By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Four Brandywine softball players can add another accomplishment to their list of achievements this past season.
Ashley Antus, Amanda Grice, Dee Echevarria and Kelli Zache were selected as first team MHSSCA Division 3 All-State players for 2005.
All four girls have recieved numerous other honors this year like All-Conference, All-District and All-Regional recognition for their outstanding hard work this season.
Grice is a four-year letterman with the Lady 'Cats. She had 38 hits this season, 16 RBIs, 18 runs, 30 singles, seven doubles and one triple offensivley. She had a .333 batting average as well as a .465 on base average.
Grice moved from second to third base this year and Brandywine head coach Jim Myers said she did a great job, only making two errors.
Myers also admitted Grice had an outstanding attitude and work ethic. She was a great contact hitter and bunter.
Antus, also a four-year letterman, was a wall in the outfield. She was a center fielder and saved four games for the Bobcats with diving catches.
Antus also had great speed which helped her on both sides of the field. She had 13 steals on 14 attempts.
Antus had 41 hits on the season and 10 RBIs. She had 38 singles and three doubles. She had a batting average of .331 and an on base average of .401.
Coach Myers said she has a super attitude and makes practice fun. She is also a good hitter and a good leader.
Echevarria was Brandywine's catcher and played all season with an injured knee.
Echevarria, another four-year letterman, had 37 hits during the season with 13 RBIs. She had 32 singles and five doubles. Her batting average is .352 and she has an on base average of .434.
Echevarria threw out 14 stealers this season, only allowed nine and only made two errors.
Myers said Echevarria should be All-State again.
After waiting the first two years for her turn to pitch, Zache made a statement this season. Facing 893 batters this year, Zache only walked 24 and had 307 strike outs in 227 innings pitched. She had a 25-7 record on the mound and a .49 E.R.A.
Zache is also a threat offensively with a .391 batting average. Coach Myers said Zache is a great hitter with power.
Myers also admitted she has pitched as well as Nicki McGowen. Zache will be back next season for the Bobcats.