first team honoree in 2007, was also named second team in 2006 and honorable mention last season. She led the league with 10 stolen bases and ranked third for runs scored with 13. She was also perfect in the field committing no errors and was credited with 16 putouts and two assists.
Abby Christian, who was Luther's designated player, was one of two players named honorable mention. Christian led the league with four home runs en route to a slugging percentage of .580. She batted .320 during her freshman campaign finishing behind Hake for rbi with 15.
The seven honorees are the most in one season for the Norse in school history. The previous record was five in 2007. Recognition usually comes hand-in-hand with success and the Norse had another successful year. For the third year in a row Luther posted a 30-plus wins, finishing the regular season and conference tournament with a record of 33-9. The Norse finished fourth in the IIAC and second at the league's post season tournament, earning a second invitation in the past three years to the NCAA III National Tournament.
