Clutch victories down the stretch during the regular season advanced the Flying Dutch to the conference tournament for the 19th time in the 20-year history of the NCAA qualifying tournament. Coach Karla Wolters' Dutch won five of their last six regular season conference games. The Dutch ended the season with a 16-24 overall record and ended fourth in the MIAA standings at 8-6.

The Flying Dutch set a season record for home runs (30), including 11 in a doubleheader against Albion. Hope ranked 21st among all 390 NCAA Division III teams for homeruns.

Kelli Duimstra Named an All-American
For the second year in-a-row Hope had a first team All-American. Senior first baseman Kelli Duimstra of Hudsonville, Mich. was named to the 2009 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III All-America team.

"Kelli was the backbone of our team this year," said coach Karla Wolters. "When our only other senior went down the a torn ACL injury in Florida, Kelli picked us up and kept our team focused on the field. She was also our clutch player on offense and defense. She came through time after time with a big hit or a big play on defense. It was very special that Kelli received not only our team MVP award, but also the league MVP and now an All-American. There were many great players in our league this year, all worthy of the MVP award, but Kelli was the best of the best; a record setter, a clutch player, a calm leader in times of adversity. She will be remembered as one of the best players Hope has ever had both on offense and defense."

Duimstra became Hope's 13th NFCA All-American. In 2008 Kylee Brouwer was named a first team All-American at designated hitter. Both Brouwer and Duimstra are graduates of Hudsonville High School. The Flying Dutch have had seven All-America selections this decade.

Duimstra this spring was voted the most valuable position player in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA). A two-time All-MIAA first team honoree, Duimstra this spring set an MIAA record for homeruns (7) as she batted .442. For the season she batted .434, tied the school record for homeruns (10) and set a new Hope mark for total bases (97). She was also outstanding defensively with a .992 fielding average.

She was also honored as a scholar-athlete by being named to the CoSIDA district all-academic team. A geology major and psychology minor, Duimstra maintained a 3.76 cumulative grade point average. As a junior she received an education department award for academic achievement in science and mathematics.

Kelli Duimstra is MIAA's MVP
Senior first baseman Kelli Duimstra of Hudsonville, Mich. was voted the most valuable position player in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA). It marked the third time in four years that the MIAA MVP has come from Hope and all have been graduates of the same high school -- Hudsonville High School.

A two-time All-MIAA first team honoree, Duimstra this spring set an MIAA record for homeruns (7) as she batted .442. For the season she batted .434, tied the school record for homeruns (10) and set a new Hope mark for total bases (97). She was also outstanding defensively with a .992 fielding average. She ended as Hope's career-leader for RBIs with 123.

Junior outfielder Erica Smith of Muskegon, Mich. (Reeths-Puffer HS) was voted to the All-MIAA second team.