Softball

SYDNEY ANDERSON NAMED OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

SYDNEY ANDERSON NAMED OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Posted: May 10, 2023

Ottumwa, IA – For the second consecutive season, Sydney Anderson (Elkhart, IA/North Polk) has been tapped as the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) DI Softball Offensive Player of the Year.

Anderson becomes the first player in ICCAC history, dating back to the 2011 season, to earn back-to-back Offensive Player of the Year honors. Anderson is one of just two players in Indian Hills history, joining Emily Brown in 2016, to earn ICCAC Offensive Player of the Year recognition. Anderson was also named to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) DI Softball All-Region 11 First-Team for the second consecutive season.

"Sydney is a force at the plate and has really gotten back in the groove of being herself as of late," stated head coach Lindsay Diehl. 'I'm proud of what she has done down the stretch here and is being a huge leader for us at the plate, on defense and in the dugout."

A NJCAA and National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American from a year ago, Anderson put together another monumental season for the Warriors. The sophomore produced a .372 batting average on the year, but bolstered her numbers in conference play with a .456 clip. On the year, Anderson has produced 17 home runs and 31 extra base hits while driving in 69 runs and scoring 48 times.

On the year, Anderson collected 15 multi-hit games, including four games with at least three hits. Anderson saw a season-long hit streak stretch 12 games from April 10-24. In four games at the NJCAA Region 11 Tournament, Anderson batted .545 with 11 RBI, four home runs, and six runs scored.

A two-time ICCAC Athlete of the Week, Anderson served a multitude of roles defensively for the Warriors this year. Anderson filled in at both first base and behind the plate throughout portions of the year and produced a .979 fielding percentage. In a career-high 286 chances, Anderson totaled 253 putouts and 27 assists while turning eight double plays.

Anderson, who partnered with teammate Destiny Lewis (Indianola, IA/Indianola) to set the single season home run record, ranks second all-time in school history with 48 career home runs. The sophomore also moved up the leaderboard in a number of career offensive categories on the year. Anderson ranks fourth all-time with 157 RBI and ranks fourth all-time with 323 total bases.

Along with Anderson's honor, Destiny Lewis (Indianola, IA/Indianola) was named the ICCAC Player of the Year for the second consecutive season while Madie Anderson (Mt. Pleasant, IA/Winfield Mt. Union) was named the ICCAC Pitcher of the Year for the second straight year. Coach Lindsay Diehl has been named the ICCAC Coach of the Year for the fourth consecutive season. In total, 12 members of the Indian Hills Softball team earned All-Region 11 honors.

To read more about Destiny Lewis being named Player of the Year, visit: LEWIS NAMED ICCAC PLAYER OF THE YEAR

To read more about Madie Anderson being named Pitcher of the Year, visit: MADIE ANDERSON NAMED ICCAC PITCHER OF THE YEAR

To read more about Lindsay Diehl being named Coach of the Year, visit: DIEHL NAMED ICCAC COACH OF THE YEAR

To read more about the NJCAA All-Region 11 selections, visit: 12 NAMED TO ALL-REGION 11 TEAMS

Anderson and the Warriors are set to travel to the NJCAA Midwest District Tournament May 13-14 in Neosho, MO as Indian Hills will take on Crowder College (MO), winners of the NJCAA Region 16 Tournament. The best-of-three series gets underway at 1:00 PM Saturday with a doubleheader and an if necessary game on Sunday.

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