Mitchell, S.D. – The Great Plains Athletic Conference has announced its postseason honors for the 2024-25 softball season, with ten Dakota Wesleyan Tigers earning recognition based on voting by the league’s coaches. Notably, this marks the first time Dakota Wesleyan has had a Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year.
Alison Ernsberger (Fr., Granville, Ohio, Mathematics) – First Team / Freshman of The Year
Dakota Wesleyan’s Allison “Ernie” Ernsberger was named GPAC Freshman of the Year after a standout two-way debut that included breaking school records for most strikeouts (175) and most wins (20) in a season. In the circle, she logged 22 complete games, 4 shutouts, a 2.78 ERA, and held opponents to a .239 average over 189 innings. At the plate, she hit .353 with a .400 on-base percentage and .569 slugging.
Head Coach Tommy Downs praised her immediate impact, saying, “From the moment Ally stepped on campus, we knew she had the potential to be special… She’s just getting started — and we’re excited for what’s ahead.”
McKinnely Mull (Sr., Vernal, Utah, Biochemistry) – First Team / Player of The Year
A four-year letterwinner, Mull set multiple DWU records in her final season, including highest slugging percentage, most stolen bases, most RBIs, most hits, and most home runs — among others. She leaves DWU as the career leader in hits (222), RBIs (149), and home runs (35), with a .378 batting average and a .687 slugging percentage over 178 games.
Her 2024-25 senior season was her most dominant, batting .431 with 72 hits, 57 RBIs, 18 doubles, and an .844 slugging percentage. On defense, Mull maintained a .934 fielding percentage and committed just 47 errors in over 700 chances.
Head Coach Tommy Downs praised Mull as the heart of the program’s transformation, highlighting her leadership, work ethic, and impact both on and off the field. “Kinn has been the heartbeat of our team… She’s irreplaceable,” Downs said.
Peyton Bagley (Sr., Rapid City, S.D., Biochemistry) – First Team
In her senior season, Bagley played in 50 games and had 194 plate appearances. She finished with a .418 batting average, recording 74 hits, 61 runs, 12 doubles, 4 triples, and 10 home runs. She drove in 33 RBIs and totaled 124 bases. Bagley walked 14 times, was hit by a pitch 3 times, and struck out 21 times. She stole 20 bases and was caught stealing 2 times. In conference play, she appeared in 22 games, batting .422 with 7 home runs and 18 RBIs. Her on-base percentage for the season was .469, with a slugging percentage of .701, and a .783 slugging percentage in conference games.
Ashlen Johnson (Fr., Sioux Falls, S.D., Accounting) – Second Team
Ashlen Johnson played in 48 games, batting .392 with 60 hits, 10 doubles, 10 home runs, 35 RBIs, and 8 stolen bases. She posted a .450 on-base percentage and .654 slugging percentage. In 21 conference games, she hit .451 with 32 hits, 4 home runs, 13 RBIs, and a .494 OBP and .662 SLG.
Macy Moore (So., Holbrook, Ariz., Athletic Training) – Second Team
Macy Moore appeared in 44 games, batting .394 with 37 hits, 9 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, and 15 RBIs. She had a .436 on-base percentage, a .543 slugging percentage, and stole 7 bases. In 20 conference games, she hit .375 with 18 hits, 3 doubles, 1 triple, and 6 RBIs, posting a .423 OBP and .479 SLG
Alessandra Circua (So., League City, Texas, Elementary Education) – Honorable Mention
In 50 games, this player recorded a .305 batting average with 47 hits, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 8 RBIs, and 8 stolen bases. In 22 conference games, they hit .262 with 17 hits, 1 double, 1 RBI, and 2 stolen bases. Their overall on-base percentage was .318, with a .338 slugging percentage, while in conference play, their OBP was .273 with a .277 slugging percentage.
Jordyn Blogg (Jr., Sioux Falls, S.D., Nursing) – Honorable Mention
In 44 games, Jordyn Blogg hit .310 with 36 hits, 9 doubles, 2 home runs, and 26 RBIs. She also posted a .367 on-base percentage and a .440 slugging percentage. In 17 conference games, she batted .200 with 9 hits, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, and a .245 OBP with a .244 slugging percentage.
Liliana Arreola (So., Eager, Ariz., Criminal Justice) – Honorable Mention
In 23 games, Arreola hit .295 with 13 hits, 1 double, 1 home run, and 6 RBIs. She posted a .354 on-base percentage and a .386 slugging percentage. In 10 conference games, she batted .455 with 10 hits, 1 double, 2 RBIs, a .478 OBP, and a .500 slugging percentage.
Sophie Wietzema (Sr., Worthington, Minn., Business Administration) – Honorable Mention
In 39 games, Sophie Wietzema hit .362 with 34 hits, 9 doubles, 7 home runs, and 37 RBIs. She posted a .384 on-base percentage and a .681 slugging percentage. In 19 conference games, she batted .420 with 21 hits, 2 doubles, 6 home runs, 26 RBIs, a .434 OBP, and a .820 slugging percentage.
Jaden Warner (Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D., Business Administration) – Honorable Mention
In 40 games, Warner hit .294 with 30 hits, 4 doubles, 23 RBIs, and 3 stolen bases. She had a .333 on-base percentage and a .333 slugging percentage. In 17 conference games, she batted .279 with 12 hits, 1 double, 12 RBIs, a .311 OBP, and a .302 SLG.