Softball Tuesday, May 7, 2024 NWC Athletic Communications

Bouman Repeats as Coach of the Year, Six Raiders Achieve All-Conference Status

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The No. 9-ranked Northwestern softball team won the GPAC regular season and tournament title this season, setting the stage for six All-Conference selections and a repeat selection as Coach of the Year for Shane Bouman.

"When you win the GPAC regular season and tournament titles, you have an amazing team with selfless, team-oriented athletes," Bouman stated. "There are many deserving players that are not on this list, but we are so proud of the ones who carry the Red Raider flag as All-GPAC honorees!"

Shane Bouman – GPAC/Hauff Mid_America Coach of the Year
Becoming the first Northwestern softball coach to win multiple Coach of the Year awards, Shane Bouman currently has the Raiders experiencing their best season in program history. Entering the NAIA tournament, Northwestern has a 48-5 record, the most wins in program history. Northwestern's No. 9 national ranking is its highest in program history, and this will be the first time that the Raiders have reached back-to-back national tournaments. In six years at Northwestern, Bouman has a record of 192-75-1 and has improved the team's winning percentage in each season.

Gwen Mikkelsen – First Team (Infielder)
One year removed from being the GPAC Player of the Year and an NAIA All-American, Mikkelsen (Sr., Casa Grande, Ariz.) earns her third All-Conference and second First Team selection. Entering the NAIA tournament, she is tied for the career doubles record (55) and is second on the team and seventh in the GPAC in batting average (.378). She has played in all 53 of Northwestern's games, starting 52. In 148 at-bats, Mikkelsen has only struck out four times and has drawn 25 walks. She leads the conference in doubles (19) and is third on the team in RBI (32).

Kate Kralik – First Team (Pitcher)
Kralik (Jr., Indianola, Iowa) earns First Team All-GPAC honors in back-to-back years after posting a career-best ERA (1.11). Additionally, Kralik is one of two 100+ strikeout pitchers on the Raiders' staff and is third in the GPAC in ERA, fourth in wins (17), tied for fourth in strikeouts (101), and tied for first in saves (3).

Chloe Gallegos – First Team (Catcher)
One of the most reliable backstops in the conference, Gallegos (Jr., Carroll, Iowa) has been a factor on both sides of the plate. She has started all 53 games, posting career-highs in doubles (13), RBI (37), and walks (26). Behind the plate, Gallegos has 282 putouts, 22 assists, and a .990 fielding percentage. She also sits second on the team and sixth in the GPAC in RBI. It is the second All-Conference and first First Team selection for Gallegos.

Kameryn Etherington – First Team (Utility)
Proving to be the best two-way player in the GPAC, Etherington (Sr., Algona, Iowa) has led the way from the circle and at the plate. She has hit a career-high in pitching wins (22), a career-low ERA (1.07), is the program leader in career strikeouts (601) and is tied for the program lead in career wins (81). She is second in the GPAC in ERA (1.07), second in wins (22), and third in strikeouts (131).

At the plate, Etherington is near the top of the conference in multiple categories. Her .397 batting average leads the team, is fourth in the league and is a career-high, and her 43 RBIs are fifth in the GPAC. She also leads the Raiders with five home runs and has eight steals. Etherington is a four-time All-GPAC selection, receiving First Team accolades for the third time.

Tatum Schmalbeck – Second Team (Infielder)
Schmalbeck (Fr., Sioux Center, Iowa) cemented herself in the starting lineup immediately for the Raiders, starting 48 games and playing all 53 this season. In her inaugural season, she hit .336, driving in 27 runs and slugging .396. Her average is fifth on the team as one of five players hitting over .300 and she is also fifth in RBI.

Jori Hajek – Second Team (Infielder)
A multisport athlete at Northwestern, Hajek (Jr., Renwick, Iowa) started 51 games in her first season as a transfer. After helping the Red Raider volleyball team to the NAIA Championship, Hajek is looking to help the Raider softball team to a tournament run. She is fourth on the team in average (.346), which is 15^th in the GPAC, and fourth on the team in RBI (31), sitting 13^th in the conference. Hajek also has seven stolen bases this year.

Midland's Roni Foote and Aliyah Rincon were named the GPAC Hauff Mid-America Sports Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively.

Don't forget to follow Northwestern College Athletics on Facebook @nwcraiders, Twitter @nwcraiders, and Instagram @nwcraiders! #RaidersStandOut

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Players Mentioned

#20 Kameryn Etherington: P; 5' 5"; Senior

#33 Kate Kralik: P; 5' 7"; Junior

#25 Gwen Mikkelsen: INF; 5' 8"; Senior

#10 Jori Hajek: INF; 5' 5"; Junior

#2 Tatum Schmalbeck: P/INF; 5' 6"; Freshman

#12 Chloe Gallegos: C; 5' 5"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#20 Kameryn Etherington
: 5' 5"; Senior
: P

#33 Kate Kralik
: 5' 7"; Junior
: P

#25 Gwen Mikkelsen
: 5' 8"; Senior
: INF

#10 Jori Hajek
: 5' 5"; Junior
: INF

#2 Tatum Schmalbeck
: 5' 6"; Freshman
: P/INF

#12 Chloe Gallegos
: 5' 5"; Junior
: C