LSSU Lakers notebook

NEWS RELEASES

LAKE SUPERIOR STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

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Laker men's and women's track teams earn national all-academic honors

Scott is named academic All-America

NEW ORLEANS - The Lake Superior State men's and women's track and field teams earned United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division II All-Academic status in 2007.

The LSSU men's team was ranked 10th nationally with a team grade point average of 3.110, while the LSSU women's team was ranked 17th nationally with a team GPA of 3.330.

LSSU redshirt freshman Katie Scott, who has a 3.728 GPA while majoring in exercise science, was also named a USTFCCCA DII Academic All-American.

"We are very pleased with the work our men's and women's teams accomplished this season in the classroom," LSSU track/cross country coach Steve Eles said. "This season we received a total of six academic all-America awards, including four team awards. This is a significant improvement from the previous season when we received only one individual award. Our teams met their academic goals."

The 2006 LSSU men's and women's cross country teams were also recognized for academic achievement.

USTFCCCA DII National All-Academic Men's Top 20 Chadron State, 3.350 North Dakota, 3.290 Seattle Pacific, 3.240 California-San Diego, 3.167 Northern Kentucky, 3.150 Western State, 3.150 Michigan Tech, 3.140 California-Pennsylvania, 3.120 Augustana, 3.118 Lake Superior State, 3.110 Northwest Nazarene, 3.110 Edinboro, 3.085 Findlay, 3.080 Concordia-St. Paul, 3.070 Stonehill, 3.070 Tiffin, 3.070 Truman State, 3.060 Clarion, 3.055 Long Island-CW Post, 3.040 Millersville, 3.040

Women's Top 20 Michigan Tech, 3.580 Seattle Pacific, 3.550 North Dakota, 3.523 Incarnate Word, 3.450 Chico State, 3.440 Pittsburg State, 3.439 Colorado School of Mines, 3.413 Mansfield, 3.410 Wayne State, 3.405 Missouri Southern State, 3.390 Seton Hill, 3.380 Northern Kentucky, 3.370 California-Pennsylvania, 3.363 Clarion, 3.353 Emporia State, 3.350 Edinboro, 3.348 Lake Superior State, 3.330> Stonehill, 3.330 Indiana-Pennsylvania, 3.330 West Chester, 3.330

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Lakers finalize softball recruiting class

LSSU will bring in four pitchers plus versatile talent

SAULT STE. MARIE - The Lake Superior State softball team finalized its recruiting class for 2007-08, and it includes Cheboygan teammates Sam Beaubein and Chevie Peralta-Everts, along with White Cloud's Katie Brandt, who is the sister of LSSU center fielder April Brandt.

LSSU's other incoming freshmen who have signed National Letters of Intent include Frankfort pitcher Jennie Elliott and Sault High shortstop Kylie Anderson. Laker coach Don Myers also picked up North Branch pitcher Kim Curell, who is attending LSSU on an academic scholarship, and New Boston-Huron pitcher Claire Ostrowski.

Beaubein and Peralta-Everts, who both earned Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association All-State Honorable Mention in Division II, helped lead Cheboygan to a 31-5 record and the school's first regional championship. Beaubein posted a 0.98 earned run average and was 27-3 record as a pitcher. She totaled more than 235 strikeouts in 2007 and over 780 career strikeouts. Peralta-Everts, who played third base and outfield for the Chiefs, batted .356 with 35 RBIs, 10 doubles and five home runs during the regular season. She also homered to lead her team to a regional championship victory over Cadillac.

"We have watched Sam throw for Cheboygan High School, and she gets the job done," LSSU coach Don Myers said. "She has several pitches and always leaves a few people standing at the plate. Chevie is a straight-away hitter with good power, and she, too, should make her mark in a Laker uniform."

Brandt was a third baseman for two seasons at Kalamazoo Community College. In 2007, she batted .343 with 46 hits and 45 RBIs in 49 games. She was ranked fourth in the Michigan Community College Athletic Association in RBIs and seventh in home runs with nine.

"Katie will bring added strength to our batting lineup as she has a quick swing and dedication for the game," Myers said. "She is a hard-nosed player who will make an immediate impact on our team."

Anderson batted .299 for the Blue Devils this season, leading the team in doubles with nine and home runs with two. She also totaled 54 putouts and 51 assists at shortstop. As a four-year starter, she played a role in more than 400 putouts for the Sault High defense.

"We have watched this athlete compete over the years, and feel she will be a great asset to our program," Myers said. "She shows range and flexibility, which are needed in the center of our infield. We are happy Kylie has chosen LSSU over all other schools."

Elliott topped off an outstanding prep career by leading Frankfort High School to the Division IV state finals in 2007. She finished 29-6 as a senior, totaling more than 300 strikeouts and posting an ERA of 0.30. She also batted .517 with 41 RBIs and 13 home runs. During her career, she tossed 49 shutouts and 10 perfect games, and totaled more than 970 strikeouts.

"This high school standout on the mound should help us in our starting rotation," Myers said. "She can also hit with power as she had 15 round trippers this year alone."

Curell, who pitched North Branch to a Division II regional title, is an honors student with a 3.9 grade point average and plans to study forensic chemistry at LSSU. She was 29-14 with a 1.13 ERA and struck out 271 of the 919 batters she faced. She also batted .354 while earning All-Tri Valley Conference, all-district and all-area honors.

"Anyone who pitches their Class B team to the state quarterfinals has to have something on the ball, and we will give her every chance she needs to make our pitching lineup," Myers said.

Ostrowski earned most-valuable player, All-Huron League and Division II all-district honors as a senior at Huron High School after being a three-time MVP at Plymouth High School. She was 70-20 at Plymouth and 15-15 as a senior at Huron. During the 2007 season, her ERA was 1.47 with 171 strikeouts, and she batted .365.

"Claire's off-season coach, who has coached college-level pitchers in the past, feels she can do it on the mound for any Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference team," Myers said. "We will give her a shot at becoming one of our hurlers."

These recruits join fall signee Chelsea Maynard, who helped lead Marquette High School to its first Division I district title this spring. Maynard earned all-district honors after leading the Redettes in batting (.343), RBIs (24), extra-base hits (12) and sacrifices (14). Her on-base percentage was .408.

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