Softball | 5/1/2012 4:37:00 PM
McPherson, Kan. – The softball team for McPherson College received five All-KCAC honors following the 2012 regular season. Four seniors and one junior were given the awards that included two first team, one second team and two honorable mentions.
Seniors Janie Gunther (Scott City, Kan.) and Katie Logan (Clay Center, Kan.) were both selected as All-KCAC first team members. Logan was a unanimous selection for the All-KCAC first team; this will be the third straight season she has been selected first team. Logan has started nearly every game for the Lady Bulldogs since coming to MC as a freshman. This season she leads the team in batting average (.398), hits (38) and homeruns (8); her slugging percentage this year is off the charts at .707. Logan has set 12 McPherson softball records including most hits in a season with 55 and most games played in a career at 147.
“This year was by far Katie’s best year as a Bulldog, setting many school records and playing at the top of her game all season, said Coach McCormick. “To be chosen as a unanimous pick for the first team is something that Katie is very deserving of.”
Gunther played most of the season as the team’s designated hitter and has accumulated 27 hits in her 79 at bats for a .342 average. She has a slugging percentage of .646, 20 RBIs and seven homeruns on the year, three of which came this past week.
Head softball coach Mike McCormick said that “Janie has fought through injuries throughout her four-year career and her determination was finally rewarded by being chosen all-conference first team. Janie has one of the best bats I’ve seen in a long time, the ball just explodes of the bat. I guess that the saying that TNT comes in small packages is true.”
Junior pitcher Allison Love (Tulsa, Okla.) was named to the All-KCAC second team in her first season as a Bulldog; Love transferred to McPherson from Independence Community College. She has thrown in 27 games this season, recording 11 wins, 10 losses and one save. She has tallied 17 complete games, 140 and two thirds innings pitched, and three shutouts this year. 53 batters have been struck out by Love who has forced a .279 opposing batting average and accrued a 2.84 earned run average.
Coach McCormick said, “Allison has done a great job as our starting pitcher. She is always working hard to improve her pitching and I am glad to have her.”
Outfielders Taylor Medler (Collinsville, Texas) and Courtney Shald (Coffeyville, Kan.), both of which are seniors, were chosen to represent McPherson as All-KCAC honorable mention athletes. Medler and Shald both transferred to MC after spending two years at Coffeyville Community College. Shald has posted a .286 batting average this year while Medler is hitting .226 and has a fielding percentage of .945; Shald’s fielding percentage this season is .813.
“Courtney has been a good player for us the past two years and her hard work paid off for her with the selection as an All-KCAC honorable mention,” said Coach McCormick. “Taylor has also been a stand out player for us these past two years. Moving to center field this year helped her have an outstanding season.
“All of these girls are very deserving of their awards and I am proud of each of them.”
The Lady Bulldogs are currently competing in the 2012 KCAC Softball Championship Tournament which is held on May 2nd and 3rd. The tournament is being played at the Fun Valley Softball Complex in Hutchinson, Kansas.
