COLUMBUS, Ohio – Saginaw Valley State University softball had two representatives named to the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-Midwest Region Second Team on Tuesday. Junior Emily Depew made the list as a pitcher while senior outfielder Jackie Popko joined her.
Depew adds this accolade to her National Fastpitch Coaches Association Midwest Region second-team and first-team All-GLIAC award. She has been the Cardinals ace all season with team-high marks in every pitching category. She has a 19-8 record with 22 complete games, 146 strikeouts, and a fantastic 1.84 ERA. She is second in the league for complete games, wins, strikeouts, and ERA. Depew is top-10 in multiple career categories including appearances (T4th, 90), victories (4th, 51), strikeouts (4th, 474), starts (T5th, 72), innings pitched (6th, 474.1), complete games (7th, 50), ERA (7th, 1.92), and saves (T9th, 3).
"Depew is a battler in the circle," said SVSU head softball coach Ryan Schalk. "As easy-going as she seems off the field, when she is on the rubber, she wants to win. Additionally, she has been open to some new thoughts from the coaching staff, which shows that she is always looking to get better."
Popko adds this honor to her collection including a spot on the NFCA Midwest Region second-team award and her fourth-consecutive first-team All-GLIAC selection. The Senior from Macomb, Michigan, topped the GLIAC in stolen bases with 31, second in runs with 49, and third in walks with 26. Her .315 batting average comes from the lead-off role for the Cardinals. Popko added 45 hits, eight doubles, a triple, five home runs, and 28 RBI to her stat line. She is the all-time leader in career runs scored for SVSU with a current tally of 170 and holds top-10 career marks in stolen bases (2nd, 97), RBI (2nd, 130), walks (T2nd, 78), home runs (3rd, 30), at-bats (5th, 620), and hits (5th, 208).
"Popko is the ultimate competitor," said SVSU head softball coach Ryan Schalk. "She has an outstanding work ethic and is the leader in our outfield as a fifth-year player. She is a menace on the bases and will take the extra bag in a blink of an eye."
Athletic Communications Directors from NCAA Division II Midwest Region schools and conferences selected the D2CCA all-region teams. All members of the first-team all-region will move forward to the All-America voting process.