Wash. U. freshman Maggie Baumstark (22) led the UAA in RBIs and was fourth in hitting this season, on her way to earning 1st Team All-Conference and Position Player of the Year honors. (Photo courtesy: Wash. U. Athletics)

Torrance Terrell
Staff Writer

The University Athletic Association announced its 2022 All-Association Softball Team this week, and the ladies from Washington University were well represented.

Five Wash. U. players were named to the team, led by freshman centerfielder Maggie Baumstark, who was a unanimous 1st-Team selection and was named UAA Position Player of the Year, after hitting .379 this season, with five home runs, and a UAA-leading 37 RBIs.

Baumstark led the Bears with 50 hits, and had a .445 on-base percentage, a .621 slugging percentage, and 12 stolen bases, while showing herself to be one of the league’s top defensive players, with a .980 fielding percentage and 14 outfield assists — including two double plays — on her way to becoming just the second Wash. U. player named UAA Position Player of the Year, joining Hannah Mehrle, who won the award in 2017.

The other four Bears named to the UAA 1st-Team were seniors Madison Denton and Kirsten Drabek, and freshman Erin Reardon.

Denton starred as Wash. U.’s ace starting pitcher. She appeared in 15 games, with 13 starts, and finished the regular season with an 11-2 record, with five complete games, and six shutouts, while also leading the league with a 1.25 ERA.

Drabek played in 39 games this season, primarily as Wash. U.’s shortstop, and finished the regular season with a .337 batting average, with 33 hits, including five doubles, three home runs, and 29 RBIs.

Reardon has been a utility player and outfielder for the Bears, playing in 30 games and really hitting her stride in the second half of the season.

One of Reardon’s best games came last weekend against Emory College, when she went 3-for-3 at the plate, with three runs scored and three stolen bases.

Senior pitcher Holly Stoner had a 2.05 ERA and 10 wins in the circle to earn a spot on the UAA 2nd-Team. She also led the Bears in innings pitched this season, and had four complete games and recorded one save.

The Wash. U. coaching staff was named UAA Coaching Staff of the year, along with the crew from Case Western Reserve University, which won the UAA championship this season. The Bears’ staff last earned this honor in 2017, which was Michelle Venturella’s first year.

As a team, Wash. U. has 30 wins this season, which is the first time the Bears have eclipsed the 30-win mark since 2016. With the regular season completed Wash. U. is now waiting to see if it will receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The NCAA Division III Softball Selection Show will be Monday, May 9, at noon, with the tournament itself beginning officially on May 12.