It's a Wrap: 2023 NCAA Division I Softball
This was a season filled with superlatives. There is no doubt Missouri and Kansas produced NCAA DI softball talent disproportionate to the population. Here are 64 ladies and their achievements.
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At the bottom are links to spreadsheets containing 22 offensive statistics and 26 pitching statistics on all 189 Missouri and Kansas ladies who competed in Division 1 Softball this year. With a minimum of 100 At Bats, there were three who hit over .400, with one of those over .500.
From where have these athletes come? From all over the two state region. Places like Incarnate Word Academy and Shawnee Heights. And places like Norborne and Sherwood, both in Missouri. And from Wellington and Clay Center Community, both in Kansas. Where were they this season? Stanford. Wichita State. Texas. Notre Dame. The big time of collegiate softball.
Well, where do we start with this group of athletes? Let’s begin with one of the best pitching tandems in all of collegiate softball. NiJaree Canady (Topeka High/Stanford University) made the 1,800 mile trek Westward to step right into the Cardinal starting rotation. She led all of Division I with the lowest ERA and the highest Strikeout to Walk Ratio. For that, she was named the NCAA DI Freshman of the Year. All of that and to be the No. 2 pitcher in the rotation. That is because just 75 miles from Topeka High, another pitcher made her way to the West coast. Alana Vawter (Staley High/Stanford University) topped off her Cardinal career as a senior who pitched 190 innings, struck out 153 batters, and won 21 games this season. For that, she was rewarded by being named a NFCA All-American. That is great Midwest pitching talent.
The Midwest also produces ladies who can hit. As in better than anyone else in Division I. Sydney McKinney (Norborne/Wichita State) led all of DI in batting average and hits. She was also Top 10 nationally in Triples, Total Bases, and On Base Percentage. The First Team NFCA All-American got a hit over half the times she got to the plate. Check out below where her batting average ended the season.
The pitching talent was deep this year. Marisa Davis (Lee’s Summit North/Southeast Missouri State) held opponents to a .210 batting average, the best in the Ohio Valley Conference. And right handed pitching sophomore Clara Edwards (Clay Center Community/South Dakota) was named First Team All-Summit League. Jordan Johnson (Paola/Central Arkansas) was named the ASUN Conference Pitcher of the Year while Annah Junge (Marquette/Charleston Southern) led the Big South Conference in Strikeouts to Walks. Sophomore RHP Mac Morgan (Forsyth/Univ. of Texas) got 18 wins, the second most in the Big 12 Conference.
Hannah Burnett (Independence High/Grand Canyon University) was perfect with her fielding chances. You can’t get better than that. She also led the Western Athletic Conference in Runs Scored and Stolen Bases.
We will see more in future years of Maggie Chapin (Shawnee Mission Northwest/Longwood University) as she was named to the Big South Conference All-Freshman Team. It will be the same with Dallis Darnell (Troy-Buchanan/Lindenwood University) who was named the Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer of the Year. Similarly, Ashley Marietta (St. Mary’s-Colgan/Saint Louis University) is on the Atlantic-10 Conference All Rookie Team. Chloe Rhine (Rockwood Summit/Saint Louis University) was superb in the field, and that got her on the Atlantic-10 All-Rookie Team.
What does it take for the NCAA to name you the “Toughest to Strikeout”? You need to suffer one strikeout for every 112.0 At Bats. That is what Abi Chipps (Jefferson-Festus/Indiana State) did this year.
Madi Young (Derby/Central Arkansas) is the ASUN Conference Defensive Player of the Year. And Ally Vonfeldt (Bishop Carroll/Missouri-Kansas City) is an example of a lady being named to First Team All-Conference.
And the list goes on and on.
Keep scrolling and you will see all of these ladies and their remarkable achievements.
To be included in this article, each athlete achieved one of more of the following:
An All-Conference award or Player of the Year designated by the conference
Rawlings Gold Glove Award
A conference Top 5 place in a selected statistical category
An NCAA Top 10 place in a selected statistical category
National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region
NFCA All-American or Player of the Year
College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Award
CSC Academic All-American
The athletes are listed in alpha sequence by last name. The demographic data for each includes name, class, position, high school, college, and college conference.
Enjoy and appreciate.
Jocelyn Abbott - Junior - Infield - Fort Zumwalt East - Saint Louis University - Atlantic10 Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Micah Arps - Senior RS - Incarnate Word Academy - Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville - Ohio Valley Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Adriana Barlow - Graduate Student - Infield - Cor Jesu Academy - Miami-Ohio - Mid-American Conference
Conference No. 2 Assists (121)
CSC Academic All-District
Aubree Beitzinger - Senior - Infield - Pittsburg - Drake University - Missouri Valley Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Ava Bredwell - Sophomore - Catcher - Mill Valley - University of Nebraska - Big Ten Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Olivia Bruno - Sophomore - Utility - Washburn Rural - University of Kansas - Big 12 Conference
Conference No. 5 Fielding Chances (307)
Conference No. 5 Putouts (297)
CSC Academic All-District
Jacelyn Buck - Sophomore RS - Infield - Wellington - Univ. of Louisiana-Monroe - Sun Belt Conference
Conference No. 2 Assists (130)
Hannah Burnett - Senior - Utility - Independence - Grand Canyon University - Western Athletic Conference
Conference No. 1 Fielding Percentage (1.000)
Conference No. 1 Runs Scored (70)
Conference No. 1 Stolen Bases (34)
Conference No. 3 Hits (70)
Conference No. 4 Batting Average (.407)
First Team All-Western Athletic Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Third Team NFCA All-West Region
NiJaree Canady - Freshman - RHP - Topeka - Stanford University - Pac-12 Conference
Conference No. 1 ERA (.57)
NCAA No. 1 ERA (.57)
Conference No. 2 Strikeouts (214)
Conference No. 1 Strikeout to Walk Ratio (10.38)
NCAA No. 1 Strikeout to Walk Ratio (10.38)
First Team All-Pac 12 Conference
Freshman All-Pac 12 Conference
NFCA NCAA Division I Freshman Player of the Year
Maggie Chapin - Freshman - RHP - Shawnee Mission Northwest - Longwood University - Big South Conference
All-Freshman Big South Conference
Abi Chipps - Junior - Utility - Jefferson-Festus - Indiana State University - Missouri Valley Conference
Conference No. 1 Toughest to Strikeout (1 per 112.0 AB’s)
NCAA No. 1 Toughest to Strikeout (1 per 112.0) AB’s)
Defensive All-Missouri Valley Conference
Lexi Cobb - Junior - Outfield - Silver Lake - Univ. of North Texas - ASUN Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Marra Cramer - Freshman - Outfield - Liberty - Univ. of Nebraska-Omaha - Summit League
Conference No. 3 Triples (4)
Conference No. 3 Stolen Bases (14)
Laney Credeur - Sophomore - Kingston - Univ. of Louisiana-Lafayette - Sun Belt Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Dallis Darnell - Freshman - Infield - Troy Buchanan - Lindenwood University - Ohio Valley Conference
Newcomer All-Ohio Valley Conference
Kara Daly - Sophomore - Infield - Jefferson City - University of Missouri - Southeastern Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Marisa Davis - Senior - LHP - Lee’s Summit North - Southeast Missouri State University - Ohio Valley Conference
Conference No. 1 Opposing Batting Average (.210)
Conference No. 2 ERA (2.07)
Conference No. 2 Saves (3)
Sydney Dennis - Sophomore - Infield - Eureka MO - Southeast Missouri State - Ohio Valley Conference
Conference No. 1 Triples (5)
Second Team All-Ohio Valley Conference
Kyla Eck - Senior - Utility - Andale - University of the Pacific - West Coast Conference
Conference No. 2 Triples (3)
Macie Eck - Senior - Outfield - Andale - Univ. of Notre Dame - Atlantic Coast Conference
Third Team NFCA All-Mid-Atlantic Region
Clara Edwards - Sophomore - RHP - Clay Center Community - Univ. of South Dakota - Summit League
Conference No. 3 Innings Pitched (181.1)
Conference No. 4 ERA (2.47)
Conference No. 4 Wins (15)
Conference No. 4 Opposing Batting Average (.243)
First Team All-Summit League
CSC Academic All-District
Kelsey Etling - Graduate - Catcher - Fort Zumwalt West - Saint Louis University - Atlantic10 Conference
Conference No. 2 Caught Steeling (10)
Abby Ford - Freshman - Outfield - Ozark - Missouri State University - Missouri Valley Conference
Conference No. 1 Stolen Bases (26)
Megan Fortner - Junior - Infield - Northwest-Cedar Hill - Liberty University - ASUN Conference
Conference No. 3 Fielding Percentage (.995)
Third Team All-ASUN Conference
Grace Garcia - Senior - RHP - Blue Valley - Tarleton State University - Western Athletic Conference
Conference No. 2 Strikeouts (106)
