BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced its 2016 Softball postseason awards Monday afternoon and three Gusties were named to the All-Conference Team. Representing Gustavus on the 2016 MIAC All-Conference Softball Team are catcher Nathalee Boissiere (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.), pitcher/outfielder Hannah Heacox (Jr., Stillwater, Minn.), and first base/pitcher Jena Willis (Jr., Kalispell, Mt.). Outfielder Rachel Strandmark (So., New Ulm, Minn.), utility player Jessica Williams (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.) and infielder Emily Webb (Fy., Maple Lake, Minn.) were also recognized by the MIAC as Honorable Mention selections.
Nathalee Boissiere
Boissiere earns her third All-Conference nod after being named to the 2013 and 2014 All-MIAC squads. This season Boissiere led the Gusties in a number of offensive statistical categories, including a .360 batting average, 36 hits, 12 doubles (8th/MIAC), 26 RBI, and a .540 slugging percentage. Boissiere was particularly productive with runners in scoring position, collecting 14 hits in 36 at-bats for a situational average of .389. The Plymouth native also hit two home runs, scored 12 runs, and posted an on-base percentage of .387. Behind the plate as one of two rotating catchers, Boissiere recorded a fielding percentage of .993 with 135 putouts, 16 assists, and just one error.
Hannah Heacox
Heacox makes an appearance on the All-Conference Team for the third consecutive year. The Stillwater native was the ace of the pitching staff this season, posting a 2.15 ERA and a 17-6 record (fourth most wins in MIAC) with 30 appearances and 20 starts. Heacox threw 15 complete games, including her second career no-hitter on April 13 against Augsburg. Heacox pitched 153 innings, held opponents to a .225 batting average, and struck out 157 batters (4th/MIAC). In the batter’s box, Heacox hit .314 with 33 hits, five doubles, two home runs, and 22 RBI. She also posted a slugging percentage of .419, on-base percentage of .363, and a fielding percentage of .957.
Jena Willis
Willis makes her first appearance on the All-MIAC Team after registering a .286 batting average with 32 hits, six doubles, 19 RBI, and a team-leading three home runs. The Kalispell native started 37 games this season, 11 of which in the pitching circle where she posted a 2.33 ERA and a 7-3 record. Willis made 16 pitching appearances and logged 69 innings in the circle, holding her opponents to a .280 batting average. When she wasn’t pitching, Willis played first base where she made 26 starts and tallied a .976 fielding percentage.
Rachel Strandmark
Strandmark received Honorable Mention status after a successful sophomore campaign. Strandmark posted a .315 batting average with 23 hits and two RBI, having started in 29 games. She also tallied the longest hitting streak for the Gusties this season at nine games, and had nine sacrifice hits, which is ninth most in the MIAC. In the field, Strandmark made 24 putouts with two errors for a fielding percentage of .923. The New Ulm native’s season was cut short due to an injury.
Jessica Williams
Williams joins Strandmark as an Honorable Mention selection after a successful senior season. The Plymouth native was a valuable utility player for the Gusties with 11 appearances in the circle, 18 starts in left field, 10 in center, and another as the designated hitter. At the plate, Williams hit .243 with 17 hits, 10 runs, and six RBI. In the field, Williams tallied 45 putouts with 18 assists and two errors for fielding percentage of .969. Williams was also the No. 3 pitcher in the Gustavus rotation as she posted a 4.86 ERA with a 2-3 record. She logged 36 innings with seven starts and held opponents to a .307 batting average.
Emily Webb
Webb rounds out the trio of Honorable Mention selections for the Gusties after an impressive rookie campaign. The Maple Lake product started 35 games at second base this season and recorded a .919 fielding percentage after collecting 64 putouts, 50 assists, and 10 errors. Offensively, Webb was a welcomed addition to the plate as she hit .306 with 11 doubles, three triples (team high), two home runs, and 19 RBI. She also has the best slugging percentage on the team at .514 and reached base 34 percent of her plate appearances. Webb has five multiple RBI games, second most on the team and produced a six game hitting streak, which was second longest on the team.
Amber Hoffman
As part of a conference-wide sportsmanship initiative, the MIAC announced the 10th-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. Representing Gustavus on this year’s Sportsmanship Team is Amber Hoffman (Sr., New Prague, Minn.).
Taking home the league’s top honors are Robyn Rohr of St. Catherine as the Player-of-the-Year, Kierstin Anderson-Glass of St. Thomas as both the Pitcher- and Rookie-of-the-Year, and Colleen Powers of St. Catherine as the Coach-of-the-Year.
Way to go Nat for earning your THIRD all conference as a graduating senior. This article is a keeper!!!!! – your proud GodMother in Dallas, TX. (aka Auntie Tangla)