The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced its 2010 MIAC Softball Awards on Tuesday, May 18, bestowing four Gustavus softball players with All-Conference honors. Senior pitcher Betsie Collins, sophomore infielder Lisa Klass, Junior infielder Kirsten Prunty, and junior outfielder Emily Wendorff were all named to the 2010 MIAC All-Conference team.
In addition, junior catcher Dani Cattrysse and senior pitcher Callie Nelsen were named to the 2010 MIAC Honorable Mention All-Conference Team. Sheila Arnold was named to the All-Sportsmanship Team for the second year in a row.
The Gusties finished the regular season with a record of 28-11, and a MIAC record of 18-4, placing them second in the conference behind St. Thomas. Gustavus went 2-2 in the MIAC Playoffs, battling back to the championship to face St. Thomas after dropping its opening game to Bethel 4-2. Gustavus fell 4-0 to St. Thomas in the championship, placing second in the MIAC Playoffs. The Gusties compiled a record of 30-13 overall on the season.
Betsie Collins, a native of Waseca, Minn.,finished her senior season with an overall record of 14-6 and an ERA of 2.11. Collins recorded the fourth best ERA in the MIAC this season, and the second most wins. She threw a total of 133 innings, striking out 153 batters (2nd in MIAC) and giving up total of 46 runs (5th in the MIAC). MIAC opponents hit just .207 against Collins this season, as she was also named MIAC Pitcher of the Week on April 5th. Collins finishes her career ranked second in Gustavus history in both career wins (45) and strikeouts (442).
Second baseman Lisa Klass of Richfield, Minn. ranked third on the team and 13th in the MIAC with a .378 (51-135) batting average. Klass started in all 43 games this season, leading the MIAC in runs scored with 43. She also led the MIAC in walks (21) and triples (5). Klass finished the season with a slugging percentage of .615, while driving in a total of 21 runs. She recorded a fielding percentage of .979, making just three errors on the season. Klass makes the All-MIAC team for the second consecutive year, as she was the only first-year player to earn the honor last season. Klass was also named MIAC Player of the Week on April 5th.
New Ulm, Minn. native Kirsten Prunty, in her first full season at shortstop for the Gusties, hit .347 (42-121), ranking her 24th in the MIAC. She recorded 29 runs and 32 RBI on the season, finishing with a slugging percentage of .496. Prunty had a fielding percentage of .923, while starting in all but one game this season. Within conference play, Prunty led the team in hitting at .420 (29-69), ranking her eighth in the league.
Emily Wendorff (Prior Lake, Minn.) earns All-MIAC honors for the first time in her career. Wendorff ranked second on the team and 11th in the MIAC in hitting with a batting average of .382 (50-131). She compiled a total of 28 runs and 31 RBI on the season. Wendorff was a perfect 10-for-10 in stolen bases this season. She started in all 43 games this season, carrying a fielding percentage of .969.
Dani Cattrysse (Mankato, Minn.) started in 26 games for the Gusties, leading the team in hitting with a .400 (26-65) batting average. Within MIAC play, Cattrysse hit .571 (1st), recording a slugging percentage of .771 (3rd) and an on base percentage of .615 (1st). Cattrysse caught 6-of-8 base runners stealing this season.
Callie Nelsen (Willmar, Minn.) made 22 appearances on the hill for the Gusties this season. She finished her senior year with an overall record of 10-3 and an ERA of 1.35 (2nd in MIAC). Callie ranked second in the MIAC in opposing batting average (.217), runs allowed (24), earned runs allowed (17), and ranked third in hits allowed (72). Within MIAC play she posted a 6-1 record with a 1.44 ERA.
As part of a conference-wide sportsmanship initiative, the MIAC announced the third annual All-MIAC Sportsmanship team for softball. Members of the All-MIAC Sportsmanship team are selected by their coaches and teammates as individuals who demonstrate ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the field of competition. Senior outfielder Sheila Arnold (Grand Rapids, Minn.) was selected by her teammates for the Sportsmanship Awared for the second consecutive season.
