All-MIAC Fastpitch Softball Team

WINONA, Minn. — For the second time in a week, Saint Mary's University's Cassie Otte (Randolph, Minn.) found herself in the spotlight Monday afternoon.

And for the second time in the past week, the Cardinal junior got to share that spotlight with a fellow teammate.

Otte, who, along with fellow outfield mate Danielle Geske (Rosemount, Minn.), was a Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Region selection last week, teamed up with Katy Gannon (Roselle, Ill.) as SMU's representatives on the All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference First Team, it was announced Monday.

Otte and Gannon were the Cardinals' offensive leaders, helping SMU to a 13-9 record and a fifth-place finish in the conference standings. Gannon boasted team-bests in average (.461), runs (24), home  runs (3), total bases (51), slugging percentage (.671), on-base percentage (.494) and stolen bases (5), while Otte led the team in at-bats (82), hits (36) and walks (6), and was second to Gannon in runs (22), total bases (44), and on-base percentage (.453).

Otte, an outfielder, led the conference with her 82 at-bats and 36 hits. She reached base safely in all 22 conference games, collecting at least one hit in 20 of the 22 games, and had two or more  hits in 12 MIAC games.

Gannon, a freshman shortstop, posted a team-best five multiple-RBI games — including a four-RBI effort in the Cardinals' Game 2 win over Carleton on April 22. She finished her freshman campaign No. 2 in the MIAC in hits (35), and No. 3 in both runs (24) and at-bats (76).

Geske, who led the team in RBIs (20) and shared the team lead in home runs with Gannon, was an honorable-mention All-MIAC selection.

St. Thomas senior Maria Bye  was named the MIAC Player and Pitcher of the Year, while Augsburg's Jennifer Castillo was the conference's rookie of the year, and Auggie coach Tim Gormley was named MIAC Coach of the Year.