Gustavus Adolphus College softball players Joyce DeWitz (Sr., Good Thunder, Minn./Maple River), Abby Bernstein (Sr., St. Paul, Minn./Minnehaha Academy), Julie Mahre (Jr., White Bear Lake, Minn.), and Rachael Click (So., Rochester, Minn./Mayo) have been named to All-MIAC Softball team released by the conference office Monday, May 14. Emily Klein (So., Red Wing, Minn.) was tabbed as an honorable mention All-MIAC selection, while Tina Strauss (Sr., Red Wing, Minn.) was named to the Softball All-MIAC Sportsmanship Team.
Joyce DeWitz, a three-time All-MIAC selection, led the Gusties in the circle, posting a 20-7 record with 18 complete games in 29 appearances. She posted a 1.86 earned run average and struck out 154 in 165 2/3 innings of work overall. In league play, DeWitz tied for second among MIAC with 89 strikeouts and 13 wins while posting a 1.51 ERA in 83 2/3 innings. DeWitz finished her career in possession of nearly every Gustavus career pitching record including appearances (106), starts (89), innings pitched (535 2/3), wins (61), and strikeouts (537). DeWitz also holds single-season records in appearances (34 in 2005), starts (31 in 2005), innings pitched (195 1/3 in 2005), wins (21 in 2006), and strikeouts (196 in 2005).
Abby Bernstein, who was honored by the league coaches for the first time in her career, started 39 of 40 games played this season and tied for the team lead in doubles with eight. Bernstein also finished third on the team in batting average (.360), hits (40), and home runs (5) while driving in 22 runs. She also posted a .996 fielding percentage from her catcher position, making only one error in 235 chances.
Julie Mahre, another three-time All-MIAC honoree, started 40 games at second base, leading the team in batting average (.442), hits (53) and home runs (11). Mahre’s 11 home runs broke the single-season school record of eight set by Audrey Lenoch in 2004. In MIAC play, Mahre led the league in runs scored (27), finished second in hits (31) and total bases (49), third in batting average (.484), on-base percentage (.542), and home runs (4), and fourth in slugging percentage (.766).
Rachael Click, a two-time All-MIAC selection who started all 42 games at shortstop for the Gusties this past season, led the MIAC in batting average (.516), slugging percentage (.906), on-base percentage (.568), hits (33), and RBI (30). Click hit .440 overall, knocked out team-highs in triples (4) and RBI (46) and tied for the team lead in both runs (42) and doubles (8). She finished second in hits (51) and home runs (9).
Emily Klein hit .359 starting all 42 games in centerfield for Gustavus. On the year, Klein posted 37 hits with 32 RBI, five doubles, and three home runs. She also drew a team-high 18 walks. Klein stole 23 bases on the year to tie the record set by Heather Thorson in 1990. Klein also tied the record for stolen base attempts in a season with 36.
Tina Strauss started 38 of 41 games played this season. Strauss hit .252 with 27 hits, seven doubles and 19 RBI in 107 at bats. She also posted a .986 fielding percentage from her spot at first base, committing only three errors in 212 opportunities.
Gustavus and league champion St. Thomas each had a league-high four selections to the All-MIAC team, but St. Thomas swept this season’s individual awards. Pitcher Maria Bye was named both Pitcher of the Year and Player of the Year, while teammate Alison Wright was named Rookie of the Year. UST head coach John Tschida was named MIAC Coach of the Year.
Gustavus finished 32-10 overall, setting a school record for wins en route to a second place finish in the MIAC (20-2) and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Gusties set the single-season wins record with a win over UW-Stevens Point in the NCAA Tournament to break the previous record of 31 wins set last year. The Gusties also set single season school records for runs scored with 268 (old record was 262), home runs with 37 (old record was 19), hits with 356 (old record was 340), and runs batted in with 217 (old record was 211).