2024 Softball All-Conference Honors Announced

The Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) has announced conference honors for the 2024 Softball season. First and Second Team consist of 20 individual per team. First team features three pitchers, two catchers, five infielders, four outfielders, one designated player, on utility player and four at-large members. Second team includes the next 20 highest vote-getting players as submitted by conference head coaches. Additional awards include: All-Defensive Team, All-Academic Team, Champions of Character Team and Coach,  as well as Newcomer, Player and Pitcher of the Year. All-awards are selected based on a vote of softball head coaches.

For the second consecutive year both the Pitcher and Player of the Year awards have come from Madonna and Concordia. Maeson Schlaud repeats as Pitcher of the Year thanks to a dominant 2024 campaign. The right-hander is 27-2 on the season, leading the NAIA in wins. She boasts a 1.06 ERA having worked 185.2 innings, striking out 233 with a .74 WHIP. She leads the nation in wins (27) and WHIP (.74) and is near the top of the standings in complete games (14), shutouts (11), innings pitched (185.2), strikeouts (233) and WHIP (.74). Concordia senior Shannon McAlinden earns Player of the Year honors. She finished the regular season with a .478 batting average, 47 RBI, 56 runs scored, 34 stolen bases and five home runs. Madonna Freshman Regan Finkbeiner was named the Newcomer of the Year. She hit .376 with 35 RBI, 40 runs, 19 stolen bases and eight extra basehits. 

Coaches selected Madonna's Ron Pezzoni as the Coach of the Year for leading the Crusaders to the first unbeaten WHAC regular season since the league's inaugural softball season in 1993 when Siena Heights went 10-0. Cornerstone's Kelsey Kooistra was named the Champion of Character Coach for her commitment to the NAIA Five Core Values. 

In addition to All-Conference awards, the WHAC also released its All-Academic and Champions of Character honors. The All-Academic Team consists of sophomores or above in academic standing with a cumulative 3.25 GPA who have been in attendance at their school for one full year. The Champions of Character Team is comprised of one player from each school who best represents the five core character values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership.