Softball | 5/4/2022 6:09:00 PM

May 4, 2022-When Emporia State takes the field in the first round of the MIAA Softball Tournament they will have six players with All-Conference honors. Seniors Brittanie Shepherd and Maddy Broxterman earned Second-Team All-MIAA honors while Sydney Righi, Lexi Williams, Alexis Dial and Josie Harrison were named Honorable Mention All-MIAA.
 
Shepherd was named Second-Team All-MIAA in the outfield. The senior from Kansas City, Mo. has started 166 of 167 games in her Hornet career. She is hitting .356 with a .445 on base percentage. She has a .483 average when leading off an inning. She has team-highs of 41 runs and 18 doubles.  She is ranked third in the MIAA and 12th in the nation in total doubles. She is tied for sixth on the Emporia State single season list.
 
Broxterman was named Second-Team All-MIAA as a designated player. The senior from Meriden, Kan. is batting .341 with a team high 35 RBI while scoring 17 runs scored in 41 games this season. She is batting .360 with an OPS of 1.003 in 25 MIAA games.

Righi was an Honorable Mention selection at pitcher. The junior from Blue Springs, Mo. has started 19 games with 23 appearances and is the team leader with 104.2 innings pitched. She has a 3.01 ERA with 57 strikeouts and is 8-11 on the year.
 
Dial was named Honorable Mention All-MIAA in the outfield. The sophomore from Topeka, Kan. is batting .296 with 30 runs scored, ten doubles and 17 RBI. She has also swiped 22 bases in 29 attempts. She is fifth in the MIAA in stolen bases.

Williams earned Honorable Mention All-MIAA as an outfielder. The sophomore from Hutchinson, Kan. is leading the MIAA in stolen bases with 34 steals in 38 attempts over 45 games. She is batting .333 with 27 runs and 15 RBI.
 
Harrison was an Honorable Mention pick at utility player/pitcher. The junior from St. Marys, Kan. has a .297 batting average with 17 runs scored and 16 RBI while playing both corner infield positions. She is hitting .353 with runners in scoring position. She is also a pitcher and has a 3.73 ERA in 41.1 innings pitched with 36 strikeouts.
 
The Hornets will begin MIAA Tournament play on Thursday, May 5 against Washburn.  First pitch from Gerry Pinkston Stadium in Edmond, Okla. is set for 11:00 a.m.
 
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 (ESU only)
Emporia State: Sydney Righi – Pitcher, Lexi Williams – Outfield; Alexis Dial – Outfield; Josie Harrison – Utility/Pitcher

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*