By Mike Walsh
Correspondent
Illinois-Springfield pitcher Adam Brouwer was chosen the 2023 Freshman of the Year in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
Brouwer, a Chicago Christian graduate, is the first Prairie Star to achieve the accolade. Brouwer was also named to the All-Great Lakes Valley Second Team.
Brouwer was 7-3 with a 3.94 ERA last season. In 14 appearances (11 starts), the right-hander worked 61 2/3 innings, allowing 27 earned runs and 23 walks while also striking out 69 and limiting the opposition to a .251 batting average.
The Prairie Stars (36-15 overall, 25-7 GLVC) reached the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Tournament, defeating Ashland while losing to the Indianapolis and Maryville.
Brouwer was the pitcher of record in the 5-4 setback to Maryville. He allowed four hits and five earned runs in 7 2/3 innings, while striking out seven and walking six.
Garnering a place on the All-GLVC First Team was redshirt senior relief pitcher Ian Delleman (Lyons). Delleman made 17 appearances for UIS, posting a 3-1 record and an ERA of 2.51. In 28 2/3 innings, he struck out 46, walked 15 and held opponents to a .163 batting average while adding three saves.
Lotus Land
Louisville second baseman Easton Lotus has been lauded for her excellence on and off the field during the 2023 season.
Lotus, a sophomore from Marist, was named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference Softball Academic Team. She was also selected to the College Sports Communicators’ (CSC) Softball Academic All-District Team.
Lotus is majoring in exercise science.
On the diamond, she garnered a place on the All-ACC Third Team. She started all 56 games for the Cardinals (36-20 overall, 16-7 ACC).
Lotus batted .303 with four doubles, four triples, 25 runs and 26 RBI with a .361 OBP and .732 OPS.
Totally Travis
Missouri-St. Louis shortstop Irene Travis earned a place on the 2023 All-GLVC Second Team.
Travis, a senior from Sandburg, led the Tritons in batting average (.362), total bases (110), hits (72) and triples (4). She added 15 doubles, five home runs, 37 RBI and 29 runs scored while appearing in all 56 games for the conference champions (34-22 overall, 16-8 GLVC).
Travis was named to the Academic All-GLVC Team in softball for the fourth time in her career.
Travis, who is majoring in criminal justice, also earned a place on the College Sports Communicators’ 2023 Academic All-District Team.