NKU’s Ricki Rothbauer

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Five Northern Kentucky University softball players have been selected All-Great Lakes Region by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

NKU’s Krystal Lewallen, Ricki Rothbauer, Angie Lindeman and Stephanie Leimbach were named first team All-Region. The Norse’s Emily Breitholle was voted to the second team.

Lewallen, a junior pitcher from Crestwood, Ky., is 27-0 this season and is the Norse’s career leader in wins (74) and strikeouts (777). She also earned Great Lakes Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year honors.

Rothbauer, a junior second baseman from Louisville, Ky., batted .439 during the regular season. Rothbauer enters the NCAA Tournament having set NKU single-season records for hits (77) and runs scored (47).

Leimbach, a senior center fielder from Hilliard, Ohio, batted .405 during the regular season with 23 stolen bases and 43 runs scored. Leimbach enters the NCAA Tournament with a 30-game hitting streak, which is the fifth longest in Division II history. The record is 35 straight games. Leimbach is also NKU’s all-time hits leader with 251 and runs scored with 150.

Lindeman, a senior first baseman from North Canton, Ohio, batted .387 with 33 runs batted in during the regular season. Lindeman is the school’s all-time career leader with 155 RBI.

Breitholle, a senior pitcher from Fairfield, Ohio, was 17-0 in the regular season with a 0.97 ERA.