#3 Story of the 2011-2012 Year
William Penn Women’s Athletics
Oskaloosa, Iowa – The Queens of the Diamond also made their third trip to nationals, and their effort ranked third this year.
The Lady Statesmen softball team produced one of its best seasons ever this spring, but all that hard work was almost negated.
After going 40-15 during the regular slate and crushing MCC foes to the tune of a 21-3 record, William Penn was the top seed for the conference tourney. Two wins in the opening round were secured, advancing the navy and gold to the Final Four in Ames.
Iowa Wesleyan ruined the show in 2011 and was half way to repeating that misery by taking down the Lady Statesmen in the first game. William Penn rebounded against Grand View, though, to stay alive into the final day. The ladies then took out their frustrations on Mount Mercy before getting revenge on Iowa Wesleyan (twice) to make another NAIA Nationals trip, the program’s first since 2007 and third all-time.
A difficult draw was too much for William Penn, however, as it went 0-3 in Alabama. The 2012 year ended at 46-19, tying for the second-most wins in history.
Sophomore Jennifer Whitehead was tabbed as MCC Pitcher of the Year, while senior outfielder Khyia Lewis picked up the league’s Player of the Year award. Lewis later received two All-America laurels, while Whitehead was also honored by the NAIA.
