McLean County Times

Illinois Wesleyan University head softball coach Tiffany Prager announced the program's team award recipients for the 2024 campaign on Tuesday, July 2. Sophomore Gianna Certa was voted the team's Most Valuable Player, while freshman Parker Cash earned the Most Improved award. Senior Isabelle Piwowarczyk received the Gwen Meyer Award for the second consecutive season.

Certa emerged as one of the top pitchers in the country in 2024. The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Pitcher of the Year and a National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region pick, Certa compiled a 19-3 record in the circle. She made 23 appearances, including 22 starts, with a 1.22 earned run average. She posted eight shutouts and struck out 113 batters while also adding a save. Her eight shutouts were ninth-most in Division III, while she ranked 14th nationally in complete games, 18th in wins, and 21st in ERA. Certa was a four-time CCIW Pitcher of the Week selection, becoming the first Titan to earn the honor three weeks in a row since 2019.

Cash, a freshman catcher from Galesburg, Ill., appeared in nine games as a pinch runner. She scored four runs, with her most significant impact coming from her support of IWU's pitching staff as a steady hand in the bullpen.

Piwowarczyk appeared in 26 games, making one start. She scored five runs and walked once while compiling an on-base percentage of .333. Her most memorable play came during Illinois Wesleyan's 4-1 win over Wartburg College in NCAA Regional play when she executed a circus-like slide to score safely.

Head coach Tiffany Prager awarded letters to 18 student-athletes. The Titans are poised to return several key players from a team that won both the CCIW regular season and tournament titles.