ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University softball program had a record five players recognized by the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference today when it released its 2021 postseason awards. Seniors Annaka Bartz and Gretchen Schrubbe were each voted First Team All-NACC for the first time in their careers. Bartz and Schrubbe become only the second and third players in program history to be selected First Team All-NACC and are the first since the 2009 season (Jessica Starr). Fellow seniors Emily Cox and Mikayla Seay and freshman Jocelyn Callahan all received NACC Honorable Mention status. This is the second time Cox has received a postseason award from the conference and the first for both Seay and Callahan. Rockford's five NACC postseason awards is by far the most in program history, with the previous high of three coming back in the 2008 season.
Annaka Bartz was voted First Team All-NACC for the first time in her career. Bartz has been one of the top shortstops both offensively and defensively in the conference over the past few seasons. Entering the conference tournament, Bartz ranks in the top 20 in the NACC in four offensive categories. She is currently eighth in the NACC in doubles (12) and runs scored (36) and 12th in both on-base percentage (.472) and slugging percentage (.648). Bartz also has a .390 batting average, 3 triples, 3 home runs and 19 RBIs. Defensively she is one of the main reasons the Regents were able to turn a school record 15 double plays so far this season.
Gretchen Schrubbe was selected First Team All-NACC for the first time in her collegiate career. This is the second award she has received from the NACC this season, after being named the NACC South Division Softball Position Player of the Week earlier in the year. Schrubbe has been a catalyst in the Rockford lineup and a rock defensively at second base throughout her career. Heading into the conference tournament, Schrubbe ranks in the top 20 in the NACC in six categories. She is currently fourth in the NACC in triples (4), eighth in doubles (12), 11th in runs batted in (28), 12th in batting average (.415), 13th in slugging percentage (.636) and 18th in stolen bases (9). Schrubbe also has a .444 on-base percentage and 2 home runs.
Emily Cox was named NACC Honorable Mention for the 2021 season. This is the second time Cox has been recognized by the conference, with the other coming back in 2019 when she was voted Second Team All-NACC. Cox has consistently been one of the top hitters for the Regents and in the NACC all season. Cox enters the conference tournament ranked in the top 20 in the NACC in six categories. She is currently fourth in doubles (14), seventh in on-base percentage (.492), eighth in slugging percentage (.694), 11th in runs batted in (28), 15th in home runs (4) and 19th in batting average (.405). Cox also has 3 triples and 25 runs scored.
Mikayla Seay was named NACC Honorable Mention for the first time in her collegiate career. Seay has been a key part of Rockford's success this season as both a pitcher and a hitter. She enters the NACC Tournament ranked in the top 20 in three pitching categories and one hitting category. Seay is currently third in the NACC in complete games (14), seventh in wins (10) and eighth in innings pitched (104.2). She is also second in the NACC in doubles (15). Additionally, Seay has a .330 batting average, a .382 on-base percentage, a .523 slugging percentage, 2 home runs and 23 RBIs. Seay also had perhaps the biggest hit of the season, when she crushed a walk-off grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to defeat Dominican and clinch the No. 3 seed for Rockford in the 2021 NACC South Division Tournament.
Jocelyn Callahan was named NACC Honorable Mention as a freshman. Callahan started the season in the outfield, but has since transitioned to third base and helped solidify the left side of the infield. She has been one of the top freshman in the NACC this year and ranks in the top 20 in the conference in a pair of categories heading into postseason play. Callahan is fourth in the conference in stolen bases (16) and 13th in runs scored (23). She is also hitting .340 with a .441 on-base percentage and a .520 slugging percentage. Callahan has 34 hits, including 8 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs and has driven in 15 runs.
