2016 UMAC softball awards highlighted by Saints' trio
ST. PAUL, Minn.---The 2016 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) softball season saw the College of St. Scholastica claim its eighth-straight regular season conference title with a solid 15-1 UMAC record. Following that success, the Saints took the top three honors as the UMAC softball awards were announced Monday.
First-year Head Coach Rilee Dawson led the Saints to another successful season earning recognition from her peers as UMAC Coach of the Year, while senior Kara Warren capped off an impressive career with the Player of the Year honor and first-year Maggie Schley was recognized as the UMAC Rookie of the Year.
Dawson successfully led the Saints to a 26-15 overall record in her first year at the helm of the perennial UMAC powerhouse squad. The Saints dominated the conference statistically in UMAC games ranking first in team average (.451), on-base percentage (.503), and slugging percentage (.707).
In UMAC games, the Saints' 220 hits were 60 more than the University of Wisconsin-Superior in second, while their 173 RBI and 193 runs were 57 and 59 more, respectively, than the next best mark. They also blasted 20 home runs – the only squad to reach double digits against UMAC teams – as well as 51 doubles and seven triples to total 78 extra-base hits.
The Saints were just as good on the mound. They were the only team to allow fewer than two earned runs a game (1.62 ERA) in conference play, and they averaged over seven strikeouts a game. The Saints' defense also shutout UMAC opponents four times and allowed just two or fewer runs 11 times.
All season, the Saints relied on the experience of a talented senior class. No one shined brighter, though, than Warren who not only earned the top player honor but also took the lone cather positon on the UMAC All-Defensive Team. Warren led the conference in multiple hitting categories for UMAC games including batting average (.544), hits (31) and RBI (32). She also ranked second in the UMAC for OBP (.574), slugging (.947) and runs (23), while her five home runs were third.
This season, Warren recorded 51 total bases that ranked second in the league. Also, over 39 percent of her hits in conference games went for extra bases. Warren recorded three or more hits in a conference game six different times. The senior also had two or more RBI in a game nine different times and crossed home plate at least twice in seven games.
On the field, Warren was second in the conference for putouts with 103, and boasted a .982 fielding percentage versus UMAC foes. Warren is part of a senior class for the Saints that won four UMAC titles and two postseason crowns, made two trips to the NCAA tournament, collected 108 wins and hit 73 home runs.
If Warren represents the Saints' successful past, Schley is an impressive look into what the future holds for the team. The rookie pitcher and infielder was right with Warren all season to add to the team's success. Schley ranked second in conference games this season in average (.528) and in the top five for OBP (.548), hits (28), runs (21) and RBI (23).
Schley was not only a weapon at the plate, but she saw significant time on the mound as part of a talented Saints' pitching staff. In conference games, Schley earned three wins in 22.1 innings pitched. She also boasted a 3.13 ERA that ranked eighth in the UMAC.
Warren and Schley were among four Saints to earn All-UMAC First-Team honors – the most among all teams. Junior Chrisi Mizera – the 2015 UMAC Player of the Year – and Nikki Logergren joined the two Saints' headliners making their third-straight appearances on the All-UMAC First-Team list. Warren is a repeat winner, as are Bethany Lutheran College's Anna Pipenhagen – the 2015 UMAC Rookie of the Year honoree – and Crystal Diaz of Northland College.
Alex Anderson of the University of Minnesota Morris, Lauren Silbernick of the University of Northwestern-St. Paul and Cassidy Valenzuela of Crown College made their first appearance as first-team honorees after earning All-UMAC Honorable Mention honors a year ago.
Wisconsin-Superior – which earned a trip to the NCAA tournament Sunday after winning the UMAC tournament – boasted three players on the All-UMAC list including star pitcher Sarah Hendrickson and powerful hitters Ciarra Taipale and Katie Wilke. Colleen Feldheim of Northwestern and Janelle Williams of Crown rounded out the conference playoff representatives, while sixth-place Martin Luther College saw Megan Lemke earn her first UMAC honor.
Megan Threlkeld of Northwestern headlined the 10-player Honorable Mention team after earning All-UMAC in 2015 and Honorable Mention in 2014. Jessica Friebe of Martin Luther, Micah McGuinness of St. Scholastica and Meghan Pomeroy of Minnesota Morris all earned recognition for the second-straight year after being first-team selections last season. Wisconsin-Superior had two honorable mention players in Shelly Misco and Katie White, as did St. Scholastica with Alexa Bremer also getting a nod. The final three spots rounded out with players from playoff teams including Marissa Becerra of Crown, Ellen Larkin of Northwestern and Autumn Mahoney of Minnesota Morris.
The UMAC coaches also recognized 14 players with positions on the UMAC All-Defensive Team. St. Scholastica had four honorees including Mizera, Warren, Rendi Johnson and Olivia Bretting. Minnesota Morris had three honorees in Mahoney, Gina Downie and Bret Hulett. Wisconsin-Superior had two in Hendrickson and Wilke, while Northwestern had Threlkeld and Kaylee Forcier. Cearra Dulaney of Crown and Erin Gilligan of Northland were also honored.
Each year the UMAC recognizes the team sportsmanship award, an accolade that is selected by the UMAC coaches and awarded to the team that best represented sportsmanship throughout the entire season. Northwestern earned the honor for the second-consecutive season. Each team also had one representative on the individual sportsmanship award list.
