Green Bay and Cleveland State Garner Final Weekly Awards of the Season

INDIANAPOLIS - Green Bay senior Melani Niederer has been named the Horizon League Softball Batter of the Week, while Cleveland State senior Amanda Macenko has earned Pitcher of the Week honors for the week ending May 9.

On a two-two count against Youngstown State on Sunday, Niederer produced a hit to right center field, scoring the 6-5 game-winning run.  The victory clinched Green Bay’s participation in the 2010 Horizon League Championship.  The senior hit .438 and slugged .500 for the week, recording four RBI and five runs.  The New Munster, Wis., native, set a single-season school record for stolen bases with 11 as she notched two more last week.

Macenko tacked on three more wins to her already impressive resume, guiding her Vikings to a sweep over Valparaiso this past weekend.  The senior hurler struck out 30 batters in 21 innings of work with an ERA of 0.67.  She now becomes just the second pitcher in Horizon League history to reach 1,000 strikeouts (1,028).

2010 Horizon League Softball Batters of the Week

Feb. 15:            Kelsey Phalen, So., Valparaiso
Feb. 22:            Tess Sito, Fr., Cleveland State
March 1:           Jordan Rutkowski, So., Valparaiso
March 8:           Haley Thomas, So., Youngstown State
March 15:          Lisa DeBruzzi, Jr., Valparaiso
March 22:          Melinda Macias, So., UIC
March 29:          Jamie Perkins, Sr., Wright State
April 5:              Sadie Conner, Jr., Valparaiso
April 12:            Meaghan Sullivan, Fr., Butler
April 19:            Haley Thomas, So., Youngstown State
April 26:            Jenna Grim, Jr., Loyola
May 3:              Sara Strickland, So., Valparaiso
May 10:            Melani Niederer, Sr., Green Bay

2010 Horizon League Softball Pitchers of the Week

Feb. 15:            Shaleigh Jansen, So., Valparaiso
Feb. 22:            Jenny Esparza, Fr., Butler
March 1:           Amanda Macenko, Sr., Cleveland State
March 8:           Alex Lagesse, So., Valparaiso
March 15:          Jenny Esparza, Fr., Butler
March 22:          Amanda Macenko, Sr., Cleveland State
March 29:          Alex Lagesse, So., Valparaiso
April 5:              Alex Lagesse, So., Valparaiso
April 12:            Amanda Macenko, Sr. Cleveland State
April 19:            Jenny Esparza, Fr., Butler
April 26:            Amanda Macenko, Sr., Cleveland State
May 3:              Ashley Hewett, So., UIC
May 10:            Amanda Macenko, Sr., Cleveland State