Conference No. 4 Innings Pitched (150.0)
Conference No. 5 Wins (13)
Regi Hecker - Junior - Outfield - Blue Springs South - Valparaiso University - Missouri Valley Conference
Defensive All-Missouri Valley Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Kylie Helm - Senior - Infield - McDonald County - Mercer University - Southern Conference
Second Team All-Southern Conference
Paytience Holman - Junior - RHP - Mexico - Southeast Missouri State University - Ohio Valley Conference
Conference No. 4 Saves (2)
Aniya Holt - Sophomore RS - Infield - Shawnee Heights - Eastern Illinois University - Ohio Valley Conference
Conference No. 1 Slugging Percentage (731)
Conference No. 5 On Base Percentage (.456)
Kari Holzrichter - Junior - Infield - St. Thomas Aquinas - Jacksonville University - ASUN Conference
First Team All-ASUN Conference
Lauren Howell - Junior - RHP - Helias - Wichita State University - American Athletic Conference
Second Team All-American Athletic Conference
Jordan Johnson - Senior RS - RHP - Paola - Univ. of Central Arkansas - ASUN Conference
Conference No. 2 ERA (1.88)
Conference No. 3 Wins (20)
Conference No. 4 Strikeouts (166)
Conference No. 5 Innings Pitched (175.0)
ASUN Conference Pitcher of the Year
First Team All-ASUN Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Annah Junge - Senior - RHP - Marquette - Charleston Southern University - Big South Conference
Conference No. 1 Strikeout to Walk Ratio (5.64)
Conference No. 2 Wins (19)
Conference No. 2 Innings Pitched (199.0)
Conference No. 3 Strikeouts (158)
Conference No. 4 Opposing Batting Average (.220)
Big South Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year
Second Team All-Big South Conference
Reggie Kanagawa - Senior - RHP - Blue Springs - Longwood University - Big South Conference
Honorable Mention All-Big South Conference
Kate Kobayashi - Senior - Outfield - Park Hill South - Miami-Ohio - Mid-American Conference
Conference No. 5 On Base Percentage (.452)
Raigan Kramer - Sophomore - Outfield - Seaman - University of Arkansas - Southeastern Conference
CSC Academic-All-District
Second Team NFCA All-South Region
Olivia Krehbiel - Senior - Infield - Lee’s Summit North - Missouri State University- Missouri Valley Conference
Conference No. 5 Triples (5)
Second Team All-Missouri Valley Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Third Team NFCA All-Midwest Region
Kelsie Lewis - Senior - Utility - Plattsburg - Missouri State University - Missouri Valley Conference
Defensive All-Missouri Valley Conference
Addie Lightner - Junior - Utility - Blue Springs South - Drake University - Missouri Valley Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Liz Lynchard - Senior - LHP - St. Francis Borgia - Univ. of Rhode Island - Atlantic10 Conference
Conference No. 5 Strikeouts (144)
Ashton Maloney - Freshman RS - Outfield - Liberty - University of Texas - Big 12 Conference
Second Team All-Big 12 Conference
Ashley Marietta - Freshman - Outfield - St. Mary’s-Colgan - Saint Louis University - Atlantic10 Conference
Rookie All-Atlantic10 Conference
Sydney McKinney - Senior - Infield - Norborne - Wichita State University - American Athletic Conference
Conference No. 1 Batting Average (.522)
NCAA No. 1 Batting Average (.522)
Conference No. 1 Hits (103)
NCAA No. 1 Hits (103)
Conference No. 1 On Base Percentage (.566)
NCAA No. 6 On Base Percentage (.566)
Conference No. 1 Runs Scored (69)
Conference No. 2 Triples (7)
NCAA No. 5 Triples (7)
Conference No. 2 Slugging Percentage (.849)
Conference No. 2 Total Bases (145)
NCAA No. 7 Total Bases (145)
Conference No. 2 At Bats (186)
Conference No. 2 Assists (110)
Conference No. 5 Doubles (12)
Conference No 5 Total Plate Appearances (205)
American Athletic Conference Player of the Year
First team All-American Athletic Conference
First Team NFCA All-Central Region
First Team NFCA All-America
Stevie Meade - Sophomore - Outfield - St. Thomas Aquinas - University of Illinois - Big Ten Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Lindy Milkowski - Junior - Infield - Olathe West - Eastern Illinois University - Ohio Valley Conference
Conference No. 1 Home Runs (14)
Conference No. 1 RBI (47)
Conference No. 2 Total Bases (101)
Conference No. 2 Fielding Chances (362)
Conference No. 3 Putouts (334)
Conference No. 4 Runs (32)
Conference No. 4 Slugging Percentage (.647)
