EAST PEORIA, Ill. – A debate could rage for hours – maybe even days – about whether sophomore Ally Foster is a more effective hitter or pitcher for the Bellarmine University softball team and where her value has the greatest impact. One thing about her versatile performance this season is clear-cut: She brought plenty of misery to opposing teams while in the batter's box or the pitcher's circle.

The respect around the league for Foster's dual-threat abilities was underscored at the Thursday evening banquet at the 2014 Great Lakes Valley Conference Softball Championship Tournament, where Foster was honored as the conference's Player of the Year to become the second Knights player in school history to receive the accolade after Kara Houston in 2003.

Selected as the POY and first-team All-GLVC East as a utility player, Foster wasn't alone in receiving plaudits. Joining her on the first team for Bellarmine were juniors Alicia Miller (pitcher) and Kelsey Hicks (third base), while second-team notice went to juniors Scarlett Powers (catcher) and Hannah Daunhauer (outfield) and freshman Erica Knollman (shortstop).

The six Bellarmine players celebrated on the All-GLVC team are the most ever for the Knights since the GLVC was separated into divisions and first and second teams were established. Before that, Bellarmine had seven players honored in 1991 – four on the first team with three honorable-mention selections.

In addition to naming Foster as the POY, the GLVC coaches voted Missouri-St. Louis' Hannah Perryman and Truman State's Kindra Henze as Co-Pitchers of the Year; Missouri-St. Louis shortstop Alex Stupek was named Freshman of the Year; and Indianapolis' Melissa Frost was tabbed as Coach of the Year.

Before leading Bellarmine into the GLVC Softball Championship, Foster built what may have been an irrevocable case to become the league's POY. Name a statistical category offensively, and the Louisville native either heads the GLVC or is among the leaders. The sophomore, who plays center field when she's not pitching, is leading the league in batting average (.397), slugging percentage (.747) and on-base percentage (.508), and is top seven in hits (58), doubles (15), homers (12), RBIs (36), runs scored (39), total bases (109) and walks (31).

Foster has been just as dominating when she leaves the batter's box for the pitcher's circle. Her anemic 0.92 ERA is fifth in the country, and she's second in the nation in hits allowed per seven innings (2.81). The overpowering right-hander has struck out a BU single-season record of 172 batters while accumulating a 16-5 record with a GLVC-best four saves. Opponents are batting a paltry .123 against the two-time All-GLVC first teamer, which leads the conference.

Miller returns to All-GLVC status after being named to the second team in 2012. A first teamer this go-around, the southpaw has displayed exceptional command of the strike zone in 2014, ranking second nationally in walks allowed per seven innings (0.42). Miller has compiled a 13-8 record this season in becoming the second all-time winningest pitcher in Bellarmine history. The lefty has an ERA of 1.46 and has fanned 112 batters with a mere nine walks in 148.2 innings pitched.

Hicks is making her first appearance on the All-GLVC team. Known for her crafty glove work at third base, where she has piled up 115 assists this season, Hicks has cranked three homers and four doubles to go along with 15 RBIs and 11 runs scored.

Powers made the All-GLVC first team last season and despite superior numbers in 2014 was named to the second team this year. The slugging BU backstop has smashed a team-high 13 homers and racked up a team-best 37 RBIs while hitting .356 with six doubles and 21 runs scored. She's been nearly flawless behind the plate, registering a .991 fielding percentage. Powers is on the precipice of becoming BU's all-time home runs leader, trailing Megan Murdoch by just one.

Knollman gained All-GLVC honors on her first attempt. The freshman shortstop ranks third on Bellarmine behind Foster and Powers in batting average (.303), homers (eight) and RBIs (32). She's collected seven doubles and scored 22 runs.

This is Daunhauer's first inclusion on the all-conference team. The junior right fielder has socked 13 doubles – good for second on the team – while batting .271 with two homers, 16 RBIs and 20 runs scored. She's committed a single error in the outfield all season. 

Player of the Year: Ally Foster, So., UT, Bellarmine
Co-Pitchers of the Year: Hannah Perryman, So., P, Missouri-St. Louis
Kindra Henze, So., P, Truman State
Freshman of the Year: Alex Stupek, Fr., SS, Missouri-St. Louis
Coach of the Year: Melissa Frost, Indianapolis