FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

Complete CCIW Release

May 4, 2010-- North Central College shortstop Laura Whitfield has been honored as the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Softball Hitter of the Week after concluding the week hitting .550 at the plate and helping the 16th-ranked Cardinals finish the week 4-2.

The shortstop was three-for-four at the plate against Lake Forest in game one on Tuesday with two extra base hits and three RBIs before finishing two-for-three in game two as North Central (30-10) swept the Foresters, 6-1 and 9-4. In Saturday's CCIW regular season finale against Augustana, Whitfield was two-for-four in the opener before turning in a two-for-three effort with two RBIs in the 3-2 game two victory to salvage a series split.

For the week, Whitfield was 11-for-20, scoring four runs and driving in six more with four extra base hits, including her first triple of the season. The junior had a .609 on-base percentage while on defense, recorded eight putouts and assisted on 21 more with a fielding percentage of .935.

This marks the second time this season a Cardinal batter has been honored by the CCIW as Lauren Schramm captured Hitter of the Week honors on April 13. It also marks the second time in her career Whitfield has won the award, claiming the honor last season on April 21.

Whitfield, who has appeared in all 40 games this season for the Cardinals, has been one of the team's most prolific hitters, leading the squad in batting average (.421), doubles (15), home runs (five) and RBIs (37).

The Cardinals open up the double-elimination CCIW Tournament on Friday, facing Illinois Wesleyan University at 10 a.m. in Kenosha, Wis.