Second Team All-Ohio Valley Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Lauren Mills - Senior - Infield - Seaman - Wichita State University - American Athletic Conference
Conference No. 2 Home Runs (16)
Conference No. 3 Slugging Percentage (.730)
Conference No. 3 RBI (51)
Third Team NFCA All-Central Region
Piper Montgomery - Sophomore - Catcher - Windsor-Imperial - Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville - Ohio Valley Conference
Conference No. 2 Fielding Percentage (.992)
Conference No. 4 Caught Steeling (8)
Conference No. 5 Putouts (230)
CSC Academic All-District
Mac Morgan - Sophomore - RHP - Sherwood - University of Texas - Big 12 Conference
Conference No. 2 Wins (18)
Conference No. 2 Innings Pitched (145.2)
Second Team All-Big 12 Conference
First Team NFCA All-Central Region
Sydney Nichols - Junior - Infield - Cameron - Univ. of Missouri-Kansas City - Summit League
Conference No. 2 Assists (128)
Honorable Mention All-Summit League
Kiersten Nixon - Junior - RHP - Troy Buchanan - Univ. of Tennessee-Martin - Ohio Valley Conference
Newcomer All-Ohio Valley Conference
Alexa Rehmeier - Sophomore - RHP - Helias - Eastern Illinois University - Ohio Valley Conference
Conference No. 2 Opposing Batting Average (.215)
Peyton Renzi - Senior - Utility - Blue Valley Southwest - University of Kansas - Big 12 Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Chloe Rhine - Freshman - Infield - Rockwood Summit - Saint Louis University - Atlantic10 Conference
Conference No. 4 Runs Scored (42)
Conference No. 3 Assists (112)
Conference No. 5 On Base Percentage (.462)
Second Team All-Atlantic10 Conference
Rookie All-Atlantic10 Conference
Paige Rocha - Sophomore - Infield - Platte County - Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville - Ohio Valley Conference
Conference No. 1 Batting Average (.416)
Conference No. 1 Total Bases (110)
Conference No. 1 Hits (74)
Conference No. 1 Runs (47)
Conference No. 2 At Bats (178)
Conference No. 3 On Base Percentage (.475)
Conference No. 4 Doubles (14)
First Team All-Ohio Valley Conference
Newcomer All-Ohio Valley Conference
Third Team NFCA All-Mideast Region
Sydney Ross - Senior - Catcher - Lee’s Summit North - Univ. of Nebraska-Omaha - Summit League
Conference No. 1 Stolen Bases (22)
Conference No. 1 Fielding Chances (377)
Conference No. 1 Putouts (353)
Conference No. 2 On Base Percentage (.462)
Conference No. 3 Fielding Percentage (.995)
Conference No. 4 Caught Stealing (9)
Second Team All-Summit League
Sara Roszak - Sophomore - Utility - Free State - University of Kansas - Big 12 Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Paige Schulte - Junior - Outfield - Timberland - Southeast Missouri State - Ohio Valley Conference
Newcomer All-Ohio Valley Conference
Natalie Sullivan - Sophomore - Outfield - Troy Buchanan - Saint Louis University - Atlantic10 Conference
Conference No. 2 Runs Scored (48)
Second Team All-Atlantic10 Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Alyson Tucker - Senior - Infield - Farmington - Southeast Missouri State - Ohio Valley Conference
Second Team All-Ohio Valley Conference
Alana Vawter - Senior - RHP - Staley - Stanford University - Pac-12 Conference
Conference No. 2 Innings Pitched (190.0)
Conference No. 3 ERA (1.88)
Conference No. 3 Strikeout to Walk Ration (5.17)
Conference No. 3 Wins (21)
Conference No. 4 Saves (4)
Conference No. 5 Strikeouts (153)
First Team All-Pac 12 Conference
CSC Academic All-District
First Team All-Pac 12 Conference
First Team NFCA All-West Region
Second Team NFCA All-America
Ally Vonfeldt - Senior - Infield - Bishop Carroll - Univ. Of Missouri-Kansas City - Summit League
First Team All-Summit League
Tess Weakly - Senior - Utility - Elsberry - Missouri State University- Missouri Valley Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Irelynn West - Sophomore - Outfield - Oak Park - Lindenwood University - Ohio Valley Conference
Second Team All-Ohio Valley Conference
Jess Willsey - Freshman - Infield - Marquette - University of Evansville - Missouri Valley Conference
Conference No. 2 Assists (126)
Madi Young - Junior RS - Infield - Derby - Univ. of Central Arkansas - ASUN Conference
Conference No. 5 Assists (115)
ASUN Conference Defensive Player of the Year
First Team All-ASUN Conference
Here is the spreadsheet with 22 statistics on all 189 batters, in Batting Average order:.
Here is the spreadsheet with 26 statistics on all 47 pitchers in order by ERA:
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