May 20, 2010

Starkville, Miss. - Grand Valley State freshman infielder Kayleigh Bertram was named to the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II All-Midwest Region Team, as was released on Thursday (May 20). Bertram was a Midwest Region Second Team selection as a utility player, as the rookie hit .376 in her first season as a Laker.

Bertram qualified for utility player status, as she started 25 games at second base and 20 contests at third base, while she established herself as one of the better infielders in the region. Her .376 batting average ranked her 12th in the GLIAC, as she was also second on GVSU in runs (28), hits (53), home runs (five), total bases (77), and on-base percentage (.436). Bertram's seven doubles gave her a total of 13 extra-base hits, third most on the team, and she recorded 15 multi-hit games this season.

Of the 26 players (13 on both the first and second team) from the Midwest Region, only eight players came from the GLIAC, as the GLVC put 18 members on the two squads. Wayne State's Casey Hanes (pitcher) and Alison Allen (outfielder), Northwood's Michelle Boscola (third base), and Saginaw Valley State's Angie Kaiser (outfield) were Midwest Region First Team selections. Bertram was joined on the second team by Ashland's Emlyn Knerem (pitcher) and Logan Hursey (first base) and Tiffin's Amanda Temple (third base). There were two utility player slots available on each team (one for a pitcher and one for a non-pitcher), as Bertram was the non-pitcher honoree on the second team.

Voting for the all-region teams was done by NFCA member coaches in each of the eight regions and all honorees are eligible to be selected to one of three Division II All-America teams.