Three Hoosier Softball Players Earn All-American Nods

Indiana softball freshman Taryn Kern and sophomores Brianna Copeland and Taylor Minnick each earned All-American honors from the NFCA as the most single-season All-Americans in Hoosier program history.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. —Indiana softball players Taryn Kern, Brianna Copeland and Taylor Minnick each earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American nods, the most single-season All-American selections in Hoosier program history.

Freshman second baseman Kern was awarded the highest honor of the trio landing a spot on the Second-Team while sophomore pitcher Copeland and sophomore outfielder Minnick were awarded Third-Team. 

“This announcement shows the strength of our team with two thirds of our lineup representing All-Region honors and now a third being selected as All-Americans,” head coach Shonda Stanton said. “It’s a tremendous honor for Brianna, Taryn and Taylor who put up game-changing individual performances propelling Team 50 to a record-breaking season.”

Kern from San Jose, Calif. led the Hoosier starters with a .404 batting average, 63 hits, 13 doubles, 23 home runs and 68 RBI. The Big Ten Player and Freshman of the Year led the Big Ten in eight offensive categories including slugging percentage (.930), on base percentage (0.575), OPS (1.505), walks (45), hit by pitch (23), runs scored (68), RBI and home runs.

Copeland recorded a 22-4 record in the circle making 28 starts in 47 appearances forcing 148 strikeouts. This season, she threw a no-hitter that propelled her into a 15-game winning streak for the Pelham, Ala. native.

Offensively, Copeland hit 14 home runs with a .318 overall batting average while driving in 48 runs and stealing 13 bases this season. Her consistent performance landed her a spot on the Big Ten All-Tournament Team, the NFCA All-Region First Team and to the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.

Bloomington, Ind. native Minnick put up a .390 batting average totaling 14 doubles, 12 home runs and 62 hits in 61 games. She only struck out 11 times in 205 plate appearances reaching base in 50 games with a 36-game streak. 

Minnick also earned All-Big Ten First-Team honors, was named to the 2023 Big Ten All-Tournament Team and is a NFCA All-Region First Team recipient.

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