WAC 2023 Softball Award Winners Announced
ARLINGTON, Texas – The major award winners and all-conference teams for the 2023 WAC softball season were revealed on Monday, as voted on by WAC softball member head coaches. Utah Tech’s Shea Clements was named WAC Player of the Year, Utah Tech’s Kate Dolinski earned WAC Pitcher of the Year, Utah Tech’s Tanya Windle captured WAC Freshman of the Year, Grand Canyon’s Kinsey Koeltzow was selected as WAC Defensive Player of the Year and Utah Tech’s Randy Simkins was voted by his peers as the WAC Coach of the Year.
Clements led the WAC with a .512 batting average over 24 conference games, which included three home runs and 20 RBI. Clements reached base at a league-high .574 clip during the conference slate and scored a team-high 29 runs during WAC play. Clements added 22 putouts and an outfield assist in the field for the Trailblazers.
Dolinski posted a 10-1 record and 3.96 ERA across 16 appearances (12 starts) in the circle for Utah Tech, Dolinski turned in six complete games and one shutout in conference, a 2-0 win over Seattle U on April 8. Over 63.2 conference innings pitched, Dolinski issued 19 walks and struck out 44 opposing batters.
Windle enjoyed a dynamic debut season in the Utah Tech outfield, batting .438 with a .531 on-base percentage, 12 stolen bases, 17 RBI and 28 runs scored in 24 conference games. Windle’s four triples, 12 walks drawn and five times hit by pitch all led the Trailblazers in league play. Windle added 36 putouts and one assist in the field during the conference schedule.
Koeltzow was a stalwart as the GCU backstop, making 24 appearances and 22 starts at catcher during the conference season. Koeltzow registered 112 putouts and 12 assists in 124 chances behind the plate for a perfect fielding percentage against WAC opponents, throwing out three would be base stealers.
Simkins guided Utah Tech to its first conference regular-season championship in NCAA Division I, posting a 19-5 record during the WAC schedule to earn the top seed in the 2023 University Credit Union WAC Softball Tournament by two games over host Grand Canyon. The Trailblazers batted .386 as a team and outscored opponents by 210-108 margin in conference games, winning 11 of 12 league matchups contested at home.
Grand Canyon and Utah Tech both led all teams with six players included on WAC all-conference teams, with the five GCU players on the first team tops in the league. Stephen F. Austin added three all-conference honorees, while Seattle and Tarleton boasted two selections each.
2023 WAC Softball Season Awards
WAC Player of the Year
Shea Clements, Sr., C/OF, Utah Tech
WAC Pitcher of the Year
Kate Dolinski, Grad, RHP, Utah Tech
WAC Freshman of the Year
Tanya Windle, OF, Utah Tech
WAC Defensive Player of the Year
Kinsey Koeltzow, Sr., C, Grand Canyon
WAC Coach of the Year
Randy Simkins, Utah Tech
All-WAC First Team
Hannah Burnett, UTL, Grand Canyon
Katelyn Dunckel, IF, Grand Canyon
Kristin Fifield, OF, Grand Canyon
Meghan Golden, P, Grand Canyon
Ramsay Lopez, IF, Grand Canyon
Kayla Bowen, UTL, NM State
Tai Wilson, OF, Seattle U
Mackenzie Bennett, IF, Stephen F. Austin
Brooke Gainous, P, Stephen F. Austin
Shea Clements, C/OF, Utah Tech
Kate Dolinski, P, Utah Tech
Hannah Hughbanks, OF/IF, Utah Tech
Tanya Windle, OF, Utah Tech
All-WAC Second Team
Priscilla Estrada, IF, California Baptist
Ariel Thompson, P, Grand Canyon
Riley Carley, UTL, NM State
Brailey Wasik, P/IF, Sam Houston
Jocelynn De La Cruz, IF, Seattle U
Emily Gonzalez, IF, Southern Utah
Gaby Garcia, C/IF, Stephen F. Austin
Kelci Hill, OF, Tarleton
Katy Schaefer, IF, Tarleton
Marley Neises, UTL, UT Arlington
Lauren Almeida, IF, Utah Tech
Sauren Garton, P, Utah Tech
Megan Gibbs, IF, Utah Valley
WAC All-Defensive Team
Mercedes Eichelberger, OF, Abilene Christian
Katelyn Dunckel, Grand Canyon
Kristin Fifield, OF, Grand Canyon
Kinsey Koeltzow, C, Grand Canyon
Kayla Bowen, UTL, NM State
Lily Garcia, IF, Seattle U
Madison Kahwaty, IF, Seattle U
Gaby Garcia, C/IF, Stephen F. Austin
Lauren Almeida, IF, Utah Tech
Hannah Hughbanks, OF/IF, Utah Tech
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