Smith named All-MIAA second-team for softball

FREELAND Mich. – Olivet College senior Taylor Smith have been named to the 2017 All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) second-team for softball. She is a repeat selection after also being a second-team pick last season. All-MIAA honors are based on a player's performance during the 16-game league schedule.

Smith was the shortstop the starting shortstop in all 16 games and posted a .311 batting average to go along with four runs scored, four doubles six RBI and .400 slugging percentage.

For the entire 38-game schedule, Smith led the Comets in nearly every offensive statistical category, including .308 batting average, 37 hits, 10 doubles, five home runs, 29 RBI, and .517 slugging percentage. The five home runs tied for the fourth-most in school history for a season, while the 29 tied for the fifth-most. She finished with a team-best nine multi-RBI games, and was second with nine multi-hit games.

"It is great to see Taylor get the recognition she deserves," said Olivet Head Coach Darrick Brown. "Taylor is an extremely hard worker and often stayed after practice to take extra ground balls and swings to get better."

In her two years at Olivet, Smith ranks among the top 10 all-time in batting average (10th, .356), slugging percentage (third, .604), doubles (tied for third, 26), home runs (third, 10) and RBI (tied for 10th, 55).

"This honor caps a great two-year career at Olivet," stated Brown. "I am very proud of her and we are going to miss having her in our lineup next season."

As a team, Olivet finished the 2017 season with a 15-23 overall record. After being picked eighth in the preseason MIAA coaches' poll, the Comets exceeded that predictions and were fifth with a 6-10 record.