Wisconsin High School Sports | Wisconsin Sports Network | WisSports.net

-From WIAC-

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s Evie Schaller and UW-Oshkosh’s Abby Menting shared Position Player of the Year honors, while UW-La Crosse’s Caitlyn Hughes was tabbed the Pitcher of the Year to lead the individuals chosen to the 2016 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Softball Team by the league coaches. In addition, UW-Eau Claire’s Leslie Huntington was selected the Coach of the Year.

Schaller leads the conference with 52 hits, 15 doubles, 79 total bases and 43 RBI, while ranking second with a .409 batting average, .461 on-base percentage and .622 slugging percentage and fourth with four homeruns. She produced at least one hit in 29 of 40 games, including 15 multi-hit contests. Schaller matched a school single-game record with five hits against St. Norbert College (Wis.) on May 2.

Menting tops the league with a .417 batting average, .678 slugging percentage, .481 on-base percentage and six home runs. She is second with 78 total bases and 37 RBI, third with 48 hits and seventh with eight doubles. Menting recorded at least one hit in 29 of 38 contests, including 15 multi-hit performances. She registered a season-best three hits four times.

This marks just the second time in league history that the Position Player of the Year award has been shared. UW-Eau Claire’s Casey Leisgang and UW-Oshkosh’s Whitney Tyriver were co-winners in 2006.

Hughes is third in the WIAC with a 1.90 earned run average, fourth with 10 wins, fifth with 77 strikeouts, sixth with a .240 opponent batting average and ninth with 88.1 innings pitched and 22 appearances. She recorded a least five strikeouts in seven games, including a season-best nine against UW-Stevens Point on April 16. Hughes allowed two or fewer earned runs in her last nine starting assignments.

Repeat selections on the first team from a year ago included:  UW-Eau Claire’s Lauren Blasczyk; UW-La Crosse’s Megan Nelson; UW-Oshkosh’s Haley Bayreuther and Sara Brunlieb (Pitcher of the Year); and UW-Stout’s Tori Workman. Bayreuther, Nelson and Workman were also first team selections in 2014 with Workman claiming Pitcher of the Year recognition.

Huntington secured the coaching honor for the fifth time in her career after directing the Blugolds to the 11th regular-season championship in program history. UW-Eau Claire posted an overall record of 26-13-1, achieving at least 26 victories for the 11th time in Huntington’s 15 years. Huntington reached the 400-career win mark in a 6-2 triumph over Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) on March 20.

An All-Sportsmanship Team was chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. It included one member from each school.

2016 All-WIAC Softball Team
Name, School, Year, Position, Hometown (High School)
Brittany Baldwin, La Crosse, Sophomore, Centerfield, Stoddard, Wis. (La Crosse Central)
Haley Bayreuther, Oshkosh, Senior, Shortstop, Janesville, Wis. (Craig)
Erika Berry, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Thirdbase, Germantown, Wis.
Lauren Blasczyk, Eau Claire, Junior, Righthanded Pitcher, Appleton, Wis. (East)
Shannan Borchardt, River Falls, Sophomore, Rightfield, Prior Lake, Minn.
Sara Brunlieb, Oshkosh, Junior, Righthanded Pitcher, Rolling Meadows, Ill.
Julia Camardo, Whitewater, Freshman, Righthanded Pitcher, Arlington Heights, Ill. (Buffalo Grove)
Caitlin Catino, Whitewater, Freshman, Outfield, Arlington Heights, Ill. (Buffalo Grove)
Alyssa Cooper, Stevens Point, Freshman, Outfield, Little Suamico, Wis. (Bay Port)
Caitlyn Hughes, La Crosse, Freshman, Righthanded Pitcher, Stewartville, Minn.
Abby Menting, Oshkosh, Freshman, Catcher, Kimberly, Wis.
Megan Nelson, La Crosse, Senior, Rightfield, Zumbrota, Minn. (Zumbrota-Mazeppa)
Amy Ricci, Whitewater, Junior, Firstbase, Gurnee, Ill. (Warren Township)
Emily Rux, Whitewater, Freshman, Shortstop, Chicago, Ill. (Mother McAuley)
Evie Schaller, Eau Claire, Junior, Shortstop, Chippewa Falls, Wis. (Chi-Hi)
Bailie Sheahan, Stevens Point, Senior, Infield, Salem, Wis. (Wilmot Union)
Lauren Torborg, Oshkosh, Junior, Outfield, Brooklyn Park, Minn. (Park Center)
Abby Veloske, River Falls, Senior, Firstbase, Ham Lake, Minn. (Blaine)
Leah Wolff, Eau Claire, Junior, Secondbase, Middleton, Wis.
Tori Workman, Stout, Senior, Righthanded Pitcher, Prior Lake, Minn.

Honorable Mention
Rachel Heffel, Eau Claire, Junior, Rightfield, Racine, Wis. (Case)
Emily Holldorf, La Crosse, Senior, Leftfield, Chippewa Falls, Wis.
Mallory Klotz, Whitewater, Sophomore, Outfield, New Berlin, Wis. (West)
Morgan Lecheler, Eau Claire, Junior, Designated Player, Menomonie, Wis.
Aiyanna Ledwein, River Falls, Sophomore, Centerfield, St. Anthony, Minn.
Nikki Mikosz, Whitewater, Freshman, Catcher, Wheeling, Ill.
Sydney Schemenauer, La Crosse, Freshman, Shortstop, Chippewa Falls, Wis. (McDonell)
Rachel Thomas, Stout, Sophomore, Catcher/Outfield, Hastings, Minn.
Katie Thompson, River Falls, Junior, Outfield, Baldwin, Wis. (Baldwin-Woodville)
Brooke Varian, Eau Claire, Freshman, Third base, Madison, Wis. (West)
Beth Wood, Stout, Sophomore, First base, Mineral Point, Wis.
Emily Woodford, Platteville, Freshman, Outfield, Moline, Ill.

All-Sportsmanship Team
Gracia Larson, Eau Claire, Senior, Infield, Eau Claire, Wis. (Hillcrest Academy)
Taylor Loew, Oshkosh, Senior, Outfield, Burnett, Wis. (Horicon)
Becca Marchant, Platteville, Freshman, Firstbase, Campbellsport, Wis. (Winnebago Lutheran Academy)
Bailey Seubert, Stevens Point, Freshman, Infield, Marathon, Wis.
Cara Smoczynski, Whitewater, Junior, Righthanded Pitcher, Aurora, Ill. (Rosary)
Sarah Sorensen, River Falls, Senior, Secondbase, Chippewa Falls, Wis.
Emilie Wiltzius, La Crosse, Senior, Firstbase, Cudahy, Wis.
Tori Workman, Stout, Senior, Righthanded Pitcher, Prior Lake, Minn.

Co-Position Players of the Year:  Abby Menting of Oshkosh and Evie Schaller of Eau Claire
Pitcher of the Year:  Caitlyn Hughes of La Crosse
Coach of the Year:  Leslie Huntington of Eau Claire
Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete (sponsored by Badgerland Financial):  Tori Workman of Stout