Grizzlies have five players earn NFCA honors

Butler sophomores Sydney Stuever, Maggie Ham and Ashley Malone were recently named to the NFCA Division I All-America squad. Stuever was a first-team selection, while Ham and Malone were named to the second team. In addition to the NFCA All-American honors, the trio - along with Kaitlyn Wolken and Kate James - were named to the NFCA Division I All-Region West team. Stuever, Ham and Malone were first-team selections on the West Region team, while Wolken and James earned second-team honors.

Stuever, an outfielder from Colwich, Kan., hit .446 with seven home runs and 33 runs batted in this season. Stuever also led the team in hits (78), stolen bases (36) and doubles (16). Her .446 average was second-best on the team. This is the second All-American honor for Stuever, as she was named to the NJCAA Division I All-American first-team squad. Stuever also earned first-team outfield honors on the KJCCC Western Division team and was also named to the NJCAA Division I All-Tournament team, as she hit .400 (8-for-20), scored eight runs and stole three bases in six games at nationals. Stuever earned KJCCC Division I Player of the Week for the week of March 4-10.

Ham, a sophomore pitcher who hails from George West, Texas, went 30-3 in 40 appearances with a 1.55 earned run average and 288 strikeouts. Ham led the Grizzlies with 175.2 innings pitched with 13 complete games and allowed just 94 hits and 39 earned runs on the season. Ham, who was named the Most Valuable Player for the KJCCC Western Division earlier this month, set new school records for most wins and strikeouts in a single season. Along with Stuever and teammate Kate James, Ham was named to the NJCAA Division I All-American first-team squad. Ham was also named the KJCCC Division I pitcher of the week eight times this season. She has committed to play at the University of Oklahoma next season.

Malone, a sophomore shortstop from Wichita, Kan., hit .432 with 16 home runs and 59 runs batted in. Last month, Malone earned KJCCC first-team All-Conference honors at the shortstop position. Last year, Malone was a second-team All-Conference selection. Malone earned KJCCC Division I Player of the Week for the week of February 25 - March 3.

James, a freshman catcher from Maize, Kan., hit .437 with 24 home runs and 79 runs batted in. James broke the school record for most home runs in a season (Robyn Sadowski, 17) and had the second-highest mark for RBIs in a season. In addition to leading the team in home runs and RBI, James also led the team in runs (65), doubles (16), slugging percentage (.976) and base on balls (23). James has earned numerous postseason honors - including being named to the NJCAA Division I All-American first team. James was also named the KJCCC Western Division Freshman of the Year and earned first-team All-Conference honors at the catcher position. James was a three-time KJCCC Division I Player of the Week.

Wolken, a sophomore third baseman from Tonganoxie, Kan., hit .396 with 11 home runs and 63 runs batted in. She finished in the top five on the team in numerous offensive categories - including runs, hits, doubles, home runs, RBI, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Wolken is a two-time KJCCC All-Conference selection, as she earned first-team honors this season.

Butler softball finished with its most successful season in program history with a 54-4 record, a perfect 16-0 Jayhawk West regular season, a third straight Region VI championship, a District E title and a fourth-place finish at the Division I Tournament. The 2013 squad set school records for the most wins and fewest losses in a season and the most wins in the national tournament (4).