[Softball] Mustangs Collect Handful of Heart All-Conference Honors

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mount Mercy Softball Team ended their 2019 season with a third-place finish in the Heart of America Athletic Conference North Division with a 21-15 record and finished fourth in the Heart Championship after battling back through the elimination bracket to end with an overall record of 32-22. The Mustangs received a handful of Heart of America Athletic Conference accolades. Tawny Menster (SR/Olin, Iowa), Jess Heick (SO/Solon, Iowa), Payton Bruner (JR/Cedar Rapids, Iowa), Madelyn Irwin (JR/Orange Park, Fla.), and Jayna Witzany (FR/Cottage Grove, Minn.) were named to all-conference teams by a vote of conference coaches.

Menster received a First-Team At-Large spot after a dominant senior season. Holding a 13-5 record on the mound, Menster threw 130.2 innings collecting a career-high 114 strikeouts with a team-best 3.00 ERA. Also a powerful force at the plate, Menster tallied 55 hits, including 14 doubles and seven homeruns, with a team-leading 50 RBI on a .335 batting average.

Heick was named a Honorable Mention Infielder after leading the Mustangs with a .380 batting average. On the season, Heick totaled 71 hits, including 14 doubles and three homeruns, with 38 RBI. In the field, Heick held a .888 fielding percentage.

Bruner also collected Honorable Mention Infielder with a .931 fielding percentage. At the plate, Bruner owned a .337 batting average with a total of 64 hits, including 18 doubles, three triples, and three homeruns, with 27 RBI. Bruner led the Mustangs with a career-high 24 stolen bases.

Irwin received Honorable Mention Pitcher after throwing 125.2 innings collecting 64 strikeouts with a career-best 3.12 ERA and holding a 7-6 record.

Witzany also snagged Honorable Mention Pitcher with a 3.14 ERA during 104.2 innings pitched, in which, she tallied 98 strikeouts and owned a 12-7 record.

2019 Heart of America Softball Awards
Pitcher of the Year – Olivia Brees (Baker)
Co-Freshman/Player of the Year – Kaleigh Bayless (MidAmerica Nazarene)
Co-Freshman of the Year – Alyx Witt (Grand View)
Co-Newcomer of the Year – Olivia Fluehr (Graceland)
Co-Newcomer of the Year – Kiya Harper (William Penn)
Coach of the Year – Jamie Stanclift (Baker)