Softball's Kristal Bendfeldt Commits to North Central
After a tremendous 2018 Spring season, LAMC Softball's Kristal Bendfeldt has committed to play for North Central College in Naperville, Illinois.
Bendfeldt, a transfer from Glendale Community College, was a 3rd baseman, catcher, and designated player for the Eagles in 2018. Throughout the Spring, she batted .315 overall with 23 hits, 4 doubles, and 17 RBI. She was named an Honorable Mention All-Conference selection for her numbers in Western State Conference play, batting .387 with a .516 slugging percentage, .472 on-base percentage, and 10 RBI.
"I'm extremely proud of Kristal; all the hard work she put in paid off," said Chris Hylland, LAMC Softball's head coach. "I look forward to watching her at the next level, and I was proud to be her coach this year."
North Central is an NCAA Div. III program in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. The team has a history of excellence under Head Coach Jim Kulawiak. In the last 22 years, North Central has won eight CCIW championships and appeared in 13 NCAA regionals, finishing 5th in the national tournament in 2001.
This year, the Cardinals posted a 31-10 overall record (12-4 CCIW), and they finished their season in the CCIW tournament. They earned seven post-season conference honors, including five All-CCIW player selections and CCIW Coaching Staff of the Year.
Bendfeldt was the first of two LAMC softball players so far to commit to four-year programs. Teammate Isabel Mercado has since signed to play for La Sierra University, an NAIA school in Riverside.