Four Pioneers earn WIAC honors

PLATTEVILLE, Wis – Four University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball players earned Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors for 2017.

Jessy Tanel was awarded a spot on the 20-person first team honor squad. Jess Butzen and Emily Woodford both scored honorable mention titles, and Crystal Rote was named to the all-sportsmanship team.

Tanel, a freshman infielder from Mukwonago, Wisconsin started her collegiate career off strong with a team-high batting average of .374, 12 extra-base hits and 18 RBIs in 36 games. Defensively in conference, Tanel maintained a .984 fielding percentage with only one error in 62 chances.

In conference play, Butzen, a senior right-handed pitcher from Neenah, Wisconsin, was 3-4 with an earned-run average of 4.17 in 48.2 innings pitched. Butzen also recorded 74 strikeouts on the overall season.

Woodford, a sophomore outfielder from Moline, Illinois, hit .340 with 12 extra-base hits and a slugging percentage of .524. Defensively in 14 conference games, Woodford maintained a perfect, 1.000 fielding percentage.

Rote, a junior outfielder from McConnell, Illinois (Orangeville High School) had a .282 batting average with 11 RBIs and 11 runs.

UW-Platteville finished the season with a WIAC record of 4-10 and an overall record of 11-25. Under first-year coach Andie Varsho, the Pioneers improved by seven games overall and three in the WIAC from 2016.

Written by: Amanda Bertolozzi, Writer/Editor, Communications, 608-342-7121, bertolozzia@uwplatt.edu