WAC Softball Postseason Award Winners Announced
WAC Softball Postseason Award Winners Announced
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The Western Athletic Conference today announced its 2022 All-WAC teams and major awards as selected by the league's 11 head coaches. Carley Nance, from Seattle U, was named WAC Player of the Year with Stephen F. Austin’s Kassidy Wilbur claiming Pitcher of the Year accolades, Seattle U’s Grace Luderer was named WAC Freshman of the Year. Hannah Hughbanks was named the Defensive Player of the Year while playing first base for Dixie State. Grand Canyon’s Shannon Hays was voted the conference’s Coach of the Year.
Nance did everything for the Redhawks this season. As a hitter she posted a .648 slugging percentage while getting on-base at a .414 clip. She was second in the WAC with 14 homeruns while leading the league with 56 RBI. Inside the circle, Nance was third in the WAC with a 2.38 ERA while recording six wins and a pair of saves in 17 appearances. The lefthander was ninth in the conference with 87 strikeouts.
Wilbur was a stalwart in the circle for the Ladyjacks. While helping the program to the WAC’s Southwest Division crown, she tied for the league lead in wins (19) while striking out a conference best 219 batters. She limited the opposition to a .211 batting average while recording a WAC high 37 appearances. In her 18 complete games she registered a league high six shutouts.
Luderer impressed during her first collegiate season. The righthanded pitcher tallied a seven-win campaign with 97 total strikeouts in her 26 appearances. She threw eight complete games for the Redhawks and limited the opposing batters to a .243 batting average.
Hughbanks was stellar at first base for the Trailblazers. In 302 chances she committed just two errors while recording a .993 fielding percentage. She was a part of a league high 17 double plays and was sixth in the conference in putouts (288) and total chances (302).
In his first year at the helm, Hays led the Lopes to the WAC’s Western Division title and the league’s best regular season record (19-5). Grand Canyon will serve as the No. 1 seed during the upcoming WAC postseason tournament. The Lopes offense was stellar as they led the league in batting average (.333), runs scored (314), total bases (614), RBI (275), on-base percentage (.401) and slugging percentage (.512).
2022 WAC Softball Postseason Award Winners
Player of the Year: Carly Nance (Seattle U)
Pitcher of the Year: Kassidy Wilbur (Stephen F. Austin)
Freshman of the Year: Grace Luderer (Seattle U)
Defensive Player of the Year: Hannah Hughbanks (Dixie State)
Coach of the Year: Shannon Hays (Grand Canyon)
First Team (School)
Georgia Capell (Tarleton)
Madison Carr (Utah Valley)
DeNae Chatman (Grand Canyon)
Shea Clements (Dixie State)
Katelyn Dunckel (Grand Canyon)
Kristin Fifield (Grand Canyon)
Hannah Hughbanks (Dixie State)
Ramsay Lopez (NM State)
Carley Nance (Seattle U)
Gianna Nicoletti (Grand Canyon)
Linnah Rebolledo (Utah Valley)
Ariel Thompson (Grand Canyon)
Kassidy Wilbur (Stephen F. Austin)
Second Team (School)
Alyssa Argomaniz (California Baptist)
Kayla Bowen (NM State)
Calie Burris (Abilene Christian)
Carly Eldredge (Dixie State)
Mercedes Eichelberger (Abilene Christian)
Gaby Garcia (Stephen F. Austin)
Sydnee Hebert (Stephen F. Austin)
Sidney Holman-Mansell (Abilene Christian)
Kinsey Koeltzow (Grand Canyon)
Stefanie Madrigal (Seattle U)
Kate Mangrello (California Baptist)
Morgan Medford (Tarleton)
Jillian Taylor (NM State)
All Defensive Team (School)
Katelyn Dunckel (Grand Canyon)
Lily Garcia (Seattle U)
Hannah Hughbanks (Dixie State)
Madison Kahwaty (Seattle U)
Kinsey Koeltzow (Grand Canyon)
Tiana Patrick (California Baptist)
Stephanie Reed (Grand Canyon)
Sydney Soto (California Baptist)
Jillian Taylor (NM State)
Olivia Viggiano (Seattle U)