Feel free to weigh in on this … but the NAIA All-American teams came out today without a single KCAC player. That means that Friends, with a national ranking, with a win at the NAIA Tournament, and with KCAC player of the year Megan VinZant and pitcher of the year Brandi Leeker, didn’t get a spot. One or the other would have been great, but nothing. How did this happen? I’ve got a theory — the KCAC, as a league, gets zero respect on the national level in almost all sports they compete in. The exception is probably women’s basketball. Is this fair? Not really, but it usually derives from performance at national tournaments. In that aspect, the KCAC comes up short. The amount of teams waters down the competition level and doesn’t prepare them adequately for the national tournaments in most sports — although there are some exceptions, like I said. Not many.
But as far as VinZant and Leeker … they got robbed. I had one of them pegged as a first team picked and the other as an honorable mention. I’m not saying which. Here’s a link to their stats. Feel free to peruse and let me know what you think.
OUT. TA.
One Comment
First of all let me say that I am not a Coach or connected in anyway to Friends University. I’m just a big fan of the softball program. Everyone always wants to look at stats to back up their arguement. I will do that also. But first of all I will talk about what these two young ladies have done for the team and the program.Especially since this is a TEAM sport. Let me remind you that before Coach Segovia & these two young got to Friends. The softball program had never won & I repeat never won the KCAC Tournament,qualified for Regionals,or the National Tournament.As Freshmans these two young ladies help lead their team to a second place finish in the KCAC regular season and help lead the way to a KCAC Tournament Championship.In 2007,2008,& 2009 these two helped lead the Falcons to a clean sweep of the KCAC Regular Season Championship and The KCAC Tournament Championship.I have to give the Coaching staff alot of credit for realizing the talent that they had with these two back in 2006.They made a big change in the pitching rotation in 2007 by moving Megan from the #1 spot and putting Brandi there instead.How many young ladies would except this. Especially after being the Pitcher & Player Of The Year. I would say probably not many.But these two were willing to do what ever it took to make the team better.The Coaching staff new that they were close to taking it to the next level. So they went out and got better players to put the final pieces together.The Coaching staff made another big move in 2008 when they asked Brandi to be just a Pitcher.This was a big move on the Coaching staff part and Brandi’s.Brandi had hit over .340 her first two years at Friends.But she did it for the team. With all these big moves,these two young ladies were willing to do what ever it took to help get their team to the Championship level.I would say that it paid off big time. In 2008 they went 16 & 0 in the KCAC regular season. They also had a 32 game winning streak that just didn’t include KCAC teams.They also won their first Regional Championship that year which earned them their first berth in the NAIA National Softball Championship. In 2009 they did it all over again.All in all these two young ladies helped build a team and program that has won 3 KCAC Championships, 4 KCAC Tournament Championships,Regional Championship,& 2 National Tournament appearances. I just wanted to give some background and insight to what these two young ladies have done for the team and program.I’m not saying that they both belong on the First or Second Team.But I do believe that it is a crying shame that neither one of them is even on the team.Especially for everyhing they have done for the program.They also have the stats to back them up.Now if you want the individual stuff. I can give that to you to.
Megan Vinzant
2006- KCAC Pitcher & Player Of The Year
1st Team All Region
2007- KCAC Player Of The Year
1st Team All Region
2008- KCAC 1st Team
1st Team All Region
2009- KCAC Player Of The Year
( No Regionals This Year)
Brandi Leeker
2006- KCAC 2nd Team – Utility
2007- KCAC 1st Team – Pitcher
2008- KCAC Pitcher Of The Year
1st Team All Region
2009- KCAC Pitcher Of The Year
( No Regionals This Year)