ALISO VIEJO, Calif. / CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Six MIAA softball athletes have been named to 2025 NCAA Division II All-American teams announced by the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) and National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).

The conference posted six total selections onto NFCA All-American teams with five of those players also earning All-American D2CAA mentions. The MIAA had the second highest number of athletes earn D2CCA All-America honors with one first team, two second team and two third team picks with only the Lone Star Conference ahead at six with one First-Teamer and five Third-Teamers. 

Leading the conference as the sole softball athlete with D2CCA First Team All-American distinction was Pittsburg State’s Heather Arnett. It’s the second straight year the shortstop has posted her name onto the list after receiving a consensus first team All-American selection by both the NFCA and D2CCA for her work in the outfield last season. She is now the first Pitt State player in program history to be awarded two First Team D2CCA All-America honors. Arnett continues to build on an outstanding career as she led the conference this season in batting average (.490), on base percentage (.514), hits (100) and stolen bases (41) while ranking second in runs scored (66) and at bats (204) and third in triples (5) as the junior still has one more year with the Gorillas. 

Reaping the only MIAA selection onto the NFCA All-American First Team was Central Oklahoma's Terin Ritz with an at-large pick in the utility/pitcher position. The senior also sought second team D2CCA All-American attention after being named the D2CCA Central Region Player of the Year. She was crowned the MIAA Player of the Year after helping UCO to the conference regular season and tournament championship as the Bronchos made their way to its fifth straight Division II National Softball Championship appearance. A force inside the circle and on the plate, the senior concluded her career leading the MIAA this season in ERA (1.57), wins (23) slugging percentage (.856), on base + slugging percentage (1.356), RBI (82), doubles (20) and home runs (19).

Missouri Southern’s Katie Gray also tabbed her name onto the D2CCA Second Team after earning All-Central Region First Team accolades from both the D2CCA and NFCA earlier in the month. Rounding out on the third team was another Broncho in Rylee Lemos and Abbey Rogers of Rogers State. 

Rogers, Arnett and Lemos found themselves on the NFCA All-American Second Team while Gray was joined by MSSU teammate Bailey Dillon onto the third team to complete the group of MIAA athletes with NFCA All-American honors. 

For a full-list of All-American honorees, visit the NFCA webpage and D2CCA document. 

D2CCA ALL-AMERICANS
FIRST TEAM (SS) – Heather Arnett – Pittsburg State
SECOND TEAM (UT/P) – Terin Ritz – Central Oklahoma
SECOND TEAM (1B) – Katie Gray – Missouri Southern
THIRD TEAM (OF) – Rylee Lemos – Central Oklahoma
THIRD TEAM (C) – Abbey Rogers – Rogers State

NFCA ALL-AMERICANS
FIRST TEAM (At-Large-UT/P) – Terin Ritz – Central Oklahoma
SECOND TEAM (C) – Abbey Rogers – Rogers State 
SECOND TEAM (SS) – Heather Arnett – Pittsburg State 
SECOND TEAM (OF) – Rylee Lemos – Central Oklahoma
THIRD TEAM (1B) – Katie Gray – Missouri Southern 
THIRD TEAM (OF) – Bailey Dillon – Missouri Southern