Rochester, MN –
The Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC) has announced the MCAC Softball All-Division awards for the 2021 season.
After taking home pitcher of the week honors for four straight weeks in April, as well as a position player of the week award, it is no surprise that Anoka Ramsey Community College's superstar pitcher, Sunny Strait, was also awarded the MCAC South Division Softball Player-of-the-Year honor. Strait was 13-5 from the pitching circle, leading the nation in wins (13) and strikeouts (114) on the season. Her presence was also felt at the plate where she had a .482 batting average and led the nation in home runs with 18 and RBI with 51. The Minnetonka, MN sophomore had a 1.253 slugging percentage, tops in the nation, and she did not commit an error defensively throughout conference play.
Anoka-Ramsey head softball coach, Dave Alto, was named the MCAC South Division Coach-of-the-Year. Coach Alto led his team to a 16-9 overall record and 14-2 in the South Division, good enough to claim the MCAC South Division Championship. Coach Alto and his Golden Rams will host and be the top seed in the Region XIIIA Softball Tournament beginning on Thursday in Cambridge, MN.
In the MCAC North Division, Rainy River Community College's freshman shortstop, Maddison Lehto was named the Player-of-the-Year. In her 99 plate appearances, Lehto hit .545, which ranks her third in the nation. She hit 8 home runs and 9 doubles on the season and was ranked second in the nation with 48 RBI. Defensively, the Roseville, MN product put out 15 batters and assisted on 51 outs, while only committing 5 errors.
In his 17th season, Dieter Humbert, Rainy River Head Softball Coach, earned the MCAC North Division Coach-of-the-Year honor. After going 16-12 overall and 14-2 in the North Division, Coach Humbert led his Voyageur squad to the MCAC North Division title and now hosts the Region XIIIB Softball Tournament on Thursday and Friday in International Falls, MN.
MCAC Softball is split into two divisions with Anoka-Ramsey, M-State Fergus Falls, Minnesota West, Riverland, Rochester, and St. Cloud Technical and Community College competing in the South Division. Rainy River, Central Lakes, Hibbing, Mesabi Range, and Northland compete in the North Division.
Following the conclusion of the regular season, MCAC softball coaches nominated and voted on players for each division to be named to the first or second team of the respective divisions. The top ranked player from each division was named the Player-of-the-Year. The coach of the year was also voted on for each division.
Below is a complete list of the 2021 MCAC Softball All-Division Teams:
MCAC South All-Division 1st Team |
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| Sunny Strait | Anoka-Ramsey | South Division Player of the Year |
| Emma Bright | Anoka-Ramsey | |
| McKenna Packard | Anoka-Ramsey | |
| Stephanie Kazemba | Minnesota West | |
| Grace Suttle | Minnesota West | |
| Carlie Hildebrandt | Rochester | |
| Kjerstin Hansen | St. Cloud | |
| Kaija Ludewig | St. Cloud | |
| Laura Skiba | St. Cloud | |
MCAC South All-Division 2nd Team |
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| Madison Segler | Anoka-Ramsey | |
| Maddy Shjerve | M-State Fergus Falls | |
| Bri Ihnen | Minnesota West | |
| Emily Wilke | Minnesota West | |
| Torrie Klennert | Rochester | |
| Haylee Sawyer | Rochester | |
| Justice Boyer | St. Cloud | |
| Dave Alto | Anoka-Ramsey | South Division Coach of the Year |
MCAC North All-Division 1st Team |
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| Maddison Lehto | Rainy River | North Division Player of the Year |
| Marissa Kerry | Rainy River | |
| Mariah Leahy | Rainy River | |
| Isis Johnson | Northland | |
| Grace Minten | Northland | |
| Jaymee Tuttle | Northland | |
| Sarah Kossan | Central Lakes | |
| Addie Sanford | Central Lakes | |
| Cassidy Zontelli | Central Lakes | |
MCAC North All-Division 2nd Team |
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| Jazlyn Arreola | Rainy River | |
| Justine Pratcshler | Northland | |
| Kaylen Bowen | Hibbing | |
| Jenna Gratz | Central Lakes | |
| Dieter Humbert | Rainy River | North Division Coach of the Year |
This release sponsored by:
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About the Minnesota College Athletic Conference
The Minnesota College Athletic Conference is the organizational body for NJCAA-affiliated two-year technical and community college athletic programs in the Minnesota State system. The mission of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference is to advance intercollegiate athletics by providing an engaging and supportive environment for success of our student athletes and competition among member institutions. The MCAC is committed to the guiding principles of encouraging the development and success of student athletes, promoting the integrity, honesty and loyalty to member schools as well as upholding the sustainability of conference athletic programs.