Complete All-PSAC Release

Erie, Pa. – Mercyhurst softball players Emily Redig and Michelle Schmitz have earned All-PSAC West honors in voting conducted by league coaches, as announced today by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. Redig was named All-PSAC West First Team at second base, while Schmitz was listed on the second team. This is the first postseason honor for both Redig and Schmitz.

The All-PSAC West First Team consisted of 11 players, including one player from each position, a DP/utility, and two pitchers. The second team was comprised of the six players with the highest number of votes who were not named to the first team, regardless of fielding position, plus one extra pitcher.

California's Jillian Russell was named PSAC West Player of the Year, while Vulcan teammate Lauren Shaheen was named pitcher of the year and Cal head coach Rick Bertagnolli earned coach of the year. Edinboro's Marissa Pullo was named freshman of the year. For a complete list of the All-PSAC teams, please visit psacsports.org.

Redig, a sophomore from University Heights, Ohio, started 45 times at second base, recording a .314 average, eight doubles, five home runs and 17 RBI. Ranking in the top three on the team in most offensive categories, she led the team with 35 runs scored and 85 assists. She fueled the Laker offense from the top of the order, batting .373 in conference play. Redig set a program record for hits in a single game with a 5-for-5 performance vs. Gannon April 1, also scoring four runs in the contest.

The second baseman hit for power as well, slugging a game-winning homer in the season opener and connected for two home runs during a 12-4 win at Lake Erie. She finished the campaign on a seven-game hitting streak, adding three hits in the PSAC Tournament, scoring the game-tying run against Lock Haven.

Schmitz, a junior from Westlake, Ohio, continued to display her prowess at driving in runs, with a team-best 36 RBI while batting .336 with 13 doubles and nine home runs. She led the team in batting average during PSAC West play, hitting .382 in divisional competition. The infielder started 40 games at first base after serving at third in 2009. Schmitz was a key contributor in the Lakers' end-of-season charge toward the postseason, hitting safely in the final eight regular-season contests. She also posted a 10-game hitting streak early in 2010.

Schmitz opened the season with a home run against Chowan, and went deep twice in a 7-0 win against divisional rival Slippery Rock. She followed her record-setting 43-RBI 2009 campaign with 36 runs batted in during 2010, giving her 102 RBI for her career.

Redig is the fourth Laker to earn first-team all-conference honors in the last four seasons. She joins Elizabeth Maier (2009, All-PSAC West), Maureen Bailey and Jen Feret. Bailey and Feret made first-team in the GLIAC in 2007.

Mercyhurst finished 23-23 overall during 2010, posting a 9-7 record while earning second place in the PSAC West and its first berth in the PSAC Tournament. The Lakers recorded 20 or more wins for the fourth season in a row, and fifth time in seven years under head coach Sara Headley. The team posted the second-most runs in a single season in program history with 210 and batted .284 for the campaign. The Lakers swept back-to-back doubleheaders from Slippery Rock and Edinboro in the final week to earn the No. 2 seed.