Rochester, MN –

The Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC) has announced the 2022 MCAC Softball All-Division awards and the All-MCAC Team.

Leading the conference in batting average at .645, home runs with 18, on base percentage with .697, and slugging percentage with 1.248 has helped Rainna Stangle earn the 2022 South Division Softball Player-of-the-Year honor.  Playing 3rd base and catcher for St. Cloud Technical and Community College, the freshman from Sartell, MN has racked up 78 hits, 67 runs, 79 RBI, and 151 total bases in her 121 at bats. In the field, she also has 124 putouts and 40 assists in her 166 opportunities, for a .988 fielding percentage.

St. Cloud Technical and Community College softball coach, Greg Thorstad, was named the MCAC South Division Coach-of-the-Year.  Coach Thorstad led his team to a 35-3 overall record and 16-2 in the South Division, good enough to claim the MCAC South Division Championship.  Coach Thorstad and his Cyclones will host the NJCAA Region XIIIA Softball Tournament beginning on Thursday in St. Cloud, MN.

In the MCAC North Division, Itasca Community College freshman catcher and shortstop, Abby Gustason was named the Player-of-the-Year.  In her 125 plate appearances, Gustason hit .518 on the season and .656 in conference play, which ranks her first in the division.  She hit 12 home runs and 15 doubles on the season with 62 RBI through her 57 hits.  Defensively, the Coleraine, MN product put out 126 hitters and assisted on another 13 in her 150 chances, a fielding percentage of .927.

Kyle Erickson, Itasca Community College softball coach, earned the MCAC North Division Coach-of-the-Year honor.  After going 21-13 overall and 16-2 in the North Division, Coach Erickson led his Vikings to a share of the MCAC North Division title and a spot in the NJCAA Region XIIIB Tournament to begin on Saturday, May 14, 2022. The site of that tournament is still to be determined. 

MCAC Softball is split into two divisions with Anoka-Ramsey, M-State Fergus Falls, Minnesota West, Ridgewater, Rochester, and St. Cloud Technical and Community College competing in the South Division.  Central Lakes, Hibbing, Itasca, Mesabi Range, Northland, Rainy River, and Vermilion Community College compete in the North Division.  Riverland Community College played in the South Division as a club team this season.

Following the conclusion of the regular season, MCAC softball coaches nominated and voted on players from 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.  

The first team members from each all-division team were also named to the All-MCAC Team.

Below is a complete list of the 2022 MCAC Softball All-Division Teams and All-MCAC Team:

 MCAC South All-Division Team

MCAC North All-Division Team

All-MCAC Team

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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.