Softball ends season in HAAC tournament

Story by Jenna Stanbrough

The Baker University softball team ended its season Friday in the HAAC tournament with an overall season record of 22-24.

The No. 4-ranked Wildcats began the HAAC tournament with a 5-3 win over No. 5 Benedictine College Thursday. On Friday, the team faced No. 1 Central Methodist, and the Eagles defeated the ‘Cats 3-1. After a 3-1 victory over Culver-Stockton, the Wildcats once against faced Benedictine in the consolation bracket, but lost 9-3.

Central Methodist went on to defeat MidAmerica Nazarene in the championship game. Both teams already had regular season bids to the national tournament.

Three Wildcats earned first-team all-conference honors: senior Renata Dill, sophomore Mallorie Nelson and freshman Katt Cooper. Junior Alyse Menghini was named second-team all-conference.

Cooper was named the HAAC Freshman of the Year, and Dill was awarded the Golden Glove for center field position.

On Friday, interim head coach Jamie Stanclift was promoted to official head coach of the program, as well as the assistant volleyball coach.

“I’m looking forward to applying the things that I’ve learned this season to future seasons and continuing to get better and work harder and take this program to the top,” Stanclift said in an earlier interview. “I feel very fortunate to have had this opportunity and I look forward to building off of it and getting better.”