SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) revealed its 2025 softball postseason awards in a release Tuesday, and eight Yellowjacket student-athletes received All-UMAC honors.
Leading the charge for the 'Jackets was the duo of
Ellie Macal (Winona, Minn./Cotter) and
Peyton Bennett (Harrisburg, S.D./Harrisburg), who picked up the league's player of the year and rookie of the year honors, respectively. Both Macal and Bennett also received spots on the All-UMAC First Team alongside
Lily Hanson (Cloquet, Minn./Esko),
Carly Stuckmayer (Delano, Minn./Delano) and
Zoe Thomson (Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson).
MyKenzie Leccia (Somerset, Wis./Somerset),
Abby Mitchell (Cloquet, Minn./Carlton) and
Baylee O'Donnell (Mendota Hights, Minn./Richfield) were each given honorable mention citations from the league.
Macal (C), O'Donnell (1B) and Hanson (2B) were each named to the conference all-defensive squad, and
Kendallyn Kalenberg (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson) was the Yellowjackets' representative on the All-Sportsmanship Team.
Furthermore, the Yellowjackets were named the coaching staff of the year.
Macal's senior season was one to remember. Her offensive output in all 43 games spearheaded UW-Superior's efforts in producing one of the most potent offenses in the country. The Yellowjacket catcher capped her collegiate career with a batting average of .462, a mark that leads the team and sits 44th overall in NCAA Division III. She also ended with a career-high in runs (35), hits (55), doubles (10), home runs (six), RBIs (39), and slugging percentage (.765). Defensively behind the plate she fielded .970, committing just five errors in 168 chances.
Bennett put the whole league on notice after her freshman campaign. She ended the 2025 season with an average of .421, starting all 43 games in the outfield. In 145 at-bats she collected 61 hits, a mark that ranks 35th in NCAA Division III. Bennett clubbed 14 doubles and six triples, adding four home runs and 35 RBIs for a slugging percentage of .683. Also a threat on the bases, she led the 'Jackets with 28 stolen bags on the campaign.
Hanson ended her Yellowjacket career on a high note, starting all 43 games as a senior. She hit for a .422 average, collecting a team-third 54 hits while adding 11 doubles, four triples and three homers. Hanson also finished third in RBIs with 37, drawing eight walks and logging an on-base percentage of .449 and a slugging percentage of .641. She played up the middle defensively, fielding .921 in the Yellowjacket infield.
Stuckmayer's sophomore season resulted in her first selection to the All-UMAC First Team. Starting in 41 games she garnered an average of .433 (52-for-120), scoring 35 runs and adding 14 RBIs. She added a trio of doubles and a triple for a slugging percentage of .475 while collecting an on-base percentage of .465. On the basepaths Stuckmayer stole 21 bases, ending the year ranked second on the team.
Thomson started all 43 games in her senior season, collecting a batting average of .403 (50-for-124). She hit in the heart of the Yellowjacket lineup, clubbing eight doubles and a long ball with 38 RBIs. She drew 15 walks, added six sacrifice flies and stole a base, garnering an on-base percentage of .459 and a slugging percentage of .492. Defensively Thomson fielded .979, committing a season-low three errors. Furthermore, Thomson eclipsed the 200-hit mark in her career in the final regular season series of 2025.
Leccia's honorable mention nod was the second of her career in 2025. After regrouping with the team following her basketball season she became a staple in the lineup, starting all 35 games played. She hit .336 (36-for-107), scoring 23 runs and logging ten doubles, marking the third-straight season of double-digit doubles. Leccia clubbed two homers and drove in 18 while drawing a pair of walks and stealing seven bags. Defensively she logged a 1.000 fielding percentage roaming the outfield, marking the third-straight season of a perfect defensive season.
Mitchell put together a strong freshman season, earning an honorable mention citation. In the circle she appeared in 18 games, starting 15 and collecting a 7-3 record. She limited opposing hitters to an average of just .252, ending her debut season with a 2.24 ERA. In 65.2 innings of work, she allowed 21 earned runs and struck out a team-second 64 hitters. Mitchell pitched her first collegiate shutout this season, chucking seven scoreless innings against St. Scholastica Apr. 29.
O'Donnell's Yellowjacket career ended on a bang, starting 38-of-39 games played. At the plate she generated an average of .435, a mark that ranks second on the team. In 108 at-bats she clubbed 47 hits, scoring 13 runs and adding eight doubles, a triple and a home run. O'Donnell drove in 32 on the season while drawing nine walks and stealing a base. Defensively she patrolled first base and only committed one error in 196 chances, which was good for a fielding percentage of .995.
The Yellowjackets capped the 2025 season with an overall record of 31-12, capturing a share of the regular season championship for the second time in program history. Entering the postseason tournament as the No. 2 seed, the Yellowjackets fell to Bethany Lutheran and Northwestern at Thomas Park in Mankato, Minn.
