Michigan State Softball Players Hansen and Williams Earn Great Lakes All-Region Honors
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EAST LANSING, Mich. – Senior Lindsey Hansen and junior Brett Williams of the Michigan State softball team have been named to one of two 2011 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-Region teams, as announced by the National Fast pitch Coaches Association on Thursday, May 19. Hansen was listed a first-team honoree while Williams earned second-team distinction, both for the first time in their careers.
A total of 258 players from 126 different institutions comprise this season’s regional teams, including first and second teams for each region.
Hansen, the team’s everyday shortstop, starting all 54 contests on the season for the Spartans, was listed as a first-team selection. The 2011 campaign was a historic one for Hansen, as she broke both the school’s single-season home run record and career-home run record during her senior year with 20 and 42, respectively. Hansen also tied the team’s single-game home run record with two against Central Michigan on April 26.
Hansen became only the fourth player in program history to hit for 0.400, or better, when she posted an average of 0.404 for the season (third best at MSU). Her 56 RBIs and 53 runs scored list her tops in MSU’s single season-hitting records, while her 31 extra-base hits are tied for second. Not only did Hansen get it done at the plate, but the Valparaiso, Fla., native also led the conference in the field with 145 assists. On the base paths, Hansen recorded 23 stolen bases on 24 attempts, ranking tied for fourth all-time in program history for a single-season performance. Her 18 consecutive stolen bases is the fourth-longest streak in school history.
Nationally, Hansen ended the regular season fifth in home runs (20), sixth in slugging (0.891), seventh in homers a game (0.37) and 14th in triples (five). Hansen posted two 10-game hit streaks on the season to tie for the most-consecutive on the year. During her first streak, Hansen went a team-leading 16-for-32 (0.500) at the plate, blasting five home runs and eight extra-base hits. Hansen’s second streak saw her go 0.452 at the plate with a team-best five extra-base hits and 11 runs scored.
Hansen combined with Williams to tally 33 of the team’s school-record 53 home runs this season.
Like Hansen, Williams appeared in all 54 games as the starting catcher for Green and White. The Fishers, Ind., native was a tabbed as a second-team honoree. For the 2011 season, Williams ranked second on the team with 13 homers on the season, tying for the second-most in a single-season at MSU. Williams’ junior season was a break-out year as she also set career-bests in RBIs with 52 on the year, the second-most as a Spartan in a single-season.
After tallying only six combined home runs her freshman and sophomore seasons, Williams moved into a tie for sixth all-time at MSU with her 19 career homers. Williams ended the regular season ranked 63rd in the nation in homers with her 13, while also ranking 82nd in slugging with a 0.691 mark.
Williams posted a 0.336 batting average overall, bringing that total to a team-best 0.382 in conference-only action. Williams was tied with Hansen in conference-only home runs with five each. Of Williams’ 34 runs recorded this season, 13 of which were tallied during MSU’s 20-game conference slate. During Williams’ team-tying best 10-game hit streak, she posted a team-leading five home runs while going 17-for-30 (.567) at the plate with 10 walks.
Since 1994, the Spartans have placed 19 different players on the Great Lakes All-Region team, including five of whom have gone on to earn NFCA All-America distinction. In total, MSU has six individuals who have earned All-America honors in program history.
The all-region teams were chosen by NFCA member coaches from each region, and all the honorees will now be eligible for selection to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America first, second or third teams.
The NFCA Division I All-America teams will be announced at 5 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 1.