Two KWU softball players named All-Region
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Coker

Menke

Two Kansas Wesleyan University Softball players were named to the 2008 NAIA All-Region IV team.

Katie Coker and Jenny Menke both received All-Region honors.

Coker, a freshman pitcher from Russell, was also named First Team All-KCAC earlier this month. Coker finished the 2008 season with a 12-7 record with a 2.33 ERA in 20 games. She recorded 17 complete games, and three shutouts. In 117 innings pitched, Coker struck out a KCAC best 166 batters against 37 walks. She finished the 2008 season ranked eighth nationally in strike outs per nine innings at 12.77. Batters struggled against Coker, as she allowed only a .209 batting average against. Offensively, Coker batted .331 in her first year with the Coyotes, tallying 39 hits, which included three doubles and two home runs.

Menke, a junior left fielder from Lawrence, Neb., batted .337 overall in 2008 with 31 hits, seven doubles and four home runs in 32 games. In conference play, Menke was even more impressive, leading Wesleyan with a .486 average, recording 18 hits, including five doubles, a triple and three home runs. Her slugging percentage in conference play was .919. Menke’s defense was also key for the Coyotes this season. Several times, Menke made outstanding plays in left field that ended rallies for the opposition.

Under the direction of first-year coach Jenny King, Wesleyan finished the season 22-18 overall and 12-4 in the KCAC. The Coyotes finished the season tied for second place in the KCAC and after receiving the no.3 seed in the KCAC tournament, fought their way into the championship game before losing to Friends University. Wesleyan then received the no.3 seed in the NAIA Region IV Tournament.

-- KWU SI --