“I’m extremely proud of our kids and how hard they played this weekend,” said Hesston coach Andrew Sharp. “We came together in the last few weeks of the year and played our best softball when it mattered most. Our players represented Hesston College very well throughout the season.”

The Larks end the year with 23 wins, a new school record.

Pitcher Erin Albrecht (Sebewaing, Mich.) did it all for the Larks in game one, as the freshman threw seven frames to earn the win and had a crucial two-run double in the sixth inning that put Hesston up 3-1. Freshman Hayley Gately (Roseville, Calif.) put the game away with a two-run homerun later in the sixth to make it a four-run lead.

Game two saw Dodge City race out to a commanding 5-0 lead after two innings and later extend the lead to 8-4 after Hesston had crept to within 5-4. Down four runs heading into the sixth, the Larks tied the game with a six-hit inning, highlighted by Gately’s two-run, two-out single to left to make it 8-8.

In the Hesston seventh, Ashlyn Knepp (Millerburg, Ind.) was hit by a pitch with two outs  and moved to second after a Brooke Beckerman (Inman, Kan.) walk. Albrecht then lofted a single down the left-field line that scored Knepp easily to give the Larks its first lead of the game. Albrecht nailed down the series win with a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh.

Hesston is one of four teams to play in this weekend’s Region VI, District D playoff in Topeka, with the winner advancing to the NJCAA Division II national tournament. The Larks square off with Labette Community College on Saturday, May 5 at 10 a.m. to open the tournament.

The award was created to recognize an outstanding male and female student athlete each year. Hesston coaches were able to nominate one of their players for the award, with votes from the entire department determining the winners. Rittenhouse and Wagner-Davis tied for Female Athlete of the Year in this year’s voting.

The new award, which recognizes excellence on the field, in the classroom, in the dorms and campus community, was created by a desire from the athletics department to acknowledge the outstanding men and women who represent Hesston College through athletics.

“Athletics play a pivotal role at Hesston College,” said athletic director Joel Kauffman. “We’re proud of what our student athletes contribute to our college, both in the athletic venue and around our campus and community. Pierre, Krista and Emily are excellent examples of the type of athletes we look for at Hesston College.”

Zook led the nation in three-pointers with 127, setting a career mark in that category at Hesston. As a captain, he averaged more than 20 points per game and will lead a strong returning class for the Larks in 2012-13.

“Pierre continues to grow and be challenged while challenging others,” said Hesston men’s basketball coach Dustin Galyon. “He pursues his life with integrity and is a terrific leader, and I’m excited to see what he can do next year.”

Rittenhouse capped off an outstanding career by representing the Larks at the NJCAA National Cross Country Championship Race in Hobbs, N.M., in November, finishing 47^th out of 268 runners with a time of 20:53.57. A team captain, Rittenhouse was a 2011-12 Academic All-American.

“It has been a pleasure to coach Krista the last two years,” said Hesston cross country coach Gerry Sieber. She brought an infectious enthusiasm for running and training which was a real gift for our team. Krista is a kind, caring, servant leader.”

Wagner-Davis, an Academic All-American, ranks second in all-time hits at Hesston College and sixth in career runs batted in. She started every game of her career with the Larks and served as team captain in 2011-12.

“Emily represents everything I look for in a Hesston College softball player,” said Hesston softball coach Andrew Sharp. “She’s a team leader, a tremendous competitor and has a heart for serving others. She will be missed.”

Freshmen Hayley Gately (Roseville, Calif.) and Kaity Wills (Kapolei, Hawaii) each went a combined 5-for-6 in the two-game sweep. In game one, sophomore pitcher Morgan Atkinson (Magnolia, Texas) allowed four hits and one walk while striking out two to earn the complete-game win. Erin Albrecht (Sebewaing, Mich.) pitched game two for the Larks, going seven innings with three strikeouts to get the win.

In game one, freshman Kaity Wills (Kapolei, Hawaii) and sophomore Emily Wagner-Davis (Roseville, Calif.) each knocked in the win. Pitcher Erin Albrecht (Sebewaing, Mich.) tossed a complete-game for her tenth win of the year. The freshman surrendered five earned runs and struck out six in the win.

Hayley Gately’s (Roseville, Calif.) grand slam blew open game two as the Larks cruised to a five-inning win. Gately enjoyed a 2-for-3 effort with six RBI, while Olivia Miller (Newton, Kan.) and Ashlyn Knepp (Millersburg, Ind.) had two hits apiece in the win. Morgan Atkinson (Magnolia, Texas) picked up the win in the circle with five innings of work. 

A second-team All-Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League (AVCTL) Division I rightfielder in 2011, Gustafson hit .435 during her junior year, helping Derby High reach the 6A state tournament.

“Alyssa felt right at home during her campus visit,” Sharp said. “Our players all loved her, and I’m looking forward to having her here this fall. She’s a versatile player from a great program and will make a smooth transition to Hesston. She’ll have a chance to help us in a number of ways.”

An honor roll student, Gustafson is a member of Derby First Christian Church. She is the daughter of Matt and Natalie Gustafson, Derby.

In game one, freshman shortstop Kaity Wills (Kapolei, Hawaii) enjoyed a 5-for-5 day with four runs scored in her return to the lineup after missing the previous eight games. Mo Brenneman (Wellman, Iowa) and Olivia Miller (Newton, Kan.) each had three hits and two runs knocked in. Morgan Atkinson (Magnolia, Texas) worked two innings in relief to earn the win.

Miller and Hayley Gately (Roseville, Calif.) each had two hits in the nightcap.

Hesston pitcher Erin Albrecht (Sebewaing, Mich.) was outstanding in the opener, as the freshman worked a complete-game four-hitter to earn her sixth win of the year. Albrecht walked one and struck out four in seven innings. Brooke Beckerman (Inman, Kan.) went 2-for-3 at the plate, including an RBI double to give Hesston the lead in the fourth inning. Emily Wagner-Davis (Roseville, Calif.) added an RBI triple in the fifth.

In the game two loss, Olivia Miller (Newton, Kan.), Hayley Gately (Roseville, Calif.) and Amanda Smith (Partridge, Kan.) each had two hits for the Larks.

In game one, the Larks jumped all over the Greyhounds, plating nine runs in the first two innings en route to a convincing 15-1 win in five innings. Freshman Ashlyn Knepp (Millersburg, Ind.) went 3-for-4 with six runs batted in, while fellow freshman Kaity Wills (Kapolei, Hawaii) had three hits and four RBI. Erin Albrecht (Sebewaing, Mich.) pitched a complete-game three-hitter. The freshman righty issued no walks and struck out four. 

In the second game, freshman pitcher Jade Southern (Newton, Kan.) set the tone by tossing four shutout innings while the Larks’ offense built a 6-0 lead. Southern gave up two hits and didn’t walk a batter to get the win. Sophomore Emily Wagner-Davis (Roseville, Calif.) went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI. Mo Atkinson (Magnolia, Texas) worked the final three frames to pick up the save.

In the opener, freshman hurler Erin Albrecht (Sebewaing, Mich.) threw a complete-game for her fourth win of the season. Freshmen Hayley Gately (Roseville, Calif.) and Brooke Beckerman (Inman, Kan.) each went 3-for-3 to pace the Hesston offense.

Freshman righty Jade Southern (Newton, Kan.) worked four innings to get the win in the nightcap, while Gately again provided the offensive punch by blasting a three-run homer in the first inning to get the Larks’ bats rolling. Gately, Albrecht, Ashlyn Knepp (Millersburg, Ind.) and Olivia Miller (Newton, Kan.) each had two hits in game two.