Ball State's top softball player transfers; Shenandoah hires new boys basketball coach

MUNCIE, Ind. — The Mid-American Conference Softball Player of the Year is on the move.

Ball State University's Faith Hensley announced on Twitter on July 9 that she's transferring to the University of Alabama for her fifth year of NCAA eligibility. The left fielder stood out amid the Cardinals' 22-31 2022 season, earning All-MAC First Team, Academic All-MAC, NFCA All-Great Lakes Region First Team, and CoSIDA Academic All-American and All-District honors.

Hensley led all MAC players with a 1.423 OPS and 37 runs scored in conference play, hitting .404 with 17 home runs and 40 RBIs overall this season. She was a significant contributor the last two years and greatly increased her power hitting as a senior.

In total, Hensley is a Two-Time NFCA All-Great Lakes Region First Team and Two-Time First Team All-MAC, as well as a Three-Time MAC Softball Player of the Week.

For her career, Hensley ranks first in on base percentage (.499), second in batting average (.389) and third in slugging percentage (.720).

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Here's what else happened in BSU and East Central Indiana sports news July 6-18:

Shenandoah hires new boys basketball head coach

Shenandoah on Tuesday announced Rick Ellsworth as its new boys basketball head coach.

Ellsworth spent the past six seasons alongside legendary head coach Dave McCollough, now the head coach at Frankfort. This is Ellsworth's first high school head coaching job, but he's been "involved with several AAU programs, as well as assistant coaching roles with Cowan (and) Pendleton Heights," according to the Shenandoah athletics website.

McCollough's seven-year stint was the best in program history. His teams amassed a 148-32 record and five consecutive sectional titles from 2017-21, including a regional championship in 2019.

The Raiders went just 12-11 in 2021-22 after losing a significant senior class, and the team's top-2 scorers from this past season also graduated, so Ellsworth will have a fresh start with the program.

2 Yorktown golfers commit to colleges

Yorktown boys golfers Evan Walsh and Drew Corle both have committed to continue their athletic and academic careers in college.

The recent graduates helped Yorktown win its sectional and Delaware County tournament championships this past season. Walsh was particularly impactful in the two victories, shooting a 79 and 83, respectively.

Walsh will attend NAIA Huntington University, and Corle will play at Div. III Anderson University.

Ball State women's soccer releases 2022 schedule

BSU women's soccer on July 15 released its schedule for the upcoming season. After going 6-9-2, 4-5-1 in MAC play in 2021, the Cardinals will play 18 regular season games in 2022.

Following its two exhibition contests, the team begins a three-game road trip at Kentucky on Aug. 18, against Queens in Charlotte, N.C, on Aug. 21, and then at Indiana in Bloomington on Aug. 25. BSU was 2-7 on the road last season and went 1-3 on its four-game road trip to begin 2021. The Cardinals debut at home on Aug. 28 against Xavier before going back on the road to face Fort Wayne on Sept. 1. Ball State then hosts Valparaiso on Sept. 4 and travels to Butler on Sept. 15 to conclude the non-conference portion of the schedule.

The team begins MAC play on the road against Miami on Sept. 22, then has a two-game homestand against Eastern Michigan on Sept. 25 and Northern Illinois on Sept. 29. In October, the Cardinals start against the 2021 MAC Tournament Champions in Bowling Green on Oct. 2, and then at Toledo on Oct. 7. They then return home to face Western Michigan on Oct. 9 and Akron on Oct. 13. Ball State ends the regular season with three of the four contests on the road: at the Ohio Bobcats on Oct. 16, at Kent State on Oct. 20, at home v. Buffalo on Oct. 23 and at Central Michigan on Oc.t 27.

The 2022 MAC Tournament is scheduled to begin on Oct. 30 followed by the semifinal round on Nov. 3 and the championship on Nov. 6.

Ball State field hockey releases 2022 schedule

Ball State field hockey on July 6 released its schedule for the upcoming season, which will be led by first-year head coach Caitlin Walsh. The Cardinals went 4-13 and 2-5 in MAC play in 2021.

Following a scrimmage against Indiana, the Cardinals begin their campaign with three straight home contests: Saint Francis (Aug. 26), Lehigh (Sept. 3) and Villanova (Sept. 4). BSU ends non-conference play by traveling to Indiana on Sept. 9 and to Saint Louis University on Sept. 11.

The team's MAC schedule begins at home against Longwood on Sept. 16 before hitting the road again to play Kent State on Sept. 23. The Cardinals then close out September at home against Iowa on the 25th and at Central Michigan on the 30th.

After a stop at Michigan on Oct. 2, BSU comes home to play Ohio on Oct. 7 and Michigan State on Oct. 9. The Cardinals will play Bellarmine University at Trager Stadium on Oct. 14 before starting a three-game road trip at Louisville (Oct. 16), Appalachian State (Oct. 21) and Davidson (Oct. 23).

Ball State concludes conference play at home against Miami on Oct. 28, and ends the regular season on Oct. 30 at Ohio State.

The MAC tournament is schedule to be Nov. 3-5.

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Hole-in-one at Crestview

Ashley Flynn on July 16 made a hole-in-one at Crestview Golf Club, according to general manager Matt Sauter. Flynn used a 3 Wood to sink her 180-yard shot on the Par 4 eighth hole.

Her witnesses were Brian Whiteley, Brittany Walker and Sunny Baker.

Gus Martin is a sports reporter at The Star Press. Follow him on Twitter @GusMartin_SP, and contact him at gmartin@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Ball State top softballer transfers; Shenandoah new basketball coach