Bulldogs Add Carlson, A Transfer From Albion College

Ferris State University softball head coach Keri Becker has added the duties of interim athletics director to her plate, since the retirement of Tom Kirinovic, but that has not stopped her pursuit of top-notch student-athletes to strengthen her program.

Becker promised that the added duties would have no adverse impact and that has proven the case as she has recently announced the addition of Emily Carlson, who is transferring to Ferris after playing for Albion College, where she played one season. Carlson, a native of Wixom who prepped at Walled Lake Western High School, will have three years of eligibility remaining as she arrives at Ferris to continue her college playing career.

"Emily is a pitcher who plays first base as well," Becker said of the 5-foot-7 Carlson. "She's a seasoned player who will provide quality depth to our team."

As a player for Albion, Carlson batted for a .205 average with nine hits during the 2010 spring season through 15 games. She started all 15 of her games for the Britons. As a pitcher, she was 6-11 with a 3.95 earned run average and 90 strikeouts to lead the team. Carlson was named to the 2009-10 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Academic Honor Roll and was a Dean's List student in the 2009 fall and 2010 spring semesters.

She arrived at Albion with a solid resume to her credit. She was a two-time (2008-09) team Most Valuable Player and a 2009 state finalist for Miss Softball Pitcher.

As a prep senior, Carlson finished 12-11 record with a 2.00 earned run average in 140 innings. She totaled five shutouts and 174 strikeouts as she started in 23 of 31 appearances. She also got it done at the plate as she batted .313 hitting average with 26 hits in 83 at bats. She added five doubles, three triples, a home run and 14 RBI.

Carlson fits the mold of the kind of versatile players Becker has typically recruited - kids who are capable of playing multiple positions on the diamond.

The newest Bulldog joins a good-sized class Becker will welcome to Ferris, a group that includes: Bianca Vasovski, of Farmington Hills; Emily "Alex" Wittman, of St. Joseph; Amy Dunleavy, of Canton; and Cara DeLange, of Plainfield, Ill.

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Future Bulldog Player DeLange Showing Her Skills She Will Bring To Ferris

Ferris State University appears bound to get another jewel in Plainfield Central pitcher Cara DeLange, a native of Plainfield, Ill., who has already committed to head coach Keri Becker's program.

Meanwhile, in 6 innings, Ferris State-bound senior pitcher Cara DeLange (19-4) struck out 11 and allowed 6 hits, 2 walks and 3 runs, all unearned. Neuqua Valley (25-10) didn't need the help, but a brief boost arrived in the fateful fourth.

Here is another comment from DeLange near the end of the article published by the Herald-News following the Class 4A Plainfield Central Regional championship game:

Said DeLange: "The seniors wanted to have the best season we could, and we'll always remember this. But there's a lot of talent on this team, and I have high hopes. They are going to surprise people next year."

Ferris is looking forward to having DeLange in the crimson and gold as soon as possible as the state of Illinois has been good to the Bulldogs in recent years (last year, Ferris had a pair of freshman from Illinois perform well in pitcher Dana Bowler and outfielder Morgan Kramerich).

Here is the full story: http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/sports/2331664,4_2_JO29_BILLCOL_S1-100529.article

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Ferris Recruit Vasovski Showcases Her Hitting Potential

Bianca Vasovski, a prep standout for Farmington Hills Harrison High School in the Detroit area, is a future Ferris State softball player who sounds legit on the diamond.

Vasovski, joining the Bulldogs after being recruited by Ferris head coach Keri Becker's staff at Ferris, had a great finish to her prep career.

Here is an excerpt from a story published by Hometownlife.com:

Vasovski hit a grand slam in the first game of a doubleheader win over Ann Arbor Huron Wednesday, 14-3.

“It was Senior Night and we took some time to honor Bianca,” Harrison coach Kristen Zabalavicius said. “She actually honored herself with the grand slam home run. That was pretty cool!”

Vasovski, who has accepted a scholarship offer from Ferris State University, has been a four-year starter for the Hawks.

The Bulldogs will be looking forward to her suiting up and swinging that productive bat for Ferris in the years to come. Vasovski joins a solid returning nucleus for the Bulldogs, a group that includes a strong 2010 freshman class and a good recruiting class for 2011.

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Ferris Adds Two Pitchers To Roster For Next Season In Dunleavy And DeLange

BIG RAPIDS - Part of the cornerstone of success in college softball revolves around having great pitching (and great defense).

Ferris State University, looking to the future, has signed a couple of players who will get the ball from head coach Keri Becker in the years to come. Becker has announced the signings of Amy Dunleavy, a native of Canton in the Detroit area, and Cara DeLange, who comes to Big Rapids from Plainfield, Ill. The signings help Coach Becker strengthen and add depth to her pitching staff as she traditionally likes to have a number of pitchers she can go to on her roster. Dunleavy and DeLange will kick off their Ferris careers with Fall Ball action when they arrive on campus in the fall of 2010.

"Both Amy and Cara will keep Bulldog pitching strong for the next four years and maintain the great competitive tradition of Ferris State Softball," said Becker, is in her 13th season in the dugout for the Bulldogs and is the program's all-time winningest coach.

Becker also added that she thinks Dunleavy and DeLange can help Ferris have one of the best pitching staffs in the GLIAC in time. Traditionally, Ferris has sought to bring pitchers in and mold them over a year or so until they become strong GLIAC-level pitchers. Time will tell if that pattern holds true or if either of these two pitchers (or both) come in ready to deliver the goods right away. One thing is for sure: Coach Becker has a lot of confidence in her two new pitchers of the future.

For the full press release: http://www.ferrisstatebulldogs.com/sports/sball/2009-10/releases/2010recruits1

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