SXU's Crane, CCSJ's Piper Gain Softball Player of the Week Recognition

CHICAGO --- A speedy Fiona Crane (Evergreen Park, Ill.) of Saint Xavier University and a yeoman-type effort from Calumet College of St. Joseph's Jacci Piper (Schererville, Ill.) have earned the two Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference softball weekly recognition, the league office announced on Tuesday morning.

Crane used 11 stolen bases, a .667 batting average and a .917 slugging percentage to warrant CCAC Player of the Week honors.  Of her four games played, she collected two or more hits, stolen bases and runs in three of those contests.

The junior outfielder totaled eight hits in 12 trips to the plate with one home run, nine runs scored and two RBIs. 

In a 14-1 win over Judson University last Wednesday, Crane set a single-game school record with her five stolen bases.  She then went on to nab another three bases in the 9-0 second-game victory. 

Crane posted two hits in each of those games, while totaling three in five at-bats in a 9-2 decision over Olivet Nazarene University on Saturday.  She also hit her third collegiate home run in that game.

Saint Xavier went 4-0 on the week to improve to 33-6 overall and claim the CCAC regular-season title with its perfect 16-0 record.

Piper pitched in four of the team's six victories over the seven-day period ending April 27, going 3-0 to notch CCAC Pitcher of the Week recognition.

In those four appearances, only one of which was a start, the junior right-hander did not allow an earned run in her 15 innings of work.  She yielded only eight hits in that span with six strikeouts against one walk.

In a doubleheader versus Trinity Christian College last Wednesday, Piper came away with both wins.  In 7 2/3 innings of relief, she allowed only two hits.

Her complete game came on Sunday, where she tossed a five-inning shutout at Mount Mary University (Wis.).  In that outing, she scattered four hits and struck out three batters.

Calumet St. Joseph's 6-0 week enabled the Crimson Wave to finish the regular season at 15-25 overall and 7-9 in the league.      

Other Player Nominees: Cynthia Alvillar (Judson), Kylee Claypool (St. Ambrose), Emily Hurst (St. Francis), Aubrie Morales (Calumet St. Joseph), Alexis Watson (Viterbo).

Other Pitcher Nominees: Kiersten Manning (St. Francis), Payton Antkiewicz (Saint Xavier), Ada Boysen (St. Ambrose), Morgan Fuhrer (Viterbo).