TIGER SOFTBALL EARNS FIVE ALL-GPAC PLAYERS, THREE TO FIRST TEAM
Mitchell, S.D. – The 2024 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Softball All-Conference team has been announced after a vote of league coaches. This year's GPAC All-Conference Team consists of a first-team, second-team, and an honorable mention list.
Dakota Wesleyan had five members on the GPAC Softball All-Conference list which include three First Team players in junior outfielder Peyton Bagley, junior infielder McKinnely Mull, and senior catcher Reagan Grossi. The Tigers had one Second Team player in senior outfielder Alyssa Burke and had one Honorable Mention in their sophomore utility player Brianna Dawson.
Peyton Bagley – First Team – Junior – Outfield – (2x ALL GPAC)
Started in all 46 games for the Tigers in the outfield and was named to the All-GPAC First Team for the first time in her career. Bagley finished the season leading the team in hits (53), RBI (33), SLG (.689), extra base hits (27), home runs (8), and runs scored (39). The runs, extra base hits, hits, and home runs were all career-highs for Bagley. In the conference Bagley ranked top-15 in batting average and stolen bases, top-10 in RBI and hits, top-5 in runs scored, and top-3 in home runs, slugging, and extra base hits. Had a big series against Concordia going 8 for 10 with four RBI, runs, and extra base hits (4/13/24). Went 3 for 8 with two home runs, double, two runs score and driven in against Briar Cliff (4/9/24). Had 17 multi-hit games during the season.
McKinnely Mull – First Team – Junior – Infield – (3x ALL GPAC)
Played in 43 games at shortstop for the Tigers and was named GPAC First Team All-Conference for the second straight season while being named to the all-conference list for a third straight season in as many years. Mull cracked the DWU record books with her 16-17 (.941) stolen base percentage on the year which just beat teammate Alyssa Burke's (.939) percentage. For a third straight season Mull hit at least .330 with her .343 batting average. McKinnely finished the season with 24 RBI, .409 on base percentage, 20 extra base hits including a team high and second in the conference with 14 doubles, 31 runs scored, and 16 stolen bases. Went 3 for 4 with four runs batted in, home run, and a stolen base in the 15-7 win over Peru State (2/17/24). Had a big home series against Briar Cliff going 4 for 7 with three runs batted in, two home runs, three runs, and a stolen base (4/9/24). Recorded 13 multi-hit games.
Reagan Grossi – First Team – Senior – Catcher – (1x ALL GPAC)
Played and started in 40 games at catcher for the Tigers and was named a First Team All-GPAC catcher for the first time in her career. Grossi hit career-highs in basically every major stat category including hits (33), RBI (17), AVG (.330), OBP (.393), SLG (.450), extra base hits (12), runs scored (24), and even stolen bases (5). Reagan's 12 doubles ranked third on the team and top-15 in the conference. Grossi had a scorching home stretch in the second half of the season that included her going 14 for 23 (.609) in seven games while scoring a staggering 12 runs, seven runs batted in, and five doubles (4/19-24).
Alyssa Burke – Second Team – Senior – Outfield – (3x ALL GPAC)
Played in 37 games for the Tigers in the outfield and was pegged All-GPAC Second Team which is Burke's third time being named to the all-conference list during her career. During the season Burke became the all-time leader in hits with 175 and runs scored with 117. Alyssa now holds four records with the other two being stolen bases in a season with 31 in 2022 and career stolen bases at 91. Burke finished the season batting .311, making it all four seasons of batting over .310 for Burke during her four-year career. Alyssa set new career-highs in RBI (16) and extra base hits (9). Had a 4 for 6 two-game series against Jamestown with three extra base hits while also driving in two runs (4/23/24). Reached base safely in 28 of the 37 games played while recording nine multi-hit games.
Brianna Dawson – Honorable Mention – Sophomore – Utility – (1x ALL GPAC)
Played in 23 games for the Tigers and was named as a GPAC All-Conference Honorable Mention for her career-high setting season. Dawson led the team in batting average with her career-high .364 average while also setting new marks in hits (32), RBI (23), OBP (.440), SLG (.375), and runs scored (19). Brianna had a career-high three hits against Morningside (4/6/24) and Buena Vista (2/10/24). Drove in a career-high three runs in four separate games against Hastings (4/19/24), Concordia (4/13/24), UM-Crookston (2/11/24), and Peru State (2/17/24). Was credited with eight multi-hit games.
