Saint Martin’s Munger named GNAC co-player of the year

Saint Martin’s University softball player Sam Munger has been named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Co-Softball Player of the Year.

Munger, a graduate of Cascade High School, shared the honor with Montana State Billings shortstop Taylor Hoke.

Munger, who split time between shortstop and the pitching circle this season, also was chosen the GNAC Pitcher of the Year by the conference coaches.

Munger finished the regular season ranked second in the conference in batting average (.431) and wins (22). Her 2.24 earned-run average led all GNAC pitchers.

“It’s a fitting achievement for Sam to be awarded Pitcher and Player of the Year for the Conference,” Saint Martin’s coach Rick Noren said in a press release. “Game in and game out she plays at the highest of level, whether on the mound or at shortstop.”

Earlier this month, Munger set the conference record for career hits, breaking the mark of 279 set by Brandi Harrison of Humboldt State between 2002 and 2006.

Munger was joined on the 2015 All-GNAC first team by two other players from Everett: Western Washington freshman pitcher Makinlee Sellevold (Cascade High School), and Western Washington junior outfielder Alexie Levin (Everett High School).

Sellevold was named the GNAC Freshman of the Year after leading the conference in wins. Her 2.32 ERA was second only to Munger during the regular season.

Academic All-Stars

Two Western Washington University athletes with Snohomish County ties were named Academic All-Stars last week by the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

Honored were sophomore golfer Anthony Allen and sophomore softball player Lynsey Amundson. Both are graduates of Arlington High school.

Allen is a kinesiology major with a 3.31 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale. He had a 76.2 stroke average in his first 25 rounds this season.

Amundson has a 3.33 GPA. A catcher for the Vikings, she was hitting .273, with three home runs and a .980 fielding percentage.