Kansas City, Mo. – The Missouri Southern softball program had seven players named to the All-MIAA teams led by
Leighton Withers and
Yazmin Vargas as first-team selections.
Last season Withers and Vargas were named All-MIAA honorable mention in their positions and this season they led the Lions to their second-straight appearance in the MIAA Tournament. A junior utility player from Benton, Ark., Withers leads the team with eight home runs and a .661 slugging percentage while hitting .348 with 23 runs scored, 12 doubles, 42 RBIs, a .421 on base percentage while assisting in 12 double plays while having an infield high 176 putouts recorded. A sophomore outfielder from Garden City, Kan., Vargas led the team with 46 runs scored, 16 walks drawn and 23 stolen bases while hitting .342 with 50 hits, seven doubles, five triples, two home runs and an outfield high 71 putouts.
Josie Tofpi, a junior from Moore, Okla., was named a second team All-MIAA selection at shortstop, becoming a three-time All-MIAA pick at the position. This season Tofpi is hitting .313 with 28 runs scored, 40 hits, four doubles, five triples, two home runs, 22 RBIs, slugged .469 while recording 55 putouts and 94 assists while turning 12 double plays.
Kara Amos, a sophomore from Independence, Mo., was named second team All-MIAA utility/pitcher for the second year in a row and was named to the Gold Glove team as a Pitcher. With a bat in hand Amos is hitting .302 with 19 runs scored, 42 hits, 16 doubles, a triple, 25 RBIs and is slugging .432. In the circle she is 11-10 with a 3.13 ERA in 32 appearances with 20 starts and 13 complete games, pitched 138.2 innings with 94 strikeouts and opponents hit .268 against her.
Bailey Lacy, a junior from Hays, Kan. was named an All-MIAA honorable mention pitcher after going 13-10 with a 2.74 ERA in 30 appearances with 23 starts and nine complete games to go with five shutouts, pitched 138 innings where she struck out 117 and opponents hit .263 against her.
Ashlynn Williams, a junior from Oklahoma City, Okla., was named an All-MIAA honorable mention catcher after leading the team with a .352 average, 51 hits, 43 RBIs, and 259 putouts recorded while also scoring 24 runs, having eight doubles, four triples and six home runs.
Adrianna Young, a sophomore from Tulsa, Okla., was named an All-MIAA honorable mention outfielder after hitting .295 with 25 runs scored, 41 hits, four triples, two home runs, 23 RBIs, had eight stolen bases and collected 68 putouts.
The Lions are set to play #6 Rogers State in the opening round of the 2022 MIAA Softball Tournament hosted by Central Oklahoma on Thursday at 4:00pm.
The complete list of players named to All-MIAA teams is listed below.
2022 MIAA Softball Awards
Player of the Year: Jaycee Ginter, Utility/Pitcher - Washburn
Defensive Player of the Year: Brighton Gilbert, Shortstop – Central Oklahoma
Pitcher of the Year: Andrea Morales – Rogers State*
Freshman of the Year: Abbey Rogers, Catcher – Rogers State
Coach of the Year: Brenda Holaday – Washburn*
2022 All-MIAA Softball Teams
First-Team
Pitcher: Kylee Lynch – Central Oklahoma
Pitcher: Andrea Morales – Rogers State*
Catcher: Amelya Huggins – Central Oklahoma
First Base: Paxtyn Hayes – Pittsburg State
Second Base: Taylor Lambert – Pittsburg State
Shortstop: Brighton Gilbert – Central Oklahoma
Third Base: Marrit Mead - Washburn
Outfield: Jacee Minter – Central Oklahoma
Outfield: Yazmin Vargas – Missouri Southern
Outfield: Carlee Liesch – Nebraska Kearney
Designated Player: Ashton Friend - Washburn
Utility/Pitcher: Jaycee Ginter – Washburn*
Utility/Non-Pitcher: Leighton Withers – Missouri Southern
Second-Team
Pitcher: Sydney Rader – Missouri Western
Pitcher: M'Kayla Hillman – Rogers State
Catcher: Madison Szymanski – Pittsburg State
Catcher: Abbey Rogers – Rogers State
First Base: Elexis Watson – Rogers State
Second Base: Sydni Hawkins – Missouri Western
Shortstop: Josie Tofpi – Missouri Southern
Third Base: Shayla Harper – Central Oklahoma
Outfield: Lexy Dobson – Central Oklahoma
Outfield: Brittanie Shepherd – Emporia State
Outfield: Kianna Pellegrino – Pittsburg State
Outfield: Paige Robbins - Washburn
Designated Player: Maddy Broxterman – Emporia State
Designated Player: Bridgett Morales – Rogers State
Utility/Pitcher: Kara Amos – Missouri Southern
Utility/Non-Pitcher: Shayleigh Odom – Central Oklahoma
Gold Glove Team
Pitcher: Kara Amos – Missouri Southern
Catcher: Amelya Huggins – Central Oklahoma
First Base: Elexis Watson – Rogers State
Second Base: Tarin Dubler – Central Oklahoma
Shortstop: Brighton Gilbert – Central Oklahoma
Third Base: Marrit Mead – Washburn
Outfield: Peyton Corrigan – Central Missouri
Outfield: Jacee Minter – Central Oklahoma
Outfield: Lexy Dobson – Central Oklahoma
Honorable Mentions
Central Missouri: Kyleigh Lay - Pitcher, Makenzie McAtee – First Base; Aubrie McRoberts – Outfield; Peyton Corrigan – Outfield
Central Oklahoma: Mikayla Rutland – First Base, Tarin Dubler – Second Base; Korbyn Skipworth – Outfield
Emporia State: Sydney Righi – Pitcher, Lexi Williams – Outfield; Alexis Dail – Outfield; Josie Harrison – Utility/Pitcher
Fort Hays State: Sarah Tiffany - Outfield
Missouri Southern: Bailey Lacy - Pitcher, Ashlynn Williams – Catcher; Adrianna Young – Outfield
Missouri Western: Emma Hoffart - Catcher
Nebraska Kearney: Bri Healy - Outfield, Sydney Thomason – Utility/Pitcher
Newman: Lindsay Mayo – First Base, Gianna Navarro – Second Base; Laurie Cooke – Shortstop; Anissa Ramos – Third Base
Northeastern State: Savannah Evan – Pitcher, Gail Young – Pitcher; Addy Wolfe – Third Base; Rhomie Bradshaw – Outfield; Sydney Balderrama –
Outfield; Chloe Bohuslavicky – Designated Player; Jaeden Rosenquist – Utility/Non-Pitcher
Northwest Missouri: Skylar Piper – First Base, Abby Nolte – Second Base; Jacee Winn – Outfield; Olivia Daugherty – Designated Player
Pittsburg State: Gabby Schultz - Shortstop, Keelah Griffith – Outfield
Rogers State: Lana Gass - Outfield, Makayla Bowman – Outfield
Washburn: Hadley Kerschen – Second Base, Autymn Schreiner - Shortstop
*Indicates unanimous selection
^Includes ties in voting
