College: Record-setting Keller is killing it as freshman at NIU

Geneva graduate Katie Keller, now a freshman on the Northern Illinois University softball team, recently earned 2019 all-Great Lakes Region honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

"Our region collectively had a phenomenal year, so for Keller to achieve first team as a freshman speaks volumes to how successful her year was," NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe told the university's athletics website. "She is a true student of the game and we look forward to watching her work and grow into a leader of this program and achieve sustained success. We couldn't be more proud of her accomplishments."

Keller made the all-region team as a utility player/non-pitcher, and split time between first base and catcher. She is the first Huskie freshman to earn first-team all-region honors and the eighth NIU player overall.

Keller set an NIU school record for doubles this season with 21, which led the conference and ranked third in the country. Her 0.45 doubles per game led the nation, while her Mid-American Conference-best .424 batting average ranked 23rd in the country. She ranked in the Top 10 in the MAC in 7 offensive categories.

Keller also earned first-team all-MAC honors and was selected to the league's all-freshman team, as well as earning a spot on the all-MAC tournament team.

Brown at Wheaton: Aurora Christian product Natasha Brown is headed nationals. Brown, now a senior at Wheaton College, set a school record in the 200 dash at the recent Augustana Twilight qualifier in Rock Island.

In the "last chance" meet, Brown ran 24.47 in the 200 to win the event. That time ranks fourth in NCAA Division III this year and assures her a spot at the NCAA Division III championships this weekend in Geneva, Ohio.

Bright earns academic honor: Crystal Lake South alum Garrett Bright, a senior second baseman at Saint Xavier in Chicago, recently was named to the Google Cloud CoSIDA academic all-district team.

Bright, who graduates this month with a degree in finance, hit .324 this season for Saint Xavier with 56 hits in 173 at-bats. He scored 37 runs and had 6 doubles, 2 triples, 1 home run and 34 RBI. Bright struck out only 9 times in 173 at-bats and walked 15 times. In the field, he made only 6 errors in 218 total chances.

Saint Xavier recently was eliminated from the NAIA World Series after a 5-4 loss to Indiana University Southeast.

Origer at Dubuque: Dundee-Crown alum Deanna Origer is a freshman infielder on the University of Dubuque softball team.

This season, Origer hit .321 in 39 games with 44 hits in 137 at-bats. She scored 37 runs to go with 9 doubles, 3 triples, 1 home run and 26 RBI. Origer struck out only 12 times in 137 at-bats.

Earlier in the season, Origer earned American Rivers Conference player of the week honors for her strong showing in Florida. During a 9-game trip, Origer hit .533 with 16 hits, 13 RBI, 10 runs scored and 3 walks. She had an .833 slugging percentage thanks in part to 3 triples and 3 doubles. Those totals earned her ARC female athlete of the week and position player of the week honors.

Shields at Loyola: Huntley graduate Jessica Shields, now a member of the Loyola University-Chicago softball team, earned a spot on the NFPA all-region third team after a productive junior season.

Shields set the Loyola single-season record with 35 stolen bases, a clip that at the time of the award was good for 12th among Division I players and tops in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Shields also earned MVC newcomer of the year honors (she played her first two years at Wisconsin-Parkside). Shields led Loyola with 44 runs scored and had a .437 on-base percentage, while finishing second on the team in hits with 62. She stole 4 bases in a game against Akron and also had a team-season-high 5 hits in a contest at Northern Illinois.

Bohne at Triton: Larkin graduate Haley Bohne made quite an impact as a freshman on the Triton College softball team this season.

Bohne hit .407 for Triton with 50 hits in 123 at-bats. She also scored 61 runs and had 21 doubles, a triple, 4 home runs and 35 RBI. She finished the season with a .691 slugging percentage, a .554 on-base percentage and a 1.245 on-base plus slugging percentage.

Bohne also drew 30 walks and was hit by a pitch 12 times. She stole 14 bases in as many attempts.

Triton finished the season with a 28-25 record.

Belo at Augustana: Jacobs graduate Taylor Belo had a strong season at the plate for the Augustana softball team.

Belo, a senior outfielder, hit .366 (third-best on the team) with 37 hits in 101 at-bats. She scored 19 runs and had 5 doubles, 2 triples, 3 home runs and 12 RBI to go with 8 stolen bases. Augustana was 18-20 overall and 7-9 in conference play.

Liebelt at Mississippi State: West Aurora graduate Jared Liebelt has played a key role out of the Mississippi State bullpen this season.

Liebelt has appeared in 27 games this season and is 1-0 with a 2.27 ERA to go with 5 saves. In 43 2/3 innings Liebelt has 30 strikeouts.

Mississippi State recently earned a share of the Southeastern Conference West Division title.

Dyer honored: Kaneland graduate Nate Dyer was named the Missouri Valley Conference men's field athlete of the week earlier this season.

Dyer earned the award after he won the hammer throw at the Kentucky invitational with a personal-best mark of 206-10. It was a personal record by seven inches. At the time, the throw put Dyer at No. 1 in the MVC and 26th in the NCAA West region in the event.

Khat at Northern Iowa: Mooseheart alum Wal Khat won the men's 1,500 race with a career-best time of 3:56.48 at the Tom Botts invitational in Columbia, Missouri, earlier this season. Khat is a junior at Northern Iowa University.

Delahanty honored: Rosary graduate Brooke Delahanty was honored at the recent University of Illinois academic and achievement dinner for having a 4.0 grade-point average during the fall 2018 term. Delahanty is a freshman on the Illinois women's track and field team.

Gross at Benedictine: Hampshire graduate Wyatt Gross played in 11 games in goal this season as a freshman for the Benedictine University men's lacrosse team. Gross faced 76 shots and made 21 saves and had a 9.53 goals-against average. Gross' brother, Cooper, also is on the Benedictine squad. Cooper Gross played in 7 games this season and recorded a goal in a game against Beloit College.

Off at College wants your help: Send information and/or stats on Fox Valley-area athletes playing collegiately to Mike Miazga at mjm890@gmail.com.