Peschek, Jantzi named All-Big Sky

Montana's Riley Peschek and Presley Jantzi were named All-Big Sky Conference on Tuesday following voting by the league's coaches.

Peschek, a freshman, was a first-team selection, Jantzi, a junior, was a second-team pick.

Peschek becomes only the third freshman in program history to earn first-team honors, joining Sydney Stites (2016) and Michaela Hood (2017).

Peschek started all 48 games this season at shortstop, a legacy position at Montana that was held down for four-year eras by two of the top players in program history, Delene Colburn (2015-18) and Maygen McGrath (2019-22).

"It shows her ability to play softball at a high level and really push us defensively as well as what she's doing at the plate," said seventh-year coach Melanie Meuchel. "She really holds her own on defense."

Peschek, who has batted in the No. 2 or 3 spot in the order every game since early March, is hitting .355 in her first season of collegiate softball.

She leads the team with 23 extra-base hits and runs batted in with 31, and has a .616 slugging percentage. Her five triples have matched the single-season program record.

Peschek ranks in the top 10 in the Big Sky in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage (.433), runs scored (31), hits (49), runs batted in, doubles (14) and triples.

Defensively, Peschek has just nine errors in 178 chances this season (.949).

"What stands out has been the growth of her game and her ability to pick up the speed of her game to play at the Division I level and produce in so many ways, offensively and defensively," said Meuchel.

"She is competitive at the plate and has a good eye. She'll compete her whole way through an at-bat until she puts a very competitive ball in play."

Jantzi batted a healthy .313 across her freshman and sophomore years and has had a breakout season as a junior, hitting .389 going into this week's Big Sky Conference Championship.

Jantzi had a batting average of .400 or better from March 22 to April 16 and hasn't been below .389 in nearly two months.

"Really proud of the year she is having. She has really settled in to the true softball player she is. She has been a consistent player for us, someone who everyone in the dugout gets excited when she gets to the plate," said Meuchel. "We know we have a chance with her every time."

Jantzi, who has started all 48 games in either right field or center, has batted leadoff every game this season.

She went 3 for 4 against Louisiana-Monroe in the Montana's season-opening 5-4 victory and has been hard for opponents to deal with ever since.

She has had a team-high 17 multiple-hit games as a junior and put together a 10-game hitting streak and a streak of 21 games reaching base, tied for sixth longest in program history.

"She is a great competitor at the plate. She has so many tools she can use that make her pretty hard to defend and really hard to pitch to," said Meuchel.

Jantzi ranks third in the Big Sky in batting average and hits (61), second in runs scored (35) and is tied for third with 15 doubles.

"She is a solid leadoff for us with the ability to start our offense but also make an impact with runners on," said Meuchel. "She is a big offensive threat and her defense is just as strong.

"I'm proud of what she has accomplished this year and know there is still more out there for her."

No. 6 Montana will face No. 3 Sacramento State at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday as the Big Sky Conference Championship opens in Pocatello, Idaho.

2024 Individual Award Winners
Co-Players of the Year: Amailee Morales, Northern Colorado/Lewa Day, Sacramento State
Pitcher of the Year: Erin Caviness, Northern Colorado
Freshman of the Year: Lorraine Alo, Portland State
Top Newcomer: Grace Kimball, Portland State
Coach of the Year: Dedeann Pendleton-Helm, Northern Colorado *

* Unanimous selection

First-Team All-Big Sky
Catcher: Olivia Robison, Idaho State *
First Base: Amailee Morales, Northern Colorado *
Second Base: Maddie Thompson, Portland State *
Shortstop: Riley Peschek, Montana
Third Base: Lewa Day, Sacramento State *
Outfield: Gracie Smith, Idaho State *
Outfield: Alexis Parish, Sacramento State
Outfield: Lauren Strathearn, Northern Colorado
Pitcher: Marissa Bertuccio, Sacramento State
Pitcher: Erin Caviness, Northern Colorado
Pitcher/UTL: Caroline Evans, Sacramento State *
Non-Pitcher/UTL: Lorraine Alo, Portland State *

* Unanimous first-team selection

Second Team All-Big Sky
Catcher: Sabrina Javorsky, Northern Colorado
First Base: Angelica Cano, Idaho State
Second Base: Makayla Donahoo, Weber State
Shortstop: Gwen Ludwig, Sacramento State
Third Base: Abby Grundy, Weber State
Outfield: Presley Jantzi, Montana
Outfield: Nya Chacon, Northern Colorado
Outfield: Alyssa Yee, Idaho State
Pitcher: Grace Kimball, Portland State
Pitcher: Marley Goluskin, Idaho State
Non-Pitcher/UTL: Ella Gonzales, Northern Colorado

Honorable mention All-Big Sky
Catcher: Paetynn Lopez, Portland State
First Base: Emily Johansen, Portland State
Second Base: Skyler Sethman, Idaho State
Second Base: Malissa George, Sacramento State
Shortstop: Camryn McDonald, Idaho State
Shortstop: Taegan Smith, Weber State
Third Base: Paige Simpson, Idaho State
Third Base: Abby Grundy, Weber State
Outfield: Haley Hanson, Sacramento State
Outfield: Mia Rushton, Weber State
Non-Pitcher/UTL: Kiaira Smith, Weber State

University of Montana Athletics

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