by Alan Babbitt
Sixteen members of the Hope College softball team earned national recognition as 2019 Easton/National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America Scholar-Athletes.
The group also helped the Flying Dutch recorded the 13th highest team grade point average in NCAA Division III and claim a Easton/NFCA Team GPA Award.
Led by head coach Mary VandeHoef, Hope finished with a 3.605 team GPA during the 2018-19 school year. On the field, the Flying Dutch went 24-13 last season.
To become a Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete, a softball player must have a 3.5 GPA or higher.
Hope's recipients were:
- Freshman pitcher Janelle Baar of Byron Center, Michigan (Byron Center)
- Sophomore outfielder Claire Bates of Midland, Michigan (Bullock Creek)
- Freshman infielder Kaelin Callow of Plainfield, Illinois (Plainfield)
- Freshman utility player Krista Carter of Holland, Michigan (West Ottawa)
- Sophomore outfielder Jo Cook of Birch Run, Michigan (Birch Run)
- Junior outfielder Amanda Diaz of Mundelein, Illinois (Mundelein)
- Junior outfielder Jordyn Diaz of Naperville, Illinois (Neuqua Valley)
- Freshman pitcher Chloe Haskins of Brighton, Michigan (Brighton)
- Senior outfielder Noelle Jackson of Grand Blanc, Michigan (Grand Blanc)
- Sophomore catcher Morgann Kanouse of Cadillac, Michigan (Cadillac)
- Freshman second baseman Arinn King of Hudsonville, Michigan (Hudsonville)
- Sophomore pitcher Maddie Nise of Caledonia, Michigan (Caledonia)
- Senior first baseman Shay Pinhey of Ann Arbor, Michigan (Pioneer)
- Freshman pitcher Avery Slancik of Scotts, Michigan (Vicksburg)
- Junior pitcher Shelby Steele of Eaton Rapids, Michigan (Eaton Rapids)
- Freshman catcher Whitney Wegener of Ida, Michigan (Ida)
