By FHSU Sports Information
Photos courtesy FHSU SID
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State had four players named to the All-MIAA Softball Team for the 2018 season on Thursday (Apr. 26). Sara Breckbill headlines the four selections, earning a first-team selection at utility/non-pitcher, while Candace Bollig, Bailey Boxberger, and Grace Philop earned honorable mention selections at their primary positions.
Breckbill qualified for the utility/non-pitcher slot on the All-MIAA ballot, voted on by head coaches of all 14 MIAA teams. Players must play in at least 33% of their games at a secondary position, so Breckbill qualified by making 31 starts at first base and 19 at catcher. She started all 50 games for FHSU this season and hit .315 with five home runs, eight doubles, 22 RBI, and 18 runs scored. She committed just two errors at each position for a total of four on the season, putting together a fielding percentage of .984 on a team-high 251 chances. She ranked second on the team in batting average and doubles, and tied for the team lead in home runs.
Bollig grabs and All-MIAA Honorable Mention selection at third base for the second straight year. The senior led the team in runs scored (28) and stolen bases (13), while hitting .286 for the season and starting every game. She added 10 extra-base hits and 20 RBI for the season.
Boxberger earns the first all-conference selection of her career, receiving an honorable mention nod at designated player. Boxberger made 30 starts as the team’s DP, while also getting 16 starts at first base. For the season, Boxberger hit .305 with a team-best 14 extra-base hits. She tied Breckbill for the team lead in home runs and led the team in RBI (27) and slugging percentage (.482).
Philop gives FHSU a pair of freshmen named to the all-conference team. She earned an honorable mention selection in the outfield by leading FHSU in batting average (.333) and hits (57), while starting every game. She had 20 RBI and 19 runs scored, along with eight doubles and one home run. She had a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 57 chances for the season, while also recording two assists from the outfield.
Below is the 2018 All-MIAA Softball Team.
2018 All-MIAA Postseason Awards
Coach of the Year- Brenda Holaday, Washburn
Player of the Year- Carrie Abrams, Central Oklahoma
Pitcher of the Year-Megan Deiter, Washburn
Defensive Player of the Year- Shelby Uhl, Missouri Western
Freshman of the Year- Bri Francis, Washburn
2018 All-MIAA First Team
Pitcher- Megan Deiter, Washburn
Pitcher- Claire Miller, Southwest Baptist
Catcher-Kala Holder, Pittsburg State
First Base-Hannah Porter, Lindenwood
Second Base-Kaitlyn Weis, Northwest Missouri
Shortstop- Morgan Heard, Central Oklahoma
Third Base-Savannah Moore, Washburn
Outfield-Carrie Abrams, Central Oklahoma
Outfield-Abi Corbett, Missouri Southern
Outfield-Samantha Stallbaumer, Washburn
Designated Player-Jessica Schuler, Northeastern State
*Utility/Non-Pitcher-Taylor Dames, Central Missouri
*Utility/Non-Pitcher-Sara Breckbill, Fort Hays State
Utility/Pitcher-Stormee Galka, Lindenwood
*denotes tie in voting
2018 All-MIAA Second Team
Pitcher-Jayden Chestnut, Central Oklahoma
Pitcher-Rachel Smith, Northwest Missouri
Catcher-Bri Francis, Washburn
First Base-Danielle Sprinkle, Emporia State
Second Base-Annelise Rockley, Emporia State
Shortstop-Austine Pauley, Lindenwood
Third Base-JoBi Heath, Central Oklahoma
Outfield-Lauryn Deer, Central Missouri
Outfield-Shelby Uhl, Missouri Western
Outfield-Emilee Baker, Washburn
Designated Player-Karli Allen, Northwest Missouri
Utility/Non-Pitcher-Taylor Kirk, Washburn
Utility/Pitcher-Destiny Ojigoh, Emporia State
2018 All-MIAA Honorable Mention
Central Missouri- Alexa Bradley-Pitcher, Katie Giacone-Pitcher, Allie Dishinger-Catcher, Hailey Crabtree-First Base, Alexis Koop-Second Base, Kaitlyn Markin-Shortstop, Emily King-Third Base, Payton Summers-Designated Player
Central Oklahoma-Halley Randolph-Catcher, Carli Jones-First Base, Bailey Thompson-Outfield, Allie Eicher-Designated Player
Emporia State-Kenzie Garvin-Outfield
Fort Hays State – Candace Bollig, Third Base, Grace Philop, Outfield, Bailey Boxberger, Designated Player
Lincoln-Jordan Lawson-Outfield
Lindenwood-Megan Clark-Second Base
Missouri Southern- Natalie Hamm-Pitcher, Erika Lutgen – First Base, Shelby Friend-Shortstop
Missouri Western-Kenzie Hilzer-Pitcher, Bekah Mueller-Catcher, Shellby Atwell-First Base
Nebraska Kearney -Sara Sempek-First Base, Cheyenne Hamilton-Third Base, Lex Ray-Outfield, Alexis Howe-Utility/Non-Pitcher, Meg Householder- Utility/Pitcher
Northeastern State – Gail Young-Pitcher, Kyla Ibarra-Catcher, Paige Gann-First Base, Kaleigh Hinkle-Second Base, Kelsey Harmon-Shortstop, Haley Acrey-Third Base, Jessica Boone-Outfield, Sierra Crick-Outfield
Northwest Missouri-Rebecca Maher-Shortstop, Erin Keeney-Third Base, Jaedra Moses-Outfield, Abbi Gilson-Utility/Non-Pitcher
Pittsburg State-Kristen Van Hoosen
Southwest Baptist-Megan Schellert-Second Base, Jaidyn Mawhinney
Washburn – Kelsee Henry-Pitcher, Alyssa Carney-Designated Player