FHSU Sports Information Department
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State seniors Paxton Duran, Rilee Krier, Courtney Dobson, and Tori Beltz earned All-MIAA honors for the 2016 softball season. All four were honorable mention selections at their respective positions.
Duran earns All-MIAA honors for the third time in her career as a pitcher. This is the second straight year she has earned honorable mention an honorable mention nod after second team honors as a sophomore. Duran is having the best season of her career in regards to ERA and strikeouts. She holds a 2.67 ERA heading into the MIAA Tournament and ranks second in the conference in strikeouts with 197. The only area that is misleading about Duran’s performance this year is her record at 15-17, but she has unfortunately taken 10 losses in 13 complete games that were decided by one run. In those 13 starts, she allowed just 2.2 runs per game (lower than her ERA). She has been a workhorse in the circle for the Tigers with 212.1 innings this year (ranks second in MIAA) and has 25 complete games (fourth in MIAA). With a strikeout to close out FHSU’s 2-1 win over Nebraska-Kearney last Sunday, Duran reached 600 strikeouts for her career.
Krier earns All-MIAA honors for the first time in her three years with the Tigers. Krier is undoubtedly having the best season of her career, leading the team in batting average (.361), hits (57), runs (35), on-base percentage (.420) and stolen bases (22). She is just the second player in program history to reach at least 20 stolen bases in a season, joining Bianca Adame who accomplished it twice. She ranks seventh in the MIAA in stolen bases, 14th in hits, 17th in batting average and 19th in on-base percentage. Krier ranks second all-time at FHSU in stolen bases with 43 for her career.
Dobson earns All-MIAA honors for the fourth time in her career, becoming just the fourth player in program history to earn all-conference honors in all four years at FHSU. She joins Hallie McMillen, Maddie Holub, and Amanda Vaupel on that list. Dobson is the career leader in defensive assists at FHSU with 354. She has started all 208 games she has played in her career and ranks fourth all-time at FHSU in runs scored with 107. So far this year, she is batting .292 with eight doubles, two triples, one home run, 15 RBI, and 22 runs. In the field, she has committed just six errors at second base in 172 chances.
Beltz earns All-MIAA honors for the third time in her career. Beltz ranks high in several career offensive categories at FHSU. She is now the career leader in walks with 80, while ranking second in home runs (29), RBI (134), and sacrifice flies (6). She is also second all-time in defensive putouts with 973. This season, she is hitting .280 and leads the team in home runs (10), doubles (9), walks (22), slugging percentage (.529), and RBI (36). She ranks ninth in the MIAA in home runs, 11th in walks, and 19th in RBI.
All-MIAA Softball Team
Player of the Year: Morgan Heard, SS, Central Oklahoma
Player of the Year: Morgan Heard, SS, Central Oklahoma
Pitcher of the Year: Emmie Robertson, Pittsburg State
Co-Defensive Players of the Year: Torri Blythe, 2B, Northwest Missouri
Ali Jo Rogers, SS, Central Missouri & Katie Klosterman, 3B, Missouri Western
Freshman of the Year: Carli Jones, 1B, Central Oklahoma
Coach of the Year: Jennifer Trotter, Missouri Western
1st Team
Pitcher: Emmie Robertson, Pittsburg State$
Pitcher: Kayce Wooldridge, Northeastern State
Catcher: Tori Collett, Central Oklahoma
First Base: Kate Ruwe, Nebraska-Kearney
Second Base: Torri Blythe, Northwest Missouri
Shortstop: Morgan Heard, Central Oklahoma
Third Base: Katie Klosterman, Missouri Western
Outfield: Morgan Rathmann, Missouri Western
Outfield: Lexi Watson, Central Oklahoma
Outfield: Rebecca Wyatt, Nebraska-Kearney
Designated Player: Rachel Ray, Southwest Baptist
Utility/Non-Pitcher: Kylie Guthier, Pittsburg State
Utility/Pitcher: Emily Robinson, Central Missouri
$= Repeat First Team Selection
2nd Team
Pitcher: Kendle Schieber, Northwest Missouri
Pitcher: Janie Smith, Missouri Western
Catcher: Nicole Nease, Pittsburg State
First Base: Carli Jones, Central Oklahoma
Second Base: Ally Dziadula, Central Oklahoma
Shortstop: Rebecca Maher, Northwest Missouri
Third Base: Chantel Adams, Northwest Missouri
Third Base: Katy Remy, Pittsburg State
Outfield: Rachel Harper, Central Oklahoma
Outfield: Abi Corbett, Missouri Southern
Outfield: Jobi Heath, Central Oklahoma
Designated Player: Taylor Hamilton, Missouri Western
Utility/Non-Pitcher: Alexis Theis, Lindenwood
Utility/Pitcher: Marina Quimby, Washburn
Note= Two third baseman due to tie in the voting
Honorable Mention
Pitcher: Nicole Brady, Central Oklahoma; Jessie Walker, Central Oklahoma; Eryn Stockman, Emporia State; Paxton Duran, Fort Hays State; Madison Ragar, Lincoln; Ashley Lutz, Missouri Southern; Shyanne Saladino, Missouri Western; Sarah Baldwin, Northwest Missouri; Morgan Myers, Pittsburg State; Kacey Ayers, Southwest Baptist; Samantha Carson, Washburn
Catcher: Erin Dwyer, Nebraska-Kearney; Kayla Ibarra, Northeastern State; Jessica Rawie, Northwest Missouri; Dana Graves, Southwest Baptist
First Base: Danielle Sprinkle, Emporia State; Tori Beltz, Fort Hays State; Kailey Green, Missouri Western; Paige Gann, Northeastern State; Alexis Kelsey, Northwest Missouri
Second Base: Courtney Dobson, Fort Hays State; Jessica Wolken, Lincoln; Madeline Bohr, Lindenwood; Paige Shifflett, Missouri Western; Maddie Boyd, Northeastern State; Taylor Zimmerman, Washburn
Shortstop: Ali Jo Rogers, Central Missouri; Tori Nienhueser, Lincoln; Alexandra Newcomb, Lindenwood; Shelbie Atwell, Missouri Western; Kelsey Harmon, Northeastern State; Jenna Bolton, Pittsburg State; Cassidy Merriman, Washburn
Third Base: Emily King, Central Missouri; Ashton Smith, Central Oklahoma; Caitlyn Touchette, Lindenwood; Makenzi Dallas, Nebraska-Kearney; Haley Acrey, Northeastern State
Outfield: Alex Leonhart, Central Missouri; Caitlin VanVleck, Emporia State; Morgan Swisher, Emporia State; Rilee Krier, Fort Hays State; Hope McLeod, Lincoln; Brooklyn Sisk, Lindenwood; Alana Hester, Missouri Southern; Sydney Washington, Missouri Western; Paige Hamelin, Nebraska-Kearney; Ryan Martin, Northeastern State; Jessica Boone, Northeastern State; Jaedra Moses, Northwest Missouri; Ashton Pratt, Pittsburg State; Catie Cummins, Pittsburg State; Caitlin Evans, Southwest Baptist
Designated Player: Erica Harper, Emporia State; Madison Jones, Northwest Missouri
Utility/Non-Pitcher: Hailey Crabtree, Central Missouri; Ashley Rudder, Washburn