SOFTBALL ALL-UMAC RELEASE

ST. PAUL (csssaints.com) – For the first time since 2016, the St. Scholastica softball program swept the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) postseason awards as the league announced its all-conference honorees on Monday.
 
Howe Player/Pitcher of the Year
Junior Olivia Howe (Scandia, Minn./Forest Lake HS) was the UMAC Player and Pitcher of the Year. Howe, who was also a National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) First Team All-Midwest Region choice, broke single-season program records for hits (66), batting average (.545), slugging percentage (.950) and tied the single-season record for RBIs (56).
 
In league play only, Howe led the conference with six home runs, 29 RBIs and 59 total bases with a 1.135 slugging percentage. In the pitcher's circle, she was second in the league with a 1.83 earned run average, seven wins and three shutouts in conference play.
 
Hadlich Rookie of the Year
Grace Hadlich (Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi HS) was named the UMAC Rookie of the Year. Hadlich, who was also a Second Team NFCA All-Midwest Region choice, finished second on the team with a .405 batting average. She finished the season reaching base safely in each of the final 22 games.
 
In UMAC action, Hadlich was fifth in the conference with a .482 batting average and 27 hits.
 
Dawson Coach of the Year
For the second time in her career Head Coach Rilee Dawson was named the UMAC Coach of the Year. Dawson guided the Saints to at least 30 wins for the first time under her watch as the team captured its 21st UMAC regular season title. The team achieved its second-highest ranking in the NFCA Division III poll at 17^th. The team's 32 wins tied for the fourth-most in program history. The Saints batted .363 with a .425 on-base percentage. Both of those marks are the second-best in program history.
 
Six Saints Named First Team All-UMAC
Joining Howe and Hadlich on the All-UMAC First Team was sophomore Haley Rosenthal (Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi HS), senior Nicole Anders (Port Angeles, Wash./Sequim HS), first-year Aislind Dail (Sumner, Wash./Sumner HS) and senior Toni Bishop (Roseville, Minn./Roseville HS).
 
Rosenthal, who was a Third Team NFCA All-Midwest Region choice, led the conference with eight league wins in the pitcher's circle. UMAC opponents hit a league-low .191 against her. Rosenthal's .842 winning percentage overall this season ranks fourth best in program history.
 
Anders earns First Team accolades for the first time after being named Honorable Mention in 2019. Anders led the conference with 23 runs scored in UMAC play. She finished fifth with seven stolen bases and was sixth in average (.472) and hits (25) in conference action.
 
Dail, who was First Team All-Midwest Region selection, earns First Team All-UMAC laurels. Dail had the longest hitting streak of any Saint during the season at 11 games and reached base safely in the final 23 games of the season. She tied for second in league play with four home runs and 13 walks. Her .895 slugging percentage was third and .582 on-base percentage fourth in UMAC action.
 
Bishop also earns First Team All-UMAC accolades for the first time after twice being named Honorable Mention. The 2017 UMAC Rookie of the Year, was third in the conference with a .514 batting average and a .591 on-base percentage. Behind the plate, she had a perfect fielding percentage in league action with 71 putouts and 10 assists.
 
All-Defensive Team
Josie Fourre (Albany, Minn./Albany HS) at third base, Nicole Anders (Port Angeles, Wash./Sequim HS) in the outfield and Olivia Howe (Scandia, Minn./Forest Lake HS) at both first base and pitcher were named to the UMAC All-Defensive Team.
 
Fourre and Anders are named for the second time in their careers.