Issued: May 5, 2004

SOFTBALL GARNERS FOUR ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTIONS

MADISON - Four members of the UW-Eau Claire softball team earned Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference honors while Mallory McKinney (Fr.-Brooklyn Park, MN/Champlin Park) earned pitcher of the year honors and Leslie Huntington won coach of the year honors.

McKinney joins Emilee Planert (Sr.-Eau Claire/North) and Beth Steward (Sr.-Chippewa Falls/Chi-Hi) on the All-WIAC first team. Planert led the team in batting (.398), hits (51), runs (34), total bases (82), slugging (.641), triples (3), and on-base percentage (.458). She finished second on the team in home runs (6), RBI (27), walks (14), and stolen bases (13). She was caught stealing just twice on the season. Her batting average was the seventh highest in the WIAC while she tied for third in the conference in runs scored.

The first team recognition is Planert's third straight honor. She is also a two-time All-Great Lakes Region third team member.

McKinney proved to be a threat both at the plate and in the circle in 2004. She led the Blugold offense in both home runs (7) and RBI (30) while tying for the lead with nine doubles. She finished second on the team in batting (.362), hits (50), total bases (80), slugging (.580), and on-base percentage (.403). She finished tied for third in the conference in homers

McKinney enjoyed an excellent season in the circle and received the WIAC Pitcher of the Year award for her efforts. She is the third Blugold to earn the award, joining Lisa Schueler (2000) and Jill Schoenike (1999 and 1997). She finished the season with a 14-7 record and led the Eau Claire staff in ERA (1.15), complete games (8), shutouts (3), innings pitched (128.1), opposing batting average (.215), and saves (3). She appeared in 30 games, 18 of them starts, and walked a team-low 13 batters while striking out a team-high 91. She finished near the top in the conference in many pitching categories, including posting the lowest ERA in the WIAC. She finished second in opposing batting average, third in wins, and fourth in appearances and innings pitched. She also tied for the conference lead in saves.

Steward earns her second consecutive first team honors after hitting .298 in 43 games. She finished with three home runs and 14 RBIs while finishing third on the team in slugging (.419), total bases (52) on-base percentage (.376). She led the team with 15 walks. Steward also did an excellent job on managing a pitching staff with a combine two years of college experience.

Molly Blakewell (Jr.-Eau Claire/North) earned All-WIAC honorable mention for her first such honor. Blakewell had a solid year as she hit .279 with 18 RBIs. She totaled four doubles and one triple while scoring 19 runs. She finished with 16 sacrifice hits, tied for second in the conference.

Huntington earns the WIAC Coach of the Year award after leading the Blugolds to the regular season conference title with a 12-4 WIAC record. She accomplished the feat with only three upper classmen on the roster and 10 freshmen on the team. Eau Claire finished with an overall record of 26-17, a nine win improvement from last season.

WIAC Release