Hyde, and go seek

Mastodon tracks

Jessica Hall gave up only three hits to IPFW and the UCLA softball team defeated the Mastodons 8-0 on Saturday to end IPFW's season at the NCAA Regional in Louisville, Ky.Saturday

Mastodons to regionals

IPFW senior Theresa McHugh and freshman Rachel Dincoff have earned spots at the NCAA East Region Preliminary Championships, which begins May 23 in Greensboro, N.C.Thursday

Softball players honored

IPFW junior Ashleigh Bousquet and sophomore Larissa Franklin were named to the Summit League Softball Academic All-League team, as voted on by the schools’ faculty athletics representatives and sports information directors.Wednesday

A couple thoughts on IPFW's Amanda Hyde receiving the Summit League Player of the Year Award:

There are two things that separate this award from the player of the year awards from the past.

First off, IPFW finished fourth in the league. Normally, like a baseball MVP recipient, the honor usually goes to a team in first or second place.

But the most remarkable thing is that Hyde, the 5-foot-10 junior who averaged 9.4 points last season, wasn't on anybody's radar at the start of the season.

When the Summit League listed their preseason first and second teams, Hyde was ... ahem ... nowhere to be found.

This year she led the league in scoring (18.7) and did just about everything else for the Mastodons.

Better news - everyone is back next season.