Vanden Langenberg, Weinberger earn D2CCA All-Region honors
5/20/2021 11:38:00 AM | Softball
| D2CCA All-Region Release |
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - The postseason awards continue to roll in for the St. Cloud State University softball team. After another strong season in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play, Huskies continue to receive recognition for putting up some extreme numbers in 2021. Shortstop Raven Vanden Langenberg (Seymour, Wis. / Seymour) and utility player Holly Weinberger (Waconia, Minn. / Waconia) were honored as members of the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-Central Region Teams, the organization announced Tuesday afternoon.Â
For the second time this season, Vanden Langenberg was recognized as the top shortstop in the region, as she was named D2CCA First Team All-Region at the position. A two-year starter for St. Cloud State, Vanden Langenberg returned to the line up with a vengeance after missing the entirety of the shortened 2020 season with an injury. The shortstop was the top hitter in the Huskies line up from start to finish, concluding the 2021 regular and postseason with a team-leading .434 batting average with 59 hits in 136 at bats, including nine doubles, three triples and four home runs for 37 RBI. In addition to leading the Huskies in batting average and hits, Vanden Langenberg ranked top-3 in slugging (.632), on base percentage (.490), RBI (37), doubles (9), triples (3), home runs (4), total bases (86) and walks (12) at the conclusion of the NSIC tournament. She additionally finished the regular season ranked top-5 in both batting average and on base percentage in the NSIC.Â
Vanden Langenberg's offensive numbers weren't the only impressive part of her stacked resume, as she was a force to be reckoned with defensively for the Huskies. As a member of the team's impenetrable left side, the shortstop tallied 68 putouts and 74 assists and committed only six errors at one of the most demanding positions in the field. In two full seasons as the team's starting shortstop, Vanden Langenberg has committed just six errors in 95 career games at the position and was named the top shortstop in the NSIC and Central Region by both the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and D2CCA at the conclusion of 2021.
Weinberger made quite the impressive in her first season with St. Cloud State, as she earned Second Team All-Region honors for her play as a right fielder and first baseman. In her first official season with the Huskies, Weinberger hit .400 on the season with 52 hits in 130 at bats, including a team-leading 11 doubles, one triple and three home runs for 74 total bases. She tallied 28 RBI while splitting time between first base and right field and committed just one error in 44 games in the field.Â
Like Vanden Langenberg, Weinberger received plenty of accolades for her play during 2021, as she became the first freshman in program history to earn NSIC Gold Glove honors for her play in right field during the conference season. As St. Cloud State's starting right fielder for 22 of the team's 26 conference games, Weinberger tallied 44 putouts and one assist in NSIC play with zero errors. She additionally was a force to be reckoned with at the plate, posting a .397 batting average in conference play with 31 hits, eight of which were doubles, in 78 at bats. Amongst her teammates, Weinberger ranked fourth on the team in RBI (15) and third in slugging (.577) against conference opponents and was the team leader in doubles (8). Overall, she hit an impressive .420 during her freshman campaign during the regular season, with 50 hits, 11 doubles, 1 triple, three home runs, 28 RBI and 72 total bases.Â
The D2CCA All-Region teams are voted on by the region's sports information directors and athletic communications professionals. First Team honorees are automatically eligible for All-America status, which will be voted on in the upcoming weeks. D2CCA All-America teams will be announced prior to the Division II National Championship in Denver, Colorado.