Player of the Year Award* – Kara Warren, Sr., St. Scholastica
Rookie of the Year Award# – Maggie Schley, Fy., St. Scholastica
Coach of the Year Award – Rilee Dawson, St. Scholastica
First-Team UMAC All-Conference
| Name |
Year |
School |
Position |
Hometown/High School |
| Alex Anderson |
Sr. |
Minnesota Morris |
Outfield |
Osakis, Minn./Osakis |
| Crystal Diaz |
Jr. |
Northland |
Pitcher/Infield |
Burbank, Calif./Burbank |
| Colleen Feldheim |
Jr. |
Northwestern |
Infield |
Northfield, Ill./Loyola Academy |
| Sarah Hendrickson |
Jr. |
Wisconsin-Superior |
Pitcher |
Duluth, Minn./Denfeld |
| Megan Lemke |
So. |
Martin Luther |
Infield |
Jefferson, Wis./Shoreland Lutheran |
| Nikki Logergren |
Sr. |
St. Scholastica |
Outfield |
Duluth, Minn./Denfeld |
| Chrisi Mizera |
Jr. |
St. Scholastica |
Pitcher |
Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East |
| Anna Pipenhagen |
So. |
Bethany Lutheran |
Pitcher |
Elk River, Minn./Elk River |
| Maggie Schley# |
Fy. |
St. Scholastica |
Pitcher/Infield |
Mounds View, Minn./Irondale |
| Lauren Silbernick |
Jr. |
Northwestern |
Pitcher |
Osakis, Minn./Osakis |
| Ciarra Taipale |
So. |
Wisconsin-Superior |
Outfield |
Duluth, Minn./Denfeld |
| Cassidy Valenzuela |
So. |
Crown |
Outfield |
Anaheim, Calif./Katella |
| Kara Warren* |
Sr. |
St. Scholastica |
Catcher |
Duluth, Minn./Denfeld |
| Janelle Williams |
Jr. |
Crown |
Infield |
Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji |
| Katie Wilke |
Sr. |
Wisconsin-Superior |
Outfield |
Baraboo, Wis./Baraboo |
UMAC All-Conference Honorable Mention
| Name |
Year |
School |
Position |
Hometown/High School |
| Marissa Becerra |
So. |
Crown |
Infield |
Rosenberg, Texas/Lamar Consolidated |
| Alexa Bremer |
So. |
St. Scholastica |
Infield |
Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake |
| Jessica Friebe |
So. |
Martin Luther |
Catcher |
Bay City, Mich./Michigan Lutheran Seminary |
| Ellen Larkin |
Jr. |
Northwestern |
Catcher |
Excelsior, Minn./Southwest Christian |
| Autumn Mahoney |
So. |
Minnesota Morris |
Infield |
Frazee, Minn./Frazee |
| Micah McGuiness |
Sr. |
St. Scholastica |
Pitcher/Outfield |
Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake |
| Shelly Misco |
Sr. |
Wisconsin-Superior |
Infield |
Appleton, Wis./Appleton North |
| Meghan Pomeroy |
Jr. |
Minnesota Morris |
Infield |
Arden Hills, Minn./Mounds View |
| Megan Threlkeld |
Jr. |
Northwestern |
Infield |
Burnsville, Minn./Burnsville |
| Katie White |
So. |
Wiscosnsin-Superior |
Pitcher/Infield |
Pequot Lakes, Minn./Pequot Lakes |
UMAC All-Defensive Team
| Name |
Year |
School |
Position |
Hometown/High School |
| Cearra Dulaney |
Sr. |
Crown |
Pitcher |
Fort Worth, Texas |
| Sarah Hendrickson |
Jr. |
Wisconsin-Superior |
Pitcher |
Duluth, Minn./Denfeld |
| Chrisi Mizera |
Sr. |
St. Scholastica |
Pitcher |
Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East |
| Kara Warren |
Sr. |
St. Scholastica |
Catcher |
Duluth, Minn./Denfeld |
| Rendi Johnson |
Sr. |
St. Scholastica |
First Base |
Bonney Lake, Wash./Bonney Lake |
| Brittany Thomfordha |
Sr. |
Wisconsin-Superior |
Second Base |
Cushing, Wis./Unity |
| Autumn Mahoney |
So. |
Minnesota Morris |
Third Base |
Frazee, Minn./Frazee |
| Megan Threlkeld |
Jr. |
Northwestern |
Short Stop |
Burnsville, Minn./Burnsville |
| Olivia Bretting |
Jr. |
St. Scholastica |
Outfield |
Ashland, Wis./Ashland |
| Gina Downie |
Jr. |
Minnesota Morris |
Outfield |
White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake |
| Kaylee Forcier |
Jr. |
Northwestern |
Outfield |
Watkins, Minn./Eden Valley-Watkins |
| Erin Gilligan |
Jr. |
Northland |
Outfield |
Oconto Falls, Wis./Oconto Falls |
| Katie Wilke |
Sr. |
Wisconsin-Superior |
Outfield |
Baraboo, Wis./Baraboo |
| Bret Hulett |
Fy. |
Minnesota Morris |
Utility |
Monticello, Minn./Monticello |
UMAC Sportsmanship Awards
Team Award – Northwestern
Bethany Lutheran – Rachel Kurtenbach, So., Cottonwood, Minn./Lakeview
Crown – Sarah Petkau, Sr., Rib Lake, Wis./Rib Lake
Martin Luther – Kelli Doell, Jr., Appleton, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran
Minnesota Morris – Alex Anderson, Sr., Osakis, Minn./Osakis
North Central – Kylee Bommersbach, So., Sartell, Minn./Sartell
Northland – Katie Groeschel, Sr., Green Bay, Wis./Green Bay Preble
Northwestern – Jennifer Ankrom, Jr., New Hampton, Iowa/New Hampton
St. Scholastica – Rendi Johnson, Sr., Bonney Lake, Wash./Bonney Lake
Wisconsin-Superior – Elizabeth Borgwardt, Fy., Verona, Wis./Verona