The Midwest Conference announced the 2022 All-MWC Softball Teams on Sunday following the completion of the conference tournament, which was hosted by league champion Lake Forest College.
The Foresters swept the major awards with senior Josie Klein named MWC Position Player of the Year and freshman Hannah Smith the MWC Pitcher and Newcomer of the Year.
Seniors Carlie Mertz and Hailey Boylan and freshman Kelly Collins joined Klein and Smith as First Team All-MWC honorees while junior Elena Chrisman and freshman Kaylee Purgatorio were named to the Second Team.
Klein, who usually plays center field for the Foresters, led the MWC with a .597 on-base percentage and .946 slugging percentage during conference play. She also ranked among the league leaders with 30 base hits, 28 runs, seven doubles, four home runs, and 22 runs batted in during the 16-game conference schedule. In addition, Klein went 3-0 with a shutout and a 2.23 earned run average as a pitcher.
Smith tied for the conference lead in victories and was 6-1 with a save and a 2.23 earned run average against league foes during the regular season. She is the first player to be named MWC Pitcher and Newcomer of the Year in the same season.
Mertz, the 2021 MWC North Division Newcomer of the Year, batted .415 with seven doubles, a .642 slugging percentage, and 18 runs scored in conference play in 2022. The outfielder and pitcher was also 5-0 with a 3.89 ERA in the circle.
Boylan, who earned the all-conference honor as a designated player, hit .421 and slugged .658 against the rest of the league. She scored a dozen runs and drove in 13 in just 12 MWC contests.
Collins finished the conference schedule with a .471 batting average and .647 slugging percentage. The second baseman scored 18 runs and tied for second in the league with 23 runs batted in.
Chrisman, an outfielder and the team's leadoff hitter, batted .411 and posted a slugging percentage of .714 in MWC play. She also belted three home runs, scored 21 times, drove in 13, and stole six bases.
Purgatorio batted .333, slugged .643, and drive in 18 runs during conference play. The Forester shortstop also tied for fifth in the league with 35 assists.
Only once prior to this season has Lake Forest had as many as seven all-conference honorees. The 2015 Foresters put five players on the league's first team and three more earned second team honors.
The Foresters finished the season with an overall record of 24-15 and won 15 of 16 conference games to claim their sixth conference championship in the last nine years. With 12 in program history, Lake Forest has more MWC titles than the rest of the current league members combined (11).
