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Warhawks dominate All-WIAC selections

MADISON — UW-Whitewater pitcher Jessica Stang was voted WIAC Pitcher of the Year and Warhawks coach Brenda Volk was voted WIAC Coach of the Year as the league announced its 2009 all-conference softball team Wednesday.

Whitewater’s Stang, Lauren Cruz, Amy Gahl, Suzanne Gersich and Amanda LeBeau are repeat first-team selections. Warhawk catcher Liz Yucius earned her initial first-team selection.

In winning league top pitching honors for the second straight season, Stang led the WIAC with a 0.61 earned run average, 19 wins, five saves and 172 strikeouts. Stang has held opponents to a .165 batting average, while ranking fourth with 137.1 innings pitched and seventh with 27 appearances.

Stang set Warhawk single-season records for saves, strikeouts, 17 complete games and seven shutouts. Stang’s career totals include 54 appearances, 297.1 innings pitched, 329 strikeouts, 35 victories and 35 complete games.

Gahl, an Orfordville Parkview High School graduate, received her third straight first-team recognition. She was named position player of the year in 2007.

In 2009, Gahl tops the conference with 65 hits and 51 runs scored, with placing second with 13 doubles, third with three triples, fourth with a .464 batting average, fifth with a .686 slugging percentage and sixth with a .497 on-base percentage.

Gahl has program-leading 228 hits for Whitewater. She was also named a WIAC co-scholar athlete.

Gersich was a first team selection in 2006 and 2007, while making honorable mention last season.

Gersich led the WIAC with a .500 batting average and ranks second with 13 doubles, five triples and a .873 slugging percentage. She is third with .558 on-base percentage, fourth with 59 hits and seven home runs, fifth with 16 walks, sixth with 36 RBI and eighth with 43 runs scored.

Gersich holds the conference career record with 167 RBI and 37 home runs—second highest mark in league listings.

Cruz and Le Beau were first-team choices a year ago. This year, Cruz ranks third in the WIAC with nine home runs and 46 RBI and eighth with a .605 slugging percentage.

LeBeau is ninth in the conference with a .595 slugging percentage and 10th in RBIs with 32.

Volk led the Warhawks to the 2009 WIAC championship and is WIAC Coach of the Year for the second straight year. It was Volks’ fourth coach of the year award for the most in league history.