McLean County Times

The Illinois Wesleyan University softball team is set to host the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Tournament at Inspiration Field from May 8 to May 10. The Titans, holding a 31-7 overall record, enter the tournament as the top seed after achieving a perfect 16-0 league record. Their first game will take place on Thursday, May 8, at 4 p.m., with their opponent to be determined earlier in the day.

The tournament features six teams: Illinois Wesleyan, Augustana, Millikin, Carthage, North Central, and Wheaton. The winner will secure an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament.

Illinois Wesleyan players received significant recognition in the All-CCIW teams and postseason honors announced on May 7. Senior Jen Kuhn and sophomore Mallory Holland were awarded specialty honors. They were joined by senior Ava Khoury and juniors Gianna Certa and Anna Beckman on the All-CCIW First Team. Juniors Claire Post and Casey Wissmiller, along with freshman Bella Pinter, made it to the All-CCIW Second Team.

Kuhn leads the team with a .455 batting average and tops several offensive categories including hits (61), doubles (15), RBIs (51), slugging percentage (.701), and on-base percentage (.472). Khoury follows with a .368 average and has driven in 37 runs from her 42 hits. Freshman Grace Wilkens also stands out with a .354 batting average.

In pitching, Holland holds a team-best earned run average of 1.35 over 62 innings while maintaining a record of seven wins against one loss. Certa leads in innings pitched with 98.2 and has struck out a team-high of 66 batters.

Illinois Wesleyan has participated in the CCIW Tournament 27 times since its debut in 1987, winning it on sixteen occasions including last year.

The tournament schedule includes games starting at noon each day with ticket prices set at $10 for adults and $5 for seniors, students, and children aged six to fourteen. Children under five years old can attend for free.