Transy’s Mitchell and Manchester’s Brown Win Top HCAC Softball Awards

GREENWOOD, IN – Transylvania University’s Megan Mitchell (Buck Creek, Ind./Wm. Henry Harrison) and Manchester College’s Kristi Brown (Veersburg, Ind./Attica) have been named Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Most Valuable Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively.

Mitchell, a freshman third baseman for the Pioneers, guided her team to a 14-2 record during the HCAC softball regular season and a conference tournament championship. She was the leader of the Transylvania offensive effort all season long and hit a conference-best eight home runs in league play.  Mitchell ranked among the HCAC leaders in batting average (.490), on-base percentage (.574), slugging percentage (1.020), total bases (50), runs scored (21), and RBI (24).  For the season, Mitchell leads all of Division III with 16 home runs and a 1.034 slugging percentage.  She also ranks top ten nationally in batting average (.513), RBI per game (1.45), and on-base percentage (.597).

Transylvania stands 34-9 overall this season and opens NCAA regional play against Washington-St. Louis at DePauw University Thursday afternoon.

Brown, a senior pitcher for the Spartans, was outstanding in the circle this year. She helped lead Manchester to the HCAC tournament championship game before falling to Transylvania 6-2.  She posted an 8-1 record against conference opponents this season, tying for the league lead in wins.  The senior recorded a 1.34 earned run average by allowing just 12 earned runs in 62.2 innings of work.  Brown struck out 59 opponents during the conference season and notched six complete games.

Overall for Manchester this year, Brown sported a 1.54 earned run average and 17-6 overall record. She threw 172.1 innings and struck out 156 hitters. She was named HCAC Softball Pitcher of the Week once this year and helped the Spartans to a 23-20-1 overall record and 9-7 mark in HCAC play.

The HCAC has also awarded the Freshman of the Year award to Transylvania’s Mitchell.  Mitchell earned the HCAC Softball Hitter of the Week award four times this year while leading the Pioneers to a regular season and tournament championship.

Transylvania’s head coach, Michelle Manning, has been named Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. Manning, in her fourth season as head coach at Transylvania, has led the Pioneers to a 34-9 mark and a 14-2 record in the HCAC this season, earning the regular season and tournament championship. This award is the second-straight ‘Coach of the Year’ honor for Manning while in charge at Transy.

Most Valuable Player: Megan Mitchell, Transylvania University

Pitcher of the Year: Kristi Brown, Manchester College

Freshman of the Year: Megan Mitchell, Transylvania University

Coach of the Year: Michelle Manning, Transylvania University

First Team All-HCAC

Second Team All-HCAC

Honorable Mention