Softball | 5/1/2019 11:39:44 AM
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The 2019 MIAA Softball Postseason Awards and Teams have announced by the association. Central Oklahoma led the way by earning three of the postseason awards and four first-team selections.
UCO’s third baseman JoBi Heath was named the conference’s Player of the Year. She batted .400 on the season and the led MIAA in RBIs (60) and Doubles (22). Heath was second in the league with a .767 slugging percentage and belted 11 home runs, the third most in the association this season.
Kala Holder of Pittsburg State was selected as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. Holder played in a utility role for the Gorillas and threw out nine potential base stealers when she appeared as the catcher, which ranked top-10 in the MIAA. On the season, she had a .986 fielding percentage and recorded 137 putouts with 80 assists.
Bailey McKittrick from Central Oklahoma was tabbed as the MIAA Pitcher of the Year. McKittrick led the conference with a 1.84 ERA and held opposing batters to a .237 average, also first in the conference. She won a league-high 21 games and recorded 92 strikeouts, 37 while looking.
Freshman of the Year was awarded to Nebraska Kearney outfielder Carlee Liesch. Liesch had an association best .458 batting average and 50 runs scored. In conference only games, Liesch had a league-best 46 hits and ranked fourth in slugging percentage at .700.
Central Oklahoma’s Cody White was voted by his peers as the association’s Coach of the Year. White guided the Bronchos to a 23-3 record in MIAA play, 41-5 overall record and to a No. 1 ranking in the NFCA Division II Poll and in the NCAA Central Regional. UCO led the MIAA in batting average (.346), runs (331), RBIs (305), slugging percentage (.521) and ERA (2.31). Central Oklahoma claimed the 2019 MIAA Softball Regular Season Championship.
Below is the complete list of 2019 MIAA Postseason Awards followed the 2019 All-MIAA Teams. The 2019 MIAA Softball Championship begins on Wednesday, May 1 with the first game set for 11 a.m.
2019 MIAA Postseason Award
Player of the Year: JoBi Heath - Central Oklahoma
Defensive Player of the Year: Kala Holder - Pittsburg State
Pitcher of the Year: Bailey McKittrick - Central Oklahoma
Freshman of the Year: Carlee Liesch - Nebraska Kearney
Coach of the Year: Cody White - Central Oklahoma
2019 All-MIAA Teams
First-Team
Pitcher: Bailey McKittrick - Central Oklahoma
Pitcher: Sydney McLeod - Central Oklahoma
Catcher: Alexis Howe - Nebraska Kearney
First Base: Carli Jones - Central Oklahoma
Second Base: Kaity Kukowski - Pittsburg State
Shortstop: Taylor Kirk - Washburn
Third Base: JoBi Heath - Central Oklahoma
Outfield: Hazel Puempel - Central Oklahoma
Outfield: Morgan Frost - Missouri Western
Outfield: Carlee Liesch - Nebraska Kearney
Outfield: Samantha Stallbaumer - Washburn
Designated Player: Brea Blanton - Missouri Western
Utility/Pitcher: Stormee Galka - Lindenwood
Utility/Non-Pitcher: Kala Holder - Pittsburg State
Includes Ties In Voting
Second-Team
Pitcher: Taurean Guzman - Missouri Southern
Pitcher: Kaili Hinds - Missouri Western
Pitcher: Gail Young - Northeastern State
Pitcher: Halle Brin - Pittsburg State
Pitcher: Raegen Hamm - Washburn
Catcher: Sara Breckbill - Fort Hays State
First Base: Camryn Pryor - Lincoln
Second Base: Sydni Hawkins - Missouri Western
Shortstop: Austine Pauley - Lindenwood
Third Base: Cheyenne Hamilton - Nebraska Kearney
Outfielder: Lexy Dobson - Central Oklahoma
Outfielder: Bailey Thompson - Central Oklahoma
Outfielder: Lauryn Deer - Central Missouri
Designated Player: Gabby Biondo - Emporia State
Utility/Non-Pitcher: Winter Henry - Washburn
Includes Ties In Voting
All-MIAA Honorable Mention
Central Missouri: Alexa Bradley - Pitcher, Ashlyn Cook - Outfield, Hailey Crabtree - First Base, Taylor Dames - Outfield, Alexis Koop - Second Base, Makenzie McAtee - Designated Player, Jessica Sader - Third Base
Central Oklahoma: Allie Eicher - Designated Player, Casady Webb - Second Base
Emporia State: Cassidy Beem - Catcher, Kenzie Garvin - Outfield, Valerie Kinney - Utility/Non-Pitcher, Hannah Steeby - Shortstop
Fort Hays State: Terran Caldwell - Outfield, Hailey Chapman - Pitcher, Lily Sale - Shortstop
Lincoln: Jordan Lawson - Outfield
Lindenwood: Hannah Porter - First Base
Missouri Southern: Lexi Ferrari - Utility/Non-Pitcher, Makaila Leonhart - Second Base, Josie Tofpi - Shortstop
Missouri Western: Gabi Carter - First Base, Emma Hoffart- Third Base, Cassidy Kelsheimer - Catcher
Nebraska Kearney: Sarah Handrahan - Pitcher, Alexis Ray - Outfield, Sara Sempek - First Base
Northeastern State: Haley Acrey - Third Base, Alyssia Crick - Designated Player, Sierra Crick - Outfield, Kyla Ibarra - Catcher, Maddie Boyd - Second Base
Northwest Missouri: Kaitlyn Weis - Shortstop
Pittsburg State: Dru Collins - Pittsburg State, Makenzie Goswick - First Base
Washburn: Brianna Fuchs - Outfield, Savannah Moore - Third Base, Bailey Zuniga - Pitcher