NFCA All-Region Teams

A pair of Grand Valley State softball players earned All-Midwest Region accolades on Thursday afternoon (May 6), as released by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). The head coaches in the Midwest Region voted junior designated player Ellie Balbach and sophomore catcher Kaylie Rhynard to the All-Midwest Region Second Team, the first such all-region honors for both Laker players in their careers.

The NFCA names a 13-member First Team and a 13-player Second Team in all eight regions in Division II. Of the 26 players earning All-Midwest Region honors, 12 were chosen from the GLVC (Great Lakes Valley Conference), 12 honorees were from the GLIAC (Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference), and two members from the GMAC (Great Midwest Athletic Conference). Members of the All-Midwest Region First Team advance to the NFCA All-America balloting.

This is not the first time this season that Balbach and Rhynard have shared a postseason honor. Both players were named to the All-GLIAC First Team last week at the GLIAC Tournament. It was the second straight year that Balbach received All-GLIAC First Team plaudits; Rhynard was named to the First Team for the first time in her career.

Entering the NCAA Tournament, Balbach was hitting a team-high .367 and led GVSU in hits (58), doubles (15), and slugging percentage (.538), while ranking second in both home runs (four) and RBI (34). She was named to the Midwest Region Second Team as a designated player, but has been valuable as a pitcher on the Laker staff, as well. Prior to the opening game of the Midwest Region Tournament, Balbach was 7-2 with a 3.04 ERA, adding a pair of saves in 76.0 innings in the circle. She has walked just 18 batters on the year.

Catching for Balbach in 14 of her 16 appearances this season is Rhynard, who had a breakout season for the Lakers. Her .346 batting average is fourth on the team and she leads Grand Valley State in runs (31), stolen bases (a perfect 19-for-19), and sacrifice bunts (11). Her 54 base hits are second to Balbach's total. Rhynard has made 41 starts at catcher and started six games in the outfield, committing just two errors on the year and owning a .992 fielding percentage.

It was fitting that both players received their accolades on Thursday, as each played a big role in GVSU's 4-3 opening round victory over Southern Indiana in the Midwest Region Tournament in Indianapolis. As the starting pitcher in the game, Balbach threw six innings of five-hit ball, allowing two earned runs on 93 pitches. She received a no-decision. Offensively, Balbach was the lone Laker with multiple hits, as she went 2-for-3.

Rhynard went 1-for-3 and collected the game-winning RBI on a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh inning to bring in the winning run for the Lakers. 

Grand Valley State faces GMAC champion Trevecca Nazarene at 11:00 a.m. on Friday in the winner's bracket, as the Trojans upset top-seed and #2 nationally-ranked Indianapolis by a 2-1 final in nine innings on Thursday afternoon. The winner advances to Saturday's championship contest.