[Softball] Hill, Magnuson, Early headline all-MCC team

MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa --Five Mount Mercy softball players garnered Midwest Collegiate Conference postseason awards, including first-team all-MCC selections Liz Hill, Jessica Magnuson and Mariah Early, the league announced on Tuesday.

Hill, a first baseman, was a first-team all-conference pick for the third year in a row. She was second on the team with 10 home runs and 29 runs batted in, and third in batting average (.328), runs scored (24), doubles (7) and slugging percentage (.624).

Magnuson, Mount Mercy's third baseman, landed on the first team after breaking Hill's single-season home run record with 13 and leading the Mustangs with 42 runs batted in. Her RBI total for the season ranks sixth in school history. Magnuson also hit .333, which was second on the squad, and had a .646 slugging percentage.

Early, who split time between right field and pitcher, was a first-team all-conference outfielder for the Mustangs. She led the team with a .341 batting average, three triples and .725 slugging percentage. Early's 30 runs batted in ranked second, and she was 7-11 on the mound with a 3.74 earned run average in 125 inning. She also struck out 85 batters, which ranked fourth in the MCC.

Junior right-hander Paige Lager and junior designated player Briana DeFlavio received all-MCC honorable mention. Lager went 13-12 with a 3.60 ERA in 155 innings pitched for the Mustangs. Her 114 strikeouts were third in the league, and she threw 15 complete games with three shutouts. DeFlavio was honorable mention for the second straight season. Injuries forced her move from catcher to designated player, but she still managed to hit .277 with four homers, 18 RBIs and a .462 slugging percentage.

2011 MCC Softball Honors:

MCC Player of the Year: Jordan Story (Waldorf)

MCC Pitcher of the Year: Jennifer Whitehead (William Penn)

MCC Coach of the Year: Andrea Tsilis (Viterbo)

All-MCC First Team (by school):

Infielders: Megan Tompkins (Grand View); Liz Hill, Jessica Magnuson (Mount Mercy); Katie Bredlow, Jordan Story (Waldorf); Molly Miller (William Penn). Outfielders: McKenzie Cason (Grand View); Leigha Strong (Iowa Wesleyan); Mariah Early (Mount Mercy); Jennifer McLarney (Waldorf); Andrea Rensberger (William Penn); Catchers: Emily Gilbert (Grand View); Betsy Ward (Viterbo). Pitchers: Nicky Newhoff (Clarke); Alison Vanhavermaet (Viterbo); Jennifer Whitehead (William Penn). Utility: Brianne Rowley (William Penn). Designated Player: Kirstin Davis (Waldorf).

All-MCC Honorable Mention:

Stephanie Hebison, Haley Holmes, Kendra Roth (Ashford); Laura Zelinskas (Clarke); Anna Arnold, Katie King, Courtney Yacinich (Grand View): Ashley Mysliwiec, Ayla Serrano, Cari Smith (Iowa Wesleyan);

Briana DeFlavio,

Paige Lager (Mount Mercy); Kirstin Kramer, Hailey Nichol (St. Ambrose); Kenisha McGuire (Viterbo); Holly Gilbertson, Macey Hickes (Waldorf); Brittany Labbe (William Penn).