It's a Wrap: 2023 NCAA Division II Softball
This article concludes our year-end review of the diamond sports. There are 233 Missouri and Kansas women who competed in NCAA DII Softball. All of the stats are here. And 72 are highlighted.
Before we go any further, I will show you how you can get the earlier parts of this six part series. I will also show you how you can be sure to not miss any future content.
DI Softball, covering 189 athletes and featuring 65 is here.
DIII Softball, covering 81 athletes and featuring 21 is here.
DI Baseball, covering 240 athletes and featuring 42 is here.
DIII Baseball, covering 148 athletes and featuring 21 is here.
DII Baseball, covering 485 athletes and featuring 63 is here.
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At the bottom of this article are links to spreadsheets containing 22 offensive statistics and 26 pitching statistics on all 233 Missouri and Kansas women who competed in NCAA Division II Softball.
These ladies come from all parts of these two states. From small schools like Forsyth, Missouri and Whitewater, Kansas. They also come from the large city school districts. There were six from the Francis Howell and Lee’s Summit school districts in Missouri and 12 from the Olathe School District in Kansas. Some school are very well represented. Bishop Carroll had seven grads play DII Softball. Shawnee Heights had five, of whom four are highlighted below.
Certainly, many stayed close to home where there are many Division II schools. But, others went afar. To places like Ohio, Texas, and North Carolina. And when they did, that took the Midwest brand of softball with them.
As we have seen with DI and DIII, our Midwest ladies play a special brand of softball. Cumulatively, these 72 ladies placed in the top five of a conference statistic 71 times. Six of those times were also in the Top Ten in all of DII nationwide. Their conferences placed them on a postseason team 37 times. Among those was a Player of the Year and a Defensive Player of the Year. Defense is big with these ladies with five others being recognized for their defensive play, including a Rawlings Gold Glove Award. One was also name All-American. These ladies also excel in the classroom. Thirty-one of them achieved CSC Academic All-District status, with one being a CSC Academic All-American. That is good work both on and off the field.
Here are just a few of these ladies:
Emily Adler (Rose Hill/Oklahoma Baptist University) can both hit and run. She led the Great American Conference in hits, which led to her third best batting average of .398. She also had the fifth most stolen bases. That, and the rest of her game, made her the Great American Conference Player of the Year.
Do you want an example of an all around student? You don’t have to look any further than Ashlyn Cook (Lee’s Summit/Univ. of Central Missouri) who was named both First Team All-MidAmerica Intercollegiate Athletics Association and CSC Academic All-District.
Those who read my Wrap Up article for Division I Softball, which is here, know that Sydney McKinney of Norborne Missouri led All of DI Softball in hitting. The Wichita State infielder hit .522. Obviously, Midwest hitting has a national presence. Karma Fields (Frontenac/Elizabeth City State Univ.) led all of Division II in hitting. The freshman, yes I said freshman, had a nation’s best .507 batting average. She also had the nation’s third highest slugging and on-base percentages. All of that less than a year removed from the Frontenac Sports Complex. The coasts can think of the Midwest as fly over country at their own risk.
Jaycee Ginter (Shawnee Heights/Washburn University) recorded 251 strikeouts, ninth most in all of Division II. Jaycee also was a CSC Academic All-District honoree.
Sydni Hawkins (Wichita Southeast/Missouri Western State Univ.) had an extraordinary year. She ranked nationally in doubles and hits. She was her conference Player of the Year. She was named All-American. And she was named Academic All-American. Whew! That is extraordinary.
If you get into the batter’s box and see Ellie Quaethem (Washington-MO/McKendree Univ.) on the mound, you better be swinging. You will know it will probably be in the strike zone. But the reality is that you probably won’t hit the ball. That is, of course, if you see it. Ellie had the seventh best strikeout to walk ration in the nation. Almost eight K’s for every base on balls. You better be swinging.
Defense wins games. That is true for every sport. I suggest you don’t hit the ball anywhere near Gabby Schultz (Gardner-Edgerton/Pittsburg State Univ.). Gabby was her conference’s Defensive Player of the Year. Rawlings took notice, and awarded her an NCAA DII Gold Glove.
Yazmin Vargas (Garden City-KS/Missouri Southern State Univ.) was second in her conference in batting average. And when she got on base, she stole more bases than anyone else in the conference. That earned the junior first team all-Conference. The details are below.
There are many more spectacular performances. Read on and you will appreciate them.
To be highlighted in this article, each athlete achieved one or more of the following:
An All-Conference award or Player of the Year designation.
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 their last names. The demographic data for each athlete includes her name, class, position, high school, college, and collegiate conference.
There is a lot to appreciate here.
Emily Adler - Senior - Infield - Rose Hill - Oklahoma Baptist University - Great American Conference
Conference No. 1 Hits (68)
Conference No. 2 On Base Percentage (.462)
Conference No. 3 Batting Average (.398)
Conference No. 5 Stolen Bases (17)
First Team NFCA All-Central Region
Great American Conference Player of the Year
First Team All-Great American Conference
Abby Allnutt - Junior - Outfield - Warrensburg - Univ. of Central Missouri - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
CSC Academic All-District
Kara Amos - Junior - RHP - Truman - Missouri Southern State Univ. - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Honorable Mention All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Avery Anderson - Junior - Outfield - Spring Hill - Northwest Missouri State - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Defense All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Alexandria Arndt - Junior - Catcher - Blue Springs - Northern State University - Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
Conference No. 4 Catcher Stealing Percentage (.152)
Conference No. 5 Caught Steeling (7)
Heather Arnett - Freshman - Infield - Frontenac - Pittsburg State University - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Conference No. 5 Stolen Bases (26)
Second Team All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Loren Beggs - Junior - Infield - Olathe Northwest - Fort Hays State Univ. - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
CSC Academic All-District
Conference No. 2 Triples (5)
Kylee Bohle - Junior RS - Outfield - Harrisonville - Pittsburg State University - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Honorable Mention All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Braeland Booth - Junior - Catcher - Maize - West Texas A & M University - Lone Star Conference
Third Team All-Lone Star Conference
Gwen Bostic - Senior - Infield - Centralia MO - Rockhurst University - Great Lakes Valley Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Leslie Callahan - Junior - Infield - Park Hill South - Lincoln University MO - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Second Team All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Ashlyn Cook - Graduate Student - Outfield - Lee’s Summit - Univ. of Central Missouri - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
First Team All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
CSC Academic All-District
Madison Coone - Junior - Catcher - Oak Grove - Southwest Baptist University - Great Lakes Valley Conference
Conference No. 1 Catcher Stealing Percentage (.180)
Conference No. 3 Catcher Caught Steeling (9)
MaKenzie Cooper - Graduate Student - Outfield - Shawnee Mission Northwest - Univ. of Central Missouri - Mid-America Inter. Athl. Assn.
Honorable Mention All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Sydney Cure - Sophomore - Utility - Lee’s Summit North - William Jewell College - Great Lakes Valley Conference
Conference No. 4 Catcher Caught Stealing (8)
Conference No. 4 Catcher Stealing Percentage (.145)
Reese Curry - Sophomore - Outfield - Oskaloosa - Fort Hays State University - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
CSC Academic