Five Bruins earn first team all-MCAC softball honors

BELLEVUE, Neb. - The Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference announced the 2011 all-MCAC softball teams Thursday in conjunction with the 2011 MCAC Softball Tournament in Bellevue, Neb.

Bellevue dominated the list with five first-team selections including MCAC Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year Amanda Neumann, MCAC Newcomer of the Year Kathryn Wardian and MCAC Coach of the Year Michala Cimino.

Bruins on the MCAC first team included Neumann (sophomore pitcher/third baseman), Wardian (junior outfielder), senior shortstop Jessica Guyle, freshman catcher Melissa Ackley, and junior first baseman Brooke Ellis. Sophomore second baseman Kim Wees, junior outfielder Katie Tew, and freshman designated player Katie Malloy were named to the second team. Senior pitcher/third baseman Allie Bartley gained honorable mention honors.

Neumann set a single-season school record with 203 strikeouts this season while recording a 19-8 record on the mound with four shutouts and a 3.05 ERA. She also leads the Bruins with a .423 batting average, 14 home runs, and a .788 slugging percentage.

Wardian is second on the team with 13 home runs and a .773 slugging percentage. She is third on the squad with a .364 batting average and 31 RBIs.

The team's lead-off batter, Guyle earned her second first-team all-MCAC honor while batting .346 with three doubles, two triples, and a team-leading 23 stolen bases.

Ellis leads the 2011 Bruins with 42 RBIs as the team's clean-up hitter. She has a team third-best 10 home runs, while batting .319 with seven doubles.

Ackley has started 38 games in her freshman campaign and is batting .316 with three doubles and one home run.

Cimino was named the MCAC Coach of the Year for the second-straight season after guiding the Bruins to a perfect 12-0 league mark and a 28-17 overall record.

All-MCAC First Team
1B: Brooke Ellis, Bellevue University
2B: Ashley Wohlers, Peru State College
SS: Kayla Hodgson, College of St. Mary
3B: Arica Reeves, York College
IF: Jessica Guyle, Bellevue University
IF: Kristen Bodyk, Peru State College
IF: Lexi Paspalof, York College
P: Danielle Driscoll, York College
P: Amanda Neumann, Bellevue University
P: Lyndsay Drumm, Peru State College
C: Alyssa Mangum, Peru State College
C: Melissa Ackley, Bellevue University
DP: Emily Maresh, Peru State College
OF: Kathryn Wardian, Bellevue University
OF: Allison Edwards, Oklahoma Wesleyan University
OF: Krista Patton, Peru State College
OF: Melissa King, College of St. Mary
UT: Samantha Walker, Peru State College

MCAC Player of the Year - Amanda Neumann (Bellevue University)
MCAC Pitcher of the Year - Amanda Neumann (Bellevue University)
MCAC Freshman of the Year - Allison Edwards (Oklahoma Wesleyan University)
MCAC Newcomer of the Year - Kathryn Wardian (Bellevue University)
MCAC Coach of the Year - Michala Cimino (Bellevue University)

All-MCAC Second Team
Pitcher: Audree Uhlarik, College of St. Mary
Pitcher: Tabatha Cramer, York College
Pitcher: Devon Massengale, Peru State College
Catcher: Jessica Pitts, Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Catcher: Yolonda Alailefaleula, York College
IF: Hannah Martin, Central Christian College
IF: Kim Wees, Bellevue University
IF: Brianna Triplett, College of St. Mary
IF: Miranda Lyndes, Peru State College
IF: Tristian Birch, York College
IF: Riannon Romero, York College
IF: Macy Wright, Oklahoma Wesleyan University
OF: Katie Tew, Bellevue University
OF: Leah Eike, Haskell, Indian Nations University
OF: Nya Beasley, Oklahoma Wesleyan University
OF: Angel Gray, York College
Utility: Kylie Damm, Central Christian College
Designated Player: Katie Malloy, Bellevue University

Honorable Mention
Allie Bartley, Bellevue University
Katie Kelley: Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Steffanie Palmisano, Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Lynn Fibich,College of St. Mary
Lindy Maxell, College of St. Mary
Jessie Griffith, York College
Brittanie Shaw, York College
Hillary Culver, Haskell Indian Nations University
Samantha Robertson, Haskell Indian Nations University
Brigette Oslin, Haskell Indian Nations University
Krista Bohnenblust, Central Christian College
Stephanie Holdsworth, Peru State College
Brittany Hoock, Peru State College
Tesla Oldfield, Peru State College
Abbie Moser, Peru State College