By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State Softball had three players named to the 2023 All-MIAA Softball Team, voted on by conference coaches and announced on Tuesday (May 2). Peyton Shepard earned second team honors in the outfield, while honorable mention selections went to Savanah Egger at pitcher and Carly Stuke in the outfield.
Shepard has put together a strong freshman campaign with the Tigers. The Lakewood, Colorado native leads the Tigers in batting average (.376), hits (67), runs scored (34), total bases (72), on-base percentage (.434), and stolen bases (18). Within the MIAA, Shepard ranks third in hits, eighth in stolen bases, and 10th in batting average. She leads the Tigers in multi-hit games (19), has the top streak of reaching base this season at 16 straight games, which occurred from the season opener on February 10 to March 4. She is also tied for the longest hitting streak on the team this season, going on a nine-game run from February 18 to March 4.
Egger picked up her first all-conference honor in the pitching circle, one of the conference’s best in several categories. Egger leads the MIAA, ranks second in the NCAA Central Region, and eighth in NCAA Division II for shutouts this season with nine. Five of her nine shutouts were in games where she had two or less runs of offensive support, and she allowed three or less hits in four of her shutouts. Egger ranks second in the MIAA in complete games with 18 and third in strikeouts with 142. She owns the fourth-base batting average against in the conference (.225) and the sixth-best ERA (2.04).
Stuke has also put together a strong freshman campaign, seeing the majority of her starts in left field. She leads the Tigers in slugging percentage (.476) and home runs (3), ranks second in batting average (.320) and on-base percentage (.406), third in extra-base hits (16), and tied for third in RBIs (24). She has 12 multi-hit games and six multi-RBI games this season.
Below is the 2023 All-MIAA Softball Team.
2023 MIAA Softball Postseason Awards
Players of the Year – Sydni Hawkins – Missouri Western, Sr.
Defense Player of the Year – Gabby Schulz – Pittsburg State, Jr.
Pitcher of the Year – Sara Llamas-Howell – Rogers State, Jr.
Freshman of the Year – Emily Deramus – Central Oklahoma
Coach of the Year – Cody White – Central Oklahoma
2023 All-MIAA Softball Teams
First Team
Pitcher: Sara Llamas-Howell – Rogers State, Jr.
Pitcher: Jaycee Ginter – Washburn, Jr.
Catcher: Callie Yellin – Rogers State, Jr.
First Base: Paxtyn Hayes – Pittsburg State, Jr.
Second Base: Sydni Hawkins – Missouri Western, Sr.
Shortstop: Emily Deramus – Central Oklahoma, Fr.
Third Base: Shayla Harper – Central Oklahoma, Sr.
Outfield: Ashlyn Cook – Central Missouri, Gr.
Outfield: Jacee Minter – Central Oklahoma, Jr.
Outfield: Yazmin Vargas – Missouri Southern, Jr.
Designated Player: Chloe Bohuslavicky – Northeastern State, Jr.
Utility/Pitcher: Savannah Evans – Northeastern State, Jr.
Utility/Non-Pitcher: Tatum Long – Central Oklahoma, Jr.
Second Team
Pitcher: Sam Pederson – Missouri Western, Sr.
Pitcher: Jordyn Pipkin – Central Oklahoma, So.
Catcher: Amelya Huggins – Central Oklahoma, Sr.
First Base: Bridgette Morales – Rogers State, So.
Second Base: Leighton Withers – Missouri Southern, Sr.
Shortstop: Abbey Fischer – Central Missouri, Sr.
Third Base: Marrit Mead – Washburn, Jr.
Outfield: Heather Arnett – Pittsburg State, Fr.
Outfield: Mackenzie Devine – Missouri Western, So.
Outfield: Peyton Shepard – Fort Hays State, Fr.
Designated Player: Ari Cordova – Emporia State, Jr.
Utility/Pitcher: Terin Ritz – Central Oklahoma, So.
Utility/Non-Pitcher: Leslie Callahan, Jr. – Lincoln, Jr.
Gold Glove Team
Pitcher: Jaycee Ginter – Washburn, Jr.
Catcher: Emily Sampson – Northeastern State, Jr.
First Base: Paxtyn Hayes – Pittsburg State, Jr.
Second Base: Mikayla Rutland – Central Oklahoma, Sr.
Shortstop: Gabby Schultz – Pittsburg State, Jr.
Third Base: Marrit Mead – Washburn, Jr.
Outfield: Avery Anderson – Northwest Missouri, Jr.
Outfield: Rylee Lemos – Central Oklahoma, Fr.
Outfield: Adrianna Young – Missouri Southern, Jr.
Honorable Mentions
Central Missouri: Paige Petefish (Pitcher); Makenzie McAtee (First Base); Jessica Sader (Third Base); MaKenzie Cooper (Designated Player)
Central Oklahoma: Terin Reitz (Pitcher); Rylee Lemos (Outfield)
Fort Hays State: Savanah Egger (Pitcher); Carly Stuke (Outfield)
Missouri Southern: Avery Tallman (Pitcher); Ashlynn Williams (Catcher); Katie Gray (First Base); Josie Tofpi (Shortstop); Emily Perry (Outfield); Kara Amos (Utility/Pitcher)
Missouri Western: Harley Pruetting (Pitcher); Kennedy Preston (Catcher); Abby Dickey (Outfield)
Nebraska Kearney: Katie Gosker (Catcher); Sydney Thomason (Utility/Pitcher)
Newman: Gianna Navarro (Second Base)
Northeastern State: Madison Heinle (Pitcher); Emily Sampson (Catcher)
Northwest Missouri: Olivia Daugherty (Third Base); Lillie Filger (Outfield); Omara Love (Outfield)
Pittsburg State: Hannah Harrison (Pitcher); Taylor Lambert (Second Base); Gabby Schultz (Shortstop); Kylee Bohle (Designated Player)
Rogers State: Jade Sanders (Pitcher); Abbey Rogers (Catcher); Nicole Price (Shortstop); Jaylan Gibson (Third Base); Paxton Donaldson (Outfield)
Washburn: Hadley Kerschen (Second Base)