Six softball Pioneers named All-Conference, Hoeppner WIAC Scholar-Athlete

Platteville, Wis.- The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team placed six members on the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference team.

Seniors Shannon Gaul and Ashton Hoeppner were named to the first team, while senior Alejandra Ochoa, junior Rachel Plautz and junior Claire Bakkestuen were named honorable mention. Senior Abby Burns was named to the All-Sportsmanship team. Hoeppner was also named WIAC Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete.

Hoeppner was the Pioneers' work horse on the mound. The Winona, Minnesota native appeared in 28 games, starting 20 of them. She finished the season with 128 innings pitched, 102 strike outs, seven wins, five saves and a 3.28 ERA. This is Hoeppner's third All-WIAC selection and first WIAC Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete award.

Gaul led the Pioneers in batting average (.398), on base percentage, slugging percentage, hits (41), runs (24) and doubles (8). She was second in homeruns (7) and RBIs (25). This is the second All-WIAC selection for the Aurora, Illinois native.

Ochoa was named honorable mention for the Pioneers after hitting .272 for the season and scoring 21 runs. This is the first conference honor for the Plainfield, Illinois native.

Plautz started all 34 games for the Pioneers. She hit .327 for the year with seven doubles, a triple and a homerun to earn honorable mention. The Wausau, Wisconsin native drove in 20 runs and stole two bases. This is Plautz's second All-WIAC honorable mention.

Bakkestuen came on strong to end the year for the Pioneers. The Forest Lake, Minnesota native excelled at the plate and in the circle for the Pioneers. She led the Pioneers with a 2.68 ERA, picking up six wins on the year. At the plate, she hit .310 and led the Pioneers in homeruns (8) and RBIs (26). Bakkestuen was twice named WIAC Kwik Trip Athlete of the Week, once for pitching and once as a hitter. It is her first All-WIAC honorable mention.

Burns, a Morris, Illinois native, was named to the All-Sportsmanship team. She hit .325 on the year with seven doubles and 19 runs scored. This is Burns' second WIAC All-Sportsmanship honor.

The Pioneers finished 17-17 on the year and defeated UW-Eau Claire in 11 innings to advance to the WIAC Softball Championship (presented by Culver's) semi-finals, where they lost to eventual champion UW-Oshkosh.

2021 All-WIAC Major Awards

Position Player of the Year:  Maddie Candre of Stevens Point 

Pitcher of the Year:  Maddie Fink of Oshkosh 

Newcomer of the Year:  Johanna Breyen of River Falls 

Coaching Staff of the Year:  Oshkosh 

Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete:  Ashton Hoeppner of Platteville 

2021 All-WIAC Softball Team 

Name, School, Year, Position, Hometown (High School) 

Johanna Breyen, River Falls, Freshman, Outfield, Elk River, Minn. (Elk River) 

Sammy Buerger, Stevens Point, Senior, Catcher, Oshkosh, Wis. (North) 

Maddie Candre, Stevens Point, Junior, Outfield, St. Charles, Ill. (East)
Meg Cohrs, Whitewater, Senior, Thirdbase, Elburn, Ill. (Kaneland) 

Sadie Erickson, Eau Claire, Sophomore, Secondbase, Norwood Young America, Minn. (Central) 

Tayler Fall, River Falls, Junior, Designated Player, Somonauk, Ill. (Somonauk) 

Maddie Fink, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Righthanded Pitcher, Stevens Point, Wis. (SPASH) 

Shannon Gaul, Platteville, Senior, Thirdbase, Aurora, Ill. (Oswego East) 

Becca Geiyer, Stevens Point, Freshman, Secondbase, Grayslake, Ill. (Warren Township) 

Ashton Hoeppner, Platteville, Senior, Righthanded Pitcher, Winona, Minn. (Winona) 

Shannon Jones, Stout, Junior, Shortstop, Watertown, Wis. (Lakeside Lutheran) 

Kendra Leis, La Crosse, Junior, Firstbase, Holmen, Wis. (Holmen) 

Amanda McIlhany, Oshkosh, Senior, Secondbase, Alsip, Ill. (Marist) 

Nikki Mikosz, Whitewater, Senior, Catcher, Wheeling, Ill. (Wheeling) 

Maddie Muelken, La Crosse, Senior, Righthanded Pitcher, Farmington, Minn. (Farmington) 

Kaleigh O'Brien, Whitewater, Senior, Firstbase, Crystal Lake, Ill. (Prairie Ridge) 

Abbey Place, Eau Claire, Senior, Catcher, Naperville, Ill. (Central) 

Hannah Ritter, Oshkosh, Freshman, Catcher, Marengo, Ill. (Marengo) 

Sydne Shattuck, La Crosse, Senior, Righthanded Pitcher, Wheaton, Ill. (Wheaton Warrenville South) 

Makenna Tkach, Stevens Point, Freshman, Lefthanded Pitcher, Streator, Ill. (Marquette Academy)

Honorable Mention 

Claire Bakkestuen, Platteville, Sophomore, Firstbase, Forest Lake, Minn. (Forest Lake) 

Katie Block, La Crosse, Senior, Shortstop, Minnesota City, Minn. (Winona) 

Kate Cleveland, Whitewater, Freshman, Righthanded Pitcher, De Pere, Wis. (Ashwaubenon) 

Rhiann Dick, Whitewater, Freshman, Lefthanded Pitcher, Palatine, Ill. (Palatine) 

Meghan Dunning, Whitewater, Freshman, Shortstop, Plainfield, Ill. (South) 

Mikayla McEnery, Eau Claire, Senior, Outfield, Savage, Minn. (Prior Lake) 

Alejandra Ochoa, Platteville, Senior, Outfield, Plainfield, Ill. (Central) 

Vera Pflugradt, Whitewater, Senior, Outfield, Lake Zurich, Ill. (Stevenson) 

Rachel Plautz, Platteville, Junior, Catcher, Wausau, Wis. (D.C. Everest) 

Juliana Reynolds, River Falls, Sophomore, Righthanded Pitcher, Lake Villa, Ill. (Grant Community) 

Bailee Sillman, Eau Claire, Senior, Outfield/Infield, Chippewa Falls, Wis. (Chi-Hi) 

Sara Traxel, Stevens Point, Freshman, Thirdbase, Oak Creek, Wis. (Oak Creek) 

Acacia Tupa, Oshkosh, Senior, Outfield, Egg Harbor, Wis. (Southern Door) 

Katelyn Yute, Eau Claire, Senior, Outfield, North Prairie, Wis. (Kettle Moraine)

All-Sportsmanship Team 

Taylor Briehl, Whitewater, Senior, Outfield/Catcher, Spring Green, Wis. (River Valley) 

Abby Burns, Platteville, Senior, Righthanded Pitcher/Outfield, Morris, Ill. (Morris) 

Rebecca Daley, River Falls, Senior, Outfield, Streamwood, Ill. (Streamwood) 

Natalie Dillon, Oshkosh, Junior, Outfield, Monroe, Wis. (Monroe) 

Meghan Kelly, Stout, Senior, Firstbase, Lockport, Ill. (Township) 

Jayden Prondzinski, Stevens Point, Freshman, Outfield, Stevens Point, Wis. (SPASH) 

Morgan Sivak, Eau Claire, Senior, Righthanded Pitcher, Oconomowoc, Wis. (Oconomowoc) 

Mia Schmidtke, La Crosse, Senior, Outfield, Stacy, Minn. (Forest Lake)