WSU's Saltern Tabbed #BigSkySB Player of the Year; All-Conference Team Announced
OGDEN, Utah (May 7, 2019) – Collecting a third-straight All-Big Sky First Team honor, Weber State junior outfielder Takesha Saltern garnered a second accolade for the 2019 season by being named the Big Sky Conference Player of the Year to highlight a group of 37 all-conference honorees. The all-conference awards were voted on by the league's head coaches. Coaches could not vote for their own players.
Saltern led the Big Sky with a .413 batting average in 2019 while also pacing the conference with 19 stolen bases. The Smithfield, Utah native ranked in the top five in hits (57), runs scored (38), walks (20), triples (4) and on base percentage (.487).
In Big Sky play, Saltern batted .424 with a league-high 23 runs and 10 stolen bases. She also finished with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
Saltern becomes the second Weber State player to earn the league’s top honor, joining Aubrey Whitmer who was named the Big Sky Player of the Year in 2016.
Sacramento State’s Savanna Corr was named the Big Sky Pitcher of the Year as the Hornets garnered the honor for the fifth time in the league’s seven-year history. Corr joined Caitlin Brooks (2014-15) and Celina Matthias (2016, 2018) as Hornets named pitcher of the year.
Corr led the Big Sky in eight categories this season, finishing the regular season with a 2.23 ERA and 19-12 record. The Chino Hills, Calif. native struck out 154 batters while limiting opponents to a .191 average in 203.2 innings in the circle. She also tied for a league-high three saves.
Corr was one of three unanimous All-Big Sky First Team selections, joining senior teammate Nene Alas (Non-Pitcher/Utility) and Montana senior Maddy Stensby (Pitcher/Utility).
For the first time in league history, two players garnered Big Sky Freshman of the Year honors with Weber State second baseman Faith Hoe and Idaho State pitcher Autumn Pease earning accolades. The pair were named All-Big Sky Second Team honorees.
Hoe ranked 10th in the Big Sky with a .345 batting average and came in fourth with 103 assists in her first collegiate campaign. The native of Walla Walla, Wash., led the Wildcats with a .438 average in conference play to rank fourth in the Big Sky while recording a .667 slugging percentage and .491 on base percentage.
Pease captured the Big Sky Pitcher of the Week honor during the first week of the season to make her presence quickly known across the league. The Murrieta, Calif. product ranked third in the conference with a 2.48 ERA and 110 strikeouts while coming in second with 10 wins.
In conference play, Pease recorded a 1.97 ERA to rank second while striking out 55 batters in 49.2 innings of work.
Montana sophomore first baseman Cami Sellers claimed Big Sky Newcomer of the Year honors for the first time for the Griz while also earning second team honors. The Boston College transfer led the league with a .484 batting average in conference play along with a league-best 31 hits and seven home runs.
On the season, the Los Alamitos, Calif. native hit .375 for fourth in the Big Sky with a league-high 66 hits and 21 doubles. Sellers currently ranks second in the country in doubles. On the defensive end, she ranked 10th with a .980 fielding percentage with a league-best 333 putouts.
Weber State led the league with four All-Big Sky First Team selections with senior pitcher Addie Jensen, junior outfielder Landi Hawker and sophomore third baseman Chloe Camarero joining Saltern on the team.
Sacramento State was the only other Big Sky team to total multiple first team honorees as senior first baseman Krystal Aubert joined Corr and Alas on the first team.
In all, Weber State and Sacramento State each tallied eight all-conference performers while Portland State added seven.
The 2019 Big Sky Softball Championship takes place May 8-11 at Sacramento State’s Shea Stadium. The top six teams will compete for an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. More information on the tournament can be found
here.
| 2019 Big Sky Softball All-Conference Team |
|
| FIRST TEAM |
| Name |
Position |
Class |
School |
| Emma Brockmann |
Catcher |
Sophomore |
Northern Colorado |
| Krystal Aubert |
First Base |
Senior |
Sacramento State |
| Kendall Kapitzke |
Second Base |
Senior |
Southern Utah |
| Darian Lindsey |
Shortstop |
Junior |
Portland State |
| Chloe Camarero |
Third Base |
Sophomore |
Weber State |
| #Takesha Saltern |
Outfield |
Junior |
Weber State |
| Emma Bordenkecher |
Outfield |
Junior |
Idaho State |
| Landi Hawker |
Outfield |
Junior |
Weber State |
| *Savanna Corr |
Pitcher |
Senior |
Sacramento State |
| Addie Jensen |
Pitcher |
Senior |
Weber State |
| *Maddy Stensby |
Pitcher/Utility |
Senior |
Montana |
| *Nene Alas |
Non-Pitcher/Utility |
Senior |
Sacramento State |
| * - Unanimous All-Big Sky First Team Selection |
| # - Three-time All-Big Sky First Team Selection |
| SECOND TEAM |
| Name |
Position |
Class |
School |
| Rachel Menlove |
Catcher |
Sophomore |
Portland State |
| Cami Sellers |
First Base |
Sophomore |
Montana |
| Faith Hoe |
Second Base |
Freshman |
Weber State |
| Aubrey Creekmore |
Shortstop |
Senior |
Idaho State |
| Dream Weaver |
Third Base |
Freshman |
Southern Utah |
| Suzy Brookshire |
Outfield |
Junior |
Sacramento State |
| Makall Whetten |
Outfield |
Freshman |
Southern Utah |
| Tayler Gunesch |
Outfield |
Junior |
Portland State |
| Autumn Pease |
Pitcher |
Freshman |
Idaho State |
| Katie Schroeder |
Pitcher |
Junior |
Portland State |
| Kaela Morrow |
Non-Pitcher/Utility |
Senior |
Portland State |
| HONORABLE MENTION |
|
| Name |
Position |
Class |
School |
| Jessica McAlister |
Catcher |
Sophomore |
Montana |
| Lauren Hoe |
Catcher |
Freshman |
Weber State |
| Ashlyn Visser |
First Base |
Junior |
Weber State |
| Mikelle Magalogo |
First Base |
Junior |
Southern Utah |
| Haley Harrison |
Second Base |
Graduate |
Idaho State |
| Katie Vretzos |
Second Base |
Sophomore |
Sacramento State |
| Shea Graves |
Shortstop |
Freshman |
Sacramento State |
| Sydney White |
Shortstop |
Junior |
Weber State |
| Kylie Becker |
Third Base |
Freshman |
Montana |
| Sydney Rasmussen |
Third Base |
Senior |
Sacramento State |
| Sala Pedebone |
Third Base |
Junior |
Portland State |
| Marissa Bruno |
Outfield |
Junior |
Portland State |
| Brianna Bowers |
Outfield |
Freshman |
Sacramento State |
| Colleen Driscoll |
Pitcher |
Senior |
Montana |
2019 Big Sky Individual Award Winners
Player of the Year - Takesha Saltern, Weber State
Pitcher of the Year - Savanna Corr, Sacramento State
Co-Freshman of the Year - Faith Hoe, Weber State; Autumn Pease, Idaho State
Newcomer of the Year - Cami Sellers, Montana