2015 N4C Softball All-Conference Team
PALATINE, Ill. – The North Central Community College Conference (N4C) recently handed out its awards for All-Conference, and three Harper softball players were recognized for their outstanding seasons. Sophomore Raegan Fingerman (Fox River Grove, Ill./Barrington) was chosen to the First Team while sophomore Sam Cummings (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park) and freshman Sara Markelonis (Cary, Ill./Cary-Grove) were both selected to the Second Team.
Fingerman, who also earned First Team All-Region honors, tore up N4C pitching to the tune of a .480 batting average with a homer, 17 RBIs, 15 runs, 24 hits, four doubles and a triple in 15 games. Perhaps her best game of N4C play came on April 23 against Joliet Junior College when she was 5-for-5 with five runs scored, two doubles, and three RBIs.
For the season, she hit .510 (19th in nation) with 34 RBIs, 26 runs, 49 hits, nine doubles, four triples, a .533 OBP, and .719 slugging percentage in 29 games.
"She doesn't take any day playing softball for granted, and I think that allows her to perform consistently as one of the best junior college players in the nation," said Harper head coach Cray Allen. "She was a rock for our program for two years who consistently produced with her bat, glove, and attitude."
Cummings, a First Team All-Region player, hit .429 with a homer, 14 RBIs, 16 runs, 18 hits, three doubles, and five triples in 13 league games. In a doubleheader against Joliet on April 23, she was an impressive 5-for-7 at the dish with seven runs scored, three triples, and six RBIs.
Cummings put up impressive numbers over the course of the season, as she hit .413 with a team-high three home runs, 26 RBIs, 30 runs, 33 hits, seven doubles, seven triples, a .495 OBP, and .788 slugging percentage in 27 games.
"If it wasn't Raegan or Sara, it was Sam coming to the rescue to help our team win games," Allen said.
Markelonis hit .377 with nine RBIs, 13 runs, 20 hits, a double, and three triples in 15 conference games. She also provided valuable innings as the team's No. 2 pitcher, pitching 29 2/3 innings in conference play with a 3-3 record.
"She truly made me appreciate coaching Harper softball this year," Allen said. "She is a quality individual with remarkable focus and drive. Sara was a coach on the field for us and always had a positive attitude no matter the situation."
In her first season with the Hawks, Markelonis hit .421 (second on team) with a .505 OBP, a homer, 19 RBIs, a team-high 33 runs, 40 hits, three doubles, and seven triples. She posted a 4-5 record with a 6.54 ERA in 16 appearances (nine starts) and struck out 28 batters. Defensively, Markelonis posted a .944 fielding percentage.
"She is a tremendous hitter against any level of pitching," Allen said. "Her mechanics and overall physical strength allowed her to compete and compete successfully each and every day against any pitcher we faced the entire year."
