May 31, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Izzy Regner and Jaye Guichelaar headline a list of seven Grand Rapids Community College softball players saluted on Wednesday with postseason honors.
GRCC's softball team finished the season with a 25-18 record, and 15-10 in the conference, earning the team a share of their first conference title since 1999. The team also finished as runners-up in the NJCAA Region XII Tournament.
"I'm so proud of the accomplishments of this team," Athletic Director Lauren Ferullo said. "The players went beyond my expectations after we did not field a team last year. They stepped up and believed in the coaches and the program. I'm excited to see them grow in the future."
Regner and Guichelaar were both awarded All-Region, All-MCCAA, and First Team All-Conference honors.
Both teammates were also named to the All-Tournament team at the regional tournament and Regner was named to the Northern Conference All-Freshman team.
Regner, a native of Elkhorn, Wis., finished her lone season at GRCC as one of the best pitchers in the nation, as she was second among all NJCAA Division II pitchers with 292 strikeouts and second in averaging 11.7 strikeouts per seven innings. She was also third in the nation for shutouts with eight, and eighth with a 1.36 ERA. She had a 20-5 record and three saves in 29 appearances.
Regner, who recently committed to Ferris State University - an NCAA Division II institution - had 19 games of 10 or more strikeouts, including a career-high 16 strikeouts against Mott Community College in the regional tournament.
While a force on the mound, Regner also ranked as one of the best hitters in the MCCAA, with a .434 batting average, 16 doubles, five home runs and a slugging percentage of .690.
Guichelaar's batting average of .523 was the best among all 20 teams in the Michigan Community College Athletic Association and top 15 in the country. She was also second with a .543 on base percentage and fifth in the MCCAA with a .775 slugging percentage. In 42 games, she totaled 79 hits, 18 doubles, four triples, four home runs, 28 runs batted in and only struck out nine times in over 160 plate appearances.
Three GRCC players were named Second Team All-Conference: shortstop and third baseman Brynn McArthur; catcher Samara Kolehouse; and outfielder Annika Roersma.
McArthur tied for the team with 41 runs batted in and led the team with 20 walks. She also was tied for second with five home runs; third with a .592 slugging percentage, 38 runs scored and 11 doubles. She was one of three players to play and start in all 43 games while batting a solid .384.
Kolehouse, the team's every day catcher, led the team with six home runs. She also ranked in the top-5 on the team with a .321 batting average, .566 slugging percentage, 34 hits, 10 walks, and 34 runs batted in.
Roersma, who earned her third straight All-Conference honor, finished off her stellar career with a .401 batting average, 108 runs scored, 15 home runs (including five this year), and a perfect 67 for 67 steal ratio. In the last nine games of her career, she went 11-for-26 with four home runs and 10 runs batted in.
Lauren James and Alyssa Wierenga were named All-Conference honorable mention.
James, who split time as the team's starting third baseman or first basemen, was third on the team with a .387 batting average and finished her freshman campaign batting .417 in regionals with a home run, earning her a spot on the All-Tournament team. She also tied for the team lead with 41 runs batted in and was tied for second with four home runs.
Wierenga played outfield and second base and batted .276 for the year. She was second on the team with three triples and third with 11 steals. Her spectacular defense with many diving catches also helped her earn All-Conference honors.
Wierenga was also a member of this year's volleyball team that finished fifth in the nation.
This story was written by Ben Brown.