Three Olivet College softball players earn 2009 All-MIAA honors

Olivet College seniors Cassie Bowerman (Quincy), Anna Braner (Belmond, Iowa/Marshall) and Heidi Wear (Hastings/Wayland Union) have earned 2009 All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) softball honors. Braner is a first-team selection, while Bowerman and Wear are second-team picks. All-MIAA honors are based on a player's statistics during the 14-game league schedule.

Braner, who started every game for the Comets at third base, led the team and ranked among the league leaders in batting average (fourth, .449); hits (third, 22); runs scored (fourth, 15); doubles (tied for first, six); total bases (tied for third, 36); stolen bases (first, seven); on-base percentage (tied for fifth, .500); and slugging percentage (fifth, .735). From her infield position, Braner did not commit an error in 68 chances, including 44 assists. Wear posted a .447 batting average (21-for-47) and drove in 13 runs. Bowerman had a .381 batting average (16-for-47). Splitting starts between first and second base, she played a perfect defense with zero errors in 85 chances.

For the entire 34-game schedule, Braner broke Olivet's single-season record with a .459 batting average (50-for-109) and 40 runs scored. She also collected a team-high 14 doubles, 26 RBI, 80 total bases, .734 slugging percentage, .516 on-base percentage and 18 stolen bases. Wear hit .370 to go along with a team-leading and single-season school record five triples. Bowerman had a .333 batting average and made just two errors in 208 chances for a .990 fielding percentage, which ranks second-best for a single season in school history.

Under the direction of sixth-year Head Coach James Farnum, Olivet had a 23-11 overall record and was sixth in the MIAA standings with a 5-9 record.