Softball | 5/17/2011 9:06:40 AM

McPherson, Kan. – Sophomore pitcher Kelsey Dutton (Limon, Colo.) highlighted a group of eight McPherson College softball players to receive All-KCAC honors, announced Monday evening by the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference office. Dutton’s award marks the second consecutive season a Bulldog has represented McPherson on the first team.

In addition to Dutton, senior catcher Ashley Toepfer (Crescent, Okla.), junior utility player Katie Logan (Clay Center, Kan.), junior first baseman Andrea Falk (Cheyenne, Wyo.) and freshman Morgan Zenefski (Cheyenne, Wyo.) received second team honors, while senior centerfielder Jamie Gilbert (Joplin, Mo.), senior third baseman Ashley Luthye (Northglenn, Colo.) and junior second baseman Sadie Green (Hutchinson, Kan.) earned honorable mention status.

Dutton earned her first first-team all-conference honor after posting a 14-10 record in 30 appearances (18 complete games) with an earned run average of 3.17 and a program record 110 strikeouts in 2011. At the end of the regular season, Dutton ranked third in the conference in opponent batting average (.247), while leading the league with a 3.92 strikeouts per game average.

Ashley Toepfer makes her first appearance of the all-conference team. The senior catcher finished 2011 with career highs in almost every offensive categories including batting average (.268), doubles (7), home runs (4), RBIs (24) and slugging percentage (.417).

Logan received her third All-KCAC award after starting all 48 games in 2011 and leading the team with a .369 batting average, 31 RBIs and 11 doubles. In addition to her offense, Logan pitched in 20 games to earn one save and finish the year with a 5-8 record.

Falk, who earlier in the week earned a spot on the Capital One Academic All-District VII team, made the all-conference team for the third straight year. Falk paced McPherson with a career-high eight home runs, while ranking second on the team with 27 RBIs.

Zenefski received second team honors despite playing in only 31 of McPherson’s 48 games. However, the freshman third baseman ended the season ranked second on the team with a .328 batting average.

Gilbert started all 48 games in her first full season with the Bulldogs. She was second on the team with 13 stolen bases to go along with a .305 batting average, including six doubles. Gilbert led all Bulldog outfielders with five assists.

Luthye played in 24 games, including 22 starts, at third base to earn her first appearance on the All-KCAC team. She ended the season with a .262 batting average, three home runs and 12 RBIs.

Green finished the season with a .297 batting average and 15 RBIs to make the All-KCAC Honorable Mention squad. She led the Bulldog middle infield with a .958 fielding percentage.

McPherson wrapped up its season with a fourth place finish in the KCAC Postseason Tournament after a loss to Ottawa University in the semifinal round. The Bulldogs registered a 22-26 overall record and 8-8 mark in league play.