Kansas City, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced its postseason awards and All-MIAA teams for the 2025 softball season, with five Missouri Southern athletes earning honors. Highlighting the accolades, Kiki Pickens was named MIAA Pitcher of the Year, while Bailey Dillon took home Freshman of the Year.
 
Pitcher of the Year / All-MIAA First Team Pitcher
Kiki Pickens
25 | So. | P | Beebe, Ark.
Pickens was crowned the 2025 Picher of the Year after owning a league-low ERA of 1.60 and a league-best opposing batting average of .167. The second-year Lion from Beebe, Ark., finished the regular season with a record of 18-5 in the circle. In 144.2 innings of work, Pickens allowed just 87 hits, 33 earned runs and 39 walks while striking out 151 batters.
 
Freshman of the Year / All-MIAA First Team Outfield
Bailey Dillon
6 | Fr. | UT | Lenexa, Kan.
Dillon was named the Freshman of the Year after leading the Lions offense and ranking among the league's top hitters throughout the 2025 season. The first year from Lenexa, Kan., leads Missouri Southern with a .420 batting average while starting all 52 games in left field. In 157 at-bats, Dillon has recorded 66 hits, 55 runs scored and 25 RBI. She also leads the Lions with 38 stolen bases this season – the second most in the league this season. Her batting average, on-base percentage (.505), runs scored, hits, triples and stolen bases all rank in the MIAA's top five in each category. Dillon would break the MSSU single-season freshman stolen base record.
 
Golden Glove / All-MIAA First Team First Base
Katie Gray
24 | Jr. | INF | Lansing, Kan.
Gray started and played in 51 games for the Lions, she delivered a standout season at the plate, hitting .389 with a 1.227 OPS over 51 starts. She crushed 14 home runs and tallied 68 RBIs, leading the team in both categories. Her 58 hits also included 13 doubles and a triple, driving her slugging percentage to .772. Gray reached base at a .455 clip, walking 16 times and being hit 7 times. She also went 2-for-2 in stolen base attempts and recorded 6 sacrifice flies. Throughout the season, Gray broke multiple MSSU single-season records, including the total home run and total RBI records.
 
All-MIAA Honorable Mention
Kate Thurman
13 | Sr. | UT | O'Fallon, Mo.
Thurman appeared in 30 games, making 28 starts, and hit .302 with a .736 OPS over 63 at-bats. She tallied 19 hits, including 4 doubles, and drove in 5 runs. Thurman posted a .371 on-base percentage and a .365 slugging percentage, drawing 6 walks and being hit by a pitch once. Defensively reliable and situationally aware, she also added a sacrifice bunt.
 
All-MIAA Honorable Mention
Kylee Jacks
5 | Sr. | OF | Spring, Texas
Jacks was a reliable presence in the lineup, starting all 51 games and hitting .331 with a .816 OPS. She recorded 56 hits, including 5 doubles, 4 triples, and 2 home runs, while driving in 29 RBIs and scoring 44 runs. Jacks finished with a .372 on-base percentage and a .444 slugging percentage. She was also a major threat on the bases, going 26-for-29 in stolen base attempts and laying down 4 sacrifice bunts.
 
Missouri Southern's pitching staff was dominant all season long, finishing ranked No. 1 in the MIAA with a collective 2.04 ERA and 1.05 WHIP over 353.0 innings of work. Opponents managed just a .215 batting average against them, collecting only 279 hits in 1,297 at-bats. The Lions racked up 278 strikeouts while issuing just 90 walks. The talented group powering the circle includes Kiki Pickens, Avery Tallman, Lauren Fuller, NaTalia Sewell, Kadence Janney, and Lily Rand.
 
2025 MIAA SOFTBALL POSTSEASON AWARDS & ALL-MIAA TEAMS
Player of the Year – Terin Ritz – Central Oklahoma, Sr.
Pitcher of the Year – Kiki Pickens – Missouri Southern, So.
Defensive Player of the Year – Rylee Lemos – Central Oklahoma, Jr.
Freshman of the Year – Bailey Dillon – Missouri Southern
Coaching Staff of the Year – Central Oklahoma – Cody White, Jon Hunter, Jordan Dixon
and Jacee Minter
 
ALL-MIAA FIRST TEAM
Pitcher: Kiki Pickens – Missouri Southern
Pitcher: Sydney Rader – Missouri Western
Pitcher: Brooke Weimer – Central Missouri
Catcher: Abbey Rogers – Rogers State
First Base: Katie Gray – Missouri Southern
Second Base: McKayla Carney – Rogers State
Shortstop: Heather Arnett – Pittsburg State
Third Base: Kaylee Lyon – Rogers State
Outfield: Bailey Dillon – Missouri Southern
Outfield: Rylee Lemos – Central Oklahoma
Outfield: Courtney Storey – Pittsburg State
Designated Player: Taylor Thompson – Central Missouri
Utility/Pitcher: Terin Ritz – Central Oklahoma*
*Unanimous Selection
 
ALL-MIAA SECOND TEAM
Pitcher: Ava Laurent – Pittsburg State
Pitcher: Harley Culie – Rogers State
Pitcher: Jade Sanders – Rogers State
Catcher: Madison Pierce – Fort Hays State
First Base: Jaden LaBarge – Washburn
Second Base: Alexis Tanguma – Washburn
Shortstop: Emily Deramus – Central Oklahoma
Third Base: Kadyn Trochim – Pittsburg State
Outfield: Lillie Filger – Northwest Missouri
Outfield: Makenzie Sais – Washburn
Outfield: Callie Yellin – Rogers State
Designated Player: Chloe Bohuslavicky – Rogers State
Utility/Pitcher: Madison Heinle – Northeastern State
 
GOLD GLOVE TEAM
Pitcher: Sydney Rader – Missouri Western
Catcher: Abbey Rogers – Rogers State
First Base: Katie Gray – Missouri Southern
Second Base: Rylee Anglen – Central Oklahoma
Second Base: Jadyn Sheffield – Central Missouri
Shortstop: Curstin Todd – Northwest Missouri
Third Base: Kadyn Trochim – Pittsburg State
Outfield: Erin Boles – Washburn
Outfield: Juliana De Luna – Emporia State
Outfield: Taylor Jones – Missouri Western
Outfield: Rylee Lemos – Central Oklahoma
(Team Includes Ties)
 
HONORABLE MENTION
Central Missouri: Bailey Brumley (First Base)
Central Oklahoma: Kennedy Clark (Catcher); Rylee Anglen (Second Base); Brooklyn Ryan
(Outfield)
Emporia State: Sydney Wagner (Shortstop); Brooke Flewelling (Third Base); Taryn
Burkhardt (Outfield)
Missouri Southern: Kate Thurman (Catcher); Kylee Jacks (Outfield)
Nebraska Kearney: Mary Chvatal (Shortstop)
Northeastern State: Korynn Tindel (Shortstop); Maddie Messenger (Third Base)
Northwest Missouri: Jadyn Streigle (Pitcher); Skylar Pieper (First Base); Malia Cuevas
(Second Base); Omara Love (Outfield)
Pittsburg State: Aydenne Brown (Pitcher); Alleyna Rushing (Outfield); Amaya Snyder
(Designated Player)