By: Frank Maira, Assistant Director of Athletics/Sports Information Director
DuBois, Pa. – As part of the festivities of the USCAA Small College World Series, a quartet of Penn State Mont Alto softball players were honored as All-American selections on Sunday night prior to the firework celebration. Senior Brooklyn Wagner (Newville, Pa. / Big Spring) and freshman outfielder McKenna Sas (Canyon County, Calif. / Canyon County) earned First Team recognition, while Kirsten Dell (Hanover, Pa. / New Oxford) was lauded on Second Team and Leah Blount (Waynesboro, Pa. / Waynesboro Area) closed out her career landing on the Honorable Mention team.
This is the third time in the illustrious career of Brooklyn Wagner (Newville, Pa. / Big Spring) that she has been selected as USCAA All-American. Her season was unfortunately cut short by an injury in the opening game of the PSUAC Tournament, but the senior shortstop still put together outstanding numbers during the 2021 season. She batted .393, which includes 12 doubles, two triples and four home runs. Her four homers ranked fourth in the entire USCAA and she drove in 25 RBIs while also scoring 30 runs. Wagner is a slick fielder (.998) and has been a team captain for the past three years. She concludes her career at Penn State Mont Alto a .481 hitter, which includes an astonishing 58 extra base hits to go along with 91 RBIs in 81 games.
McKenna Sas (Canyon County, Calif. / Canyon County who was also named PSUAC Newcomer of the Year has been a difference maker for the Nittany Lions in the heart of the lineup. The freshman concluded her 2021 season batting a team-best .505 with 53 hits, which ranks second in the USCAA. She led Mont Alto in many statistical categories including home runs (5), RBIs (35), doubles (18) and was one-of-five to start all 30 games for Mont Alto. She also won the USCAA Home Run derby.
Kirsten Dell (Hanover, Pa. / New Oxford) is arguably one of the best two-way players in the PSUAC and USCAA after posting a 10-4 record in the circle and a .353 batting average at the plate. The freshman was named PSUAC West Pitcher of the Year earlier this month and in 15 starts she fired nine complete games and had a 4.60 earned run average. She was just as dangerous at the plate with her batting average ranking third on the team. In 102 at-bats, Dell managed 36 hits, which included seven doubles and a triple.
For the first-time in her career, Leah Blount (Waynesboro, Pa. / Waynesboro Area) earned All-American accolades from United States Collegiate Athletic Association. The first baseman is a true gamer on the diamond and in the classroom for the Nittany Lions. The 2021 season saw her hit .299, which included eight doubles and 13 RBIs. She scoops everything at first base with a near perfect fielding percentage (.982).
The USCAA also announced the members of the 2021 USCAA Softball All-Academic Team. Representing Mont Alto on the All-Academic Team included Leah Blount (Waynesboro, Pa. / Waynesboro Area), Michia Herman (Orbisonia, Pa. / Southern Huntingdon) and Katie McCauslin (Biglerville, Pa. / Biglerville).
All student-athletes must have 24 or more credits on their USCAA transcripts and their cumulative grade point average must be a 3.50 or greater to be eligible for the recognition. A full list of the 2021 USCAA Softball National All-Academic Award winners can be found here.
Mont Alto captured the PSUAC West regular season crown, were runner's up in the PSUAC Tournament and just finished competing in the USCAA Tournament as they wrapped up the 2021 season with a 21-11 record.