Larkin grad Holtz earns accolades at Eastern

Larkin graduate Kiley Holtz is tearing it up on the softball field for Eastern Illinois University.

Holtz, a junior and the Panthers' third baseman, was named Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week for her performance last week in which, among other things, she hit .615 in leading Eastern to a 5-0 start to its OVC season.

"This is so exciting and I'm really pumped about the way our team is playing right now," Holtz said on Eastern's Web site. "We are playing with lots of energy and enthusiasm, and the team is ready to go out and play our game. We have been focusing on everyone doing their job and getting it done, while not worrying too much about what the other team is doing.

"The 5-0 start is great but the OVC is going to be a dogfight this year so I expect every game to be tough and exciting."

Last week, in addition to hitting .615, Holtz had a 1.154 slugging percentage. She had 2 home runs, 6 RBI and didn't strike out once all week. She also had no errors in 12 chances at third base.

The player of the week honor is Holtz's second. She also earned one last season, when she led the Panthers in hitting (. 306) and was named second team all-conference.

After sweeping Tennessee Tech in a 3-game series over the weekend, Eastern had won 7 straight. For the season, Holtz is hitting .328 with 4 homers and 17 RBI. She now has 12 career home runs, which ranks fifth on EIU's all-time list. She's only struck out three times in 64 at-bats this season and has a .563 slugging percentage.

Eastern, now 13-11 overall, plays at Southeast Missouri State today.

Holthus in town Friday: Burlington Central graduate Christine Holthus, the 2007 Daily Herald all-area softball captain and now a junior at Wisconsin-Parkside, will compete with the Rangers in a doubleheader at Judson University in Elgin Friday. Game time is 2 p.m. Holthus is the Rangers' starting center fielder and is currently hitting .288 for the season. Parkside is 7-9 so far this season.

Coffman to Carthage: St. Edward senior Danielle Coffman, who placed 11th at the Class 1A girls golf state finals this past fall, will continue her career on the links at Division III Carthage College in Kenosha, Wis. Coffman, who only started playing golf her freshman year, helped St. Edward to a seventh-place finish as a team in the Class 1A state tournament. She also advanced downstate as an individual in 2008 and finished 36th. Coffman, who was named St. Edward's team MVP the past two seasons, won regional and sectional championships this past fall. She will major in Elementary Education with an emphasis in special education.

Hodge to William Penn: South Elgin graduate Adam Hodge, a member of the 2007-08 Daily Herald All-Area boys basketball team, will continue his career at William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Hodge played the past two seasons at Rock Valley College in Rockford, where was an all-Region selection this past season. William Penn is an NAIA school. The Statesmen finished 22-11 this season.