By: Frank Maira, Assistant Director of Athletics/Sports Information Director
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Senior Brooklyn Wagner (Newville, Pa. / Big Spring) led six Penn State Mont Alto softball student-athletes who earned All-Penn State University Athletic Conference team distinction as announced by the conference office on Thursday with Wagner also being crowned PSUAC West Player of the Year. The talented freshman duo of McKenna Sas (Canyon County, Calif. / Canyon County) and Kirsten Dell (Hanover, Pa. / New Oxford) were also honored individually with Sas earning PSUAC West Newcomer of the Year and Dell earned PSUAC West Pitcher of the Year. Head Coach Heath Newell earned his first-ever PSAUC Coach of the Year recognition after leading the squad to a 19-7 record during the regular season.
Wagner has arguably revitalized the Mont Alto softball program during her illustrious career on the diamond. She was recognized as Newcomer of the Year by the PSUAC after her freshman campaign in 2018 and the shortstop has also been recognized as a USCAA All-American twice during her time on campus. She is one of the hardest outs in the entire PSUAC as she enters the postseason hitting .402, which includes 12 doubles, two triples and four home runs. Her four homers rank third in the entire USCAA and she has driven in 25 RBIs while also scoring 30 runs so far. Wagner is a slick fielder (.998) and has been a team captain for the past three years.
McKenna Sas (Canyon County, Calif. / Canyon County) has been an immediate force in the middle of the PSUMA lineup this season. The freshman outfielder is hitting.506 across 87 at-bats and her 32 RBIs, both rank second in the USCAA. She has had an astounding 21 extra base hits so far including five home runs. One of the most impressive stats that McKenna has achieved this season is that she has only struck out four times.
Kirsten Dell (Hanover, Pa. / New Oxford) has been another outstanding edition to the Mont Alto softball program that finished the regular season with its best record since 2011 (19-7). Dell has been the top pitcher for Mont Alto managing an 8-2 within the circle while striking out 48 opponents with a 4.24 ERA. She also has been a force at the plate in 2021 slashing .386, with 17 RBIs and 29 runs scored entering postseason play.
Wagner, Sas and Dell were also named PSUAC First Team honorees along with Destiny Hall (McConnellsburg, Pa. / McConnellsburg) and Skye Herring (Pine Grove, Pa. / Pine Grove Area). Herring a freshman third baseman has been utilized as the DP for Mont Alto with her bat especially heating up down the closing stretch of the regular season. She enters the postseason hitting a solid .386, which includes 15 RBIs and has also scored nine runs. Meanwhile, Destiny Hall (McConnellsburg, Pa. / McConnellsburg) solidified herself as the starting third baseman for the Nittany Lions being a brick wall at the hot corner while also hitting .239 with six doubles and 13 RBIs.
Junior catcher Chelsea Cover (Waynesboro, Pa. / Waynesboro Area) started 24 games so far and has immediately made an impact as a leader behind the plate for Mont Alto. She's been very solid behind the dish (.991 fielding percentage) and the slap hitter concluded the regular season slashing .371 across 70 at-bats. She scored 22 runs, while stealing a team-best 12 bases.
For the first-time in her career, Payton Watkins (Robersdale, Pa. / Forbes Road) was selected as the team's John Fritz Sportsmanship Award winner. Named after former PSUAC Commissioner John Fritz, the sportsmanship award is given to one player from each team in the league who best displays the core values of the league and sportsmanship to teammates and opponents throughout the season.
Mont Alto (19-7) won the PSUAC West Division during the regular season and will take part in the PSUAC Tournament on Sunday when they take on No. 2 seed out of the East Division Penn State DuBois. Game time is slated for 11 a.m. and live stats and a live video stream will be available on the Mont Alto schedule page.