All-MIAC Fastpitch Softball Team

WINONA, Minn. — As the lone senior on the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota fastpitch softball team, Kristen Thelen (Rochester, Minn.) was looked upon to be the leader for the Cardinals — both on and off the field.
 
And lead she did.
 
Thelen enjoyed her best season as a Cardinal — in her final year in a Saint Mary's uniform — and capped off that banner season by being named to the All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference First Team, the conference office announced Tuesday.
 
Thelen led the way to the MIAC post-season podium with her all-conference honor — and was followed into the spotlight by All-MIAC honorable-mention picks Alex Raske (Chicago, Ill.), Kathi Opsahl (Elk River, Minn.) and Ashley Betzold (Farmington, Minn.).
 
Thelen was the Cardinals' offensive sparkplug during the 2014 conference season, leading the team in batting average — hitting .353 — while leading or sharing the team lead in at-bats (68), runs (16), hits (24) and triples (1). The senior second baseman collected a team-best six multiple-hit games — including her first collegiate four-hit performance against St. Olaf on March 30 — and put together a 14-game hitting streak during Saint Mary's 20-game conference schedule.
 
Raske has been a thorn in MIAC coaches' sides for each of the last three seasons, capping off her 2014 conference campaign by hitting .348, going 23-for-66 — including a team-high seven doubles, one triple and one home run — while scoring 16 runs and belting 14 RBIs. Raske, who was walked nine times in 22 conference games, also was the team's leader in slugging percentage (.530) and on-base percentage (.434).
 
Opsahl and Betzold made an instant impact during their freshman campaigns this season. Opsahl hit .290 (20-for-69) with five doubles, one home run six runs scored, while sharing the team lead with Raske in RBIs with 14. Betzold, meanwhile, was a dual-threat for the Cardinals. Offensively, she hit .343 (23-for-67) with six runs and 11 RBIs, while on the mound, Betzold went 7-7 with a 2.93 ERA in 21 conference appearances. She logged 112 1/3 innings, with 11 complete games, four shutouts, one save and 79 strikeouts.
 
Saint Benedict's Lexi Alm was named the MIAC's Player of the Year, while St. Thomas' Kendra Bowe was the conference's Pitcher of the Year. Hannah Heacox of Gustavus was tabbed MIAC Rookie of the Year, with John Tschida of St. Thomas earning MIAC Coach of the Year honors.
 
As part of the conference-wide sportsmanship initiative, the MIAC also announced the seventh annual All-MIAC Sportsmanship team for fastpitch softball, which included Saint Mary's Sam Borawski (Stickney, Ill.)