University of Massachusets Athletics
Balschmiter & Normandin Named NFCA All-Americans
May 27, 2009 | Softball
May 27, 2009
AMHERST, Mass. - UMass senior Brandice Balschmiter and junior Carly Normandin were both named 2009 Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Americans by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association on Wednesday afternoon. Balschmiter was named a second team pitcher, while Normandin was named third team outfielder. They are the 16th and 17th NFCA All-Americans in UMass history and first honorees in six years.
Balschmiter and Normandin are UMass' first NFCA All-Americans since Emily Robustelli in 2003, and are the first Minutewomen duo to garner the honor in the same season since Kim Gutridge and Danielle Henderson in 1998.
Balschmiter finished off an amazing career by setting the UMass single-season wins record with a 34-6 record in 2009 with a 0.96 ERA. She led the nation in shutouts with 22, while ranking fifth in victories and seventh in both ERA and strikeouts (344). The Newark, N.Y. native was named Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year for a record fourth time, while also earning her fourth-straight A-10 Championship Most Outstanding Player, A-10 All-Conference First Team, and NFCA All-Region First Team honors.
The 6-1 right-hander finishes her career at or near the top of the UMass record books in almost every pitching category. Her single-season record 34 wins in 2009 give her 126 in her career, against just 33 losses. Her win total is most in UMass history and ranks ninth in NCAA history. She also became just the 26th player in NCAA history to eclipse the 1,200-strikeout mark in a career, doing so in the Atlantic 10 Championship. Her 1,218 strikeouts are second to only Henderson in UMass history. Her 1,089 innings pitched are the most of any pitcher in school history.
Normandin took her game to a new level in 2009, posting a .403 batting average, the highest by a UMass player since Gutridge's .404 mark in 1998, and had a 23-game hitting streak. She did it all for the Minutewomen offensively, hitting 17 doubles, five triples, 10 home runs, 37 RBI, 53 runs, 21 stolen bases, and a.727 slugging percentage, all while playing stellar defense in center field. The Gardner, Mass. native led the Atlantic 10 in average, slugging, hits (71), runs, doubles, and total bases (128) on her way to being named A-10 Player of the Year, A-10 All-Conference First Team, and NFCA All-Region First Team. She ranked in the top-30 nationally in doubles (13th), triples (17th), and runs (17th).
The left-handed batter and leadoff hitter will carry a .356 career batting average into her senior season, ranking fifth all-time at UMass. Her career slugging percentage of .647 ranks second-best in UMass history.
Head Coach Elaine Sortino's Minutewomen finished the 2009 season 41-10 overall on their way to capturing their fifth-straight and 21st overall A-10 Championship as well as their 15th-straight and 19th overall NCAA Tournament appearance.
