Four softball Pioneers named All-WIAC

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville softball team placed four members on the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference team for their efforts during the 2022 campaign.  

Earning first team honors were seniors Rachel Plautz and Riley Kelsch and junior Claire Bakkestuen. Senior Angela Laabs was named to the All-Sportsmanship Team.  

Bakkestuen appeared in all 32 games and led the Pioneers in home runs (5), runs batted in (29) and walks (22). She hit .385 on the year with an on-base-percentage of .500. She also led the Pioneers in innings pitched (91 1/3), saves (2), appearances (26) and earned run average (3.99). This is Bakkestuen's second post-season honor from the WIAC. She was an honorable mention selection in 2021. 

Kelsch hit .370 with six doubles, 12 runs batted in, three stolen bases, and 19 runs scored. Kelsch started all 32 games at shortstop for the Pioneers, where she had a .953 fielding percentage on 129 total chances. This is Kelsch's first WIAC post-season award. 

Plautz hit .361 with four home runs, nine doubles and 27 runs scored. Plautz appeared in all 32 games behind the plate and led the league throwing out 14 would be base stealers. This is Plautz's third post-season WIAC honor. She was an honorable mention selection in 2019 and 2021.   

Laabs appeared in 31 games and recorded 19 hits, including three doubles and a triple. This is Laabs first WIAC post-season honor.

2022 All-WIAC Softball Team  

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

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

Ellie Decker, Eau Claire, Senior, Catcher/Thirdbase, Germantown, Wis. (Germantown)  

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

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

Sadie Erickson, Eau Claire, Junior, Seconbase/Firstbase, Norwood Young America, Minn. (Central)  

Abby Garceau, Oshkosh, Freshman, Utility, Mishicot, Wis. (Mishicot)  

Korin Hall, Stout, Senior, Outfield, Farmington, Minn. (Farmington)  

Riley Kelsch, Platteville, Senior, Shortstop, Aurora, Ill. (Oswego East)  

Kyra Lard, La Crosse, Freshman, Shortstop, McHenry, Ill. (East)  

Megan Maruna, Eau Claire, Junior, Outfield/Firstbase/Thirdbase, Oswego, Ill. (Oswego)  

Jordyn McCormack, La Crosse, Sophomore, Thirdbase, Austin, Minn. (Austin)  

Sydney Nemetz, Oshkosh, Freshman, Righthanded Pitcher, Marinette, Wis. (Marinette)
Grace Petersen, River Falls, Senior, Catcher, Joliet, Ill. (West)  

Kayli Pfeffer, Stout, Junior, Thirdbase, Union Grove, Wis. (Union Grove)
Keegan Piton, River Falls, Sophomore, Shortstop, Green Bay, Wis. (Preble)  

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

Morgan Rau, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Shortstop, Downers Grove, Ill. (South)  

Hannah Ritter, Oshkosh, Junior, Firstbase, Marengo, Ill. (Marengo)  

Remington Stark, La Crosse, Sophomore, Righthanded Pitcher, Orfordville, Wis. (Parkview)  

Sara Traxel, Stevens Point, Junior, Utility, Oak Creek, Wis. (Oak Creek)  

Ellie Weinzierl, La Crosse, Sophomore, Righthanded Pitcher, St. Michael, Minn. (St. Michael-Albertville)  

Honorable Mention  

Kelly Aultman, River Falls, Freshman, Thirdbase, Plainfield, Ill. (North)  

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

Kennedy Cox, Whitewater, Senior, Catcher, Janesville, Wis. (Craig)  

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

Lauren Gamme, Eau Claire, Sophomore, Righthanded Pitcher, Eagan, Minn. (Eagan)  

Hailey Jibben, La Crosse, Freshman, Rightfield, Oak Creek, Wis. (Oak Creek)  

Jesse Klicker, Stevens Point, Freshman, Shortstop, Spring Grove, Ill. (Richmond-Burton)  

Lexy Kupczak, Stout, Sophomore, Catcher, New Richmond, Wis. (New Richmond)  

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

Brooke Mangler, Whitewater, Freshman, SEcondbase/Utility, Gurnee, Ill. (Warren Township)  

Corinne Roe, River Falls, Senior, Righthanded Pitcher, Apple Valley, Minn. (Eastview)  

Krista Sbarra, Whitewater, Junior, Leftfield, West Chicago, Ill. (St. Charles East)  

Kenna Strunsee, Eau Claire, Freshman, Centerfield, Waukesha, Wis. (South)  

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

Sophie Wery, Oshkosh, Freshman, Catcher, Seymour, Wis. (Seymour)  

Madison Zerr, Eau Claire, Junior, Lefthanded Pitcher/Designated Player, Bristol, Wis. (Wilmot Union)  

All-Sportsmanship Team  

Emily Cliver, Oshkosh, Junior, Outfield/Firstbase, Greenville, Wis. (Hortonville)  

Bri Daechsel, River Falls, Senior, Infield, Lakeville, Minn. (North)  

Ellie Decker, Eau Claire, Senior, Catcher/Thirdbase, Germantown, Minn. (Germantown)  

Brianna Gilbert, Whitewater, Sophomore, Outfield, Lone Rock, Wis. (River Valley)  

Emily Lyman, La Crosse, Senior, Outfield, Brown Deer, Wis. (Brown Deer)  

Angela Laabs, Platteville, Senior, Utility, Horicon, Wis. (Horicon)  

Addison Murry, Stout, Senior, Catcher, Kasson, Minn. (Kasson-Mantorville)  

Abby VanBeek, Stevens Point, Sophomore, Designated Player/Righthanded Pitcher, Mayville, Wis. (Mayville)