Helton led three other players onto the 18-person first team, while 20 members, including four Lady Statesmen, collected honorable mentions. The eight conference designations tie a school record for Penn.

Ending her collegiate career as the all-time leader in numerous offensive categories, the senior helped Penn to a 44-13 record (16-6 MCC) and the MCC Tournament Championship Game.

Helton, MCC Player of the Week on April 19, was also the league's POY in 2009. She paced the Lady Statesmen in batting average (.458), hits (77), doubles (19), home runs (14), RBIs (56), runs (46), walks (29), slugging percentage (.821), and on-base percentage (.537). The senior paced the MCC in most of those areas as well.

The pitching duo of Hannah Lugar (So., Kalona, Mid-Prairie HS) and Monica Villarreal (Fr., Oceanside, Calif., Carlsbad HS) also earned-first-team recognition as did center fielder Khyia Lewis (So., Ottumwa, Ottumwa HS).

Villarreal had a great freshman campaign, going 20-5 with a 1.28 Earned Run Average in 164 1/3 innings. She sat down 176 batters on strikes and walked only 33. Opponents hit a meager .167 versus the freshman.

Lugar was equally impressive in her sophomore season, finishing 22-7 with a 1.99 ERA in 186 innings of work. She struck out 149 batters with 32 walks. Opponents hit .230 against her.

Lewis led the outfield crew in her first varsity season. The sophomore hit .387 with 63 hits, 17 doubles, one triple, three home runs, 30 RBIs, and 30 runs scored. The MCC Player of the Week on April 26, she tallied five defensive assists from her position.

The team's list of honorable mentions included catcher Krystina Lorah (Jr., Moreno Valley, Calif., Moreno Valley HS), shortstop Ashley Stream (So., Chariton, Chariton HS), third baseman Kara Atkins (So., Burlington, Burlington HS), and right fielder Hailey Dreyer (Sr., Twin Lakes, Wis., Dubuque).

Lorah provided a great complement to Helton in the power department, finishing with ten home runs on the year. The junior hit .386 with 66 hits, 12 doubles, 49 RBIs, and 34 runs.

Stream, who battled through a late-season injury, posted a .316 average with 61 hits, 17 doubles, four home runs, 19 RBIs, and 45 runs.

Atkins hit .335 with 56 hits, ten doubles, three home runs, 41 RBIs, and 24 runs scored, while Dreyer, whose defense was exceptional (25 assists), hit .256 with 40 hits, four doubles, a team-best three triples, two home runs, 14 RBIs, and 26 runs.

Becca Smith of Mount Mercy was tabbed as the MCC's Pitcher of the Year, while Glenn Johnson of Mount Mercy was named MCC Coach of the Year by his peers.

For the complete 2010 all-MCC Softball Teams, click here