Ontiveros named honorable mention All-Big Sky

Montana junior outfielder Elise Ontiveros, the Grizzlies' leading hitter and starting left fielder, was named honorable mention All-Big Sky Conference on Tuesday following voting by the league's coaches.

Ontiveros, who has a team-leading 11 multiple-hit games this season and is tied for the team high with four multiple-RBI games, also was voted honorable mention as a sophomore.

She is batting .298 with 12 RBIs and six extra-base hits for a Montana team that will take the No. 6 seed into this week's Big Sky Conference Championship in Ogden, Utah.

"Elise is a fierce competitor who gives us a chance to win every time she comes to the plate or by making a big-time play in the outfield," said sixth-year coach Melanie Meuchel.

"She has a willingness to sacrifice herself to make plays."

The Grizzlies went 10-35 during the regular season and finished last in the Big Sky with a 4-11 league record.

Montana will face No. 3 Northern Colorado at noon on Wednesday in Ogden in a first-round game of the double-elimination tournament.

"We are excited for Elise to be honored by the Conference and look forward to watching her compete with her team this week for a Big Sky championship," added Meuchel.

Portland State's Emily Johansen was named the Big Sky Player of the Year. She is batting .368 with 39 RBIs and 20 extra-base hits for the Big Sky's top-hitting team.

Sacramento State's Marissa Bertuccio repeated as Big Sky Pitcher of the Year. She is 14-8 with a 1.62 ERA and has thrown 14 complete games.

Idaho State outfielder Ava Brown was voted the Big Sky Freshman of the Year, ISU pitcher Jordan Schuring, who played last season at California Baptist, was named Top Newcomer.

Idaho State and Sacramento State shared the Big Sky regular-season title, going 10-5. Both teams had nine players earn first-team, second-team or honorable-mention honors.

Northern Colorado and Weber State both had six players recognized, Portland State had five, Montana had one.

Northern Colorado, Portland State and Sacramento State all had three first-team selections. Weber State had two, Idaho State had one.

2023 Big Sky Individual Awards
Player of the Year: Emily Johansen (Portland State)
Pitcher of the Year: Marissa Bertuccio (Sacramento State) *
Freshman of the Year: Ava Brown (Idaho State) *
Top Newcomer: Jordan Schuring (Idaho State)

2023 All-Big Sky Conference:

First Team
Catcher: Lauren Hoe (Weber State) *
First Base: Emily Johansen (Portland State) *
Second Base: Maddie Thompson (Portland State)
Shortstop: Olivia Dean (Portland State) *
Third Base: Lewa Day (Sacramento State) *
Outfield: Lauren Strathearn (Northern Colorado)
Outfield: Alyssa Wenzel (Northern Colorado)
Outfield: Ava Brown (Idaho State)
Pitcher: Marissa Bertuccio (Sacramento State) *
Pitcher: Erin Caviness (Northern Colorado)
Pitcher/UTL: Caroline Evans (Sacramento State) *
Non-Pitcher/UTL: Mika Chong (Weber State) *

Second Team
Catcher: Olivia Robinson (Idaho State)
First Base: Angelica Cano (Idaho State)
Second Base: Gwen Ludwig (Sacramento State)
Shortstop: McKell McCuistion (Weber State)
Third Base: Emily Ruhl (Weber State)
Outfield: Alyssa Yee (Idaho State)
Outfield: Jada Walker (Sacramento State)
Outfield: Carley Morfey (Sacramento State)
Pitcher: Jordan Schuring (Idaho State)
Pitcher: Allicite Frost (Portland State)
Pitcher: Mandy Johnson (Weber State)
Pitcher/UTL: Mailee Newman (Idaho State)
Non-Pitcher/UTL: Bailee Noland (Portland State)

Honorable Mention
Catcher: Katie Marsh (Sacramento State)
Catcher: Sabrina Javorsky (Northern Colorado)
First Base: Amailee Morales (Northern Colorado)
First Base: Samantha Parish (Sacramento State)
Second Base: Faith Hoe (Weber State)
Second Base: Skyler Sethman (Idaho State)
Shortstop: Paige Simpson (Idaho State)
Shortstop: Leandra Coronado (Sacramento State)
Outfield: Elise Ontiveros (Montana)
Non-Pitcher/UTL: Alexsi Barashkoff (Northern Colorado)
Non-Pitcher/UTL: Kennedy Dudley (Idaho State)

* Unanimous selection

University of Montana Athletics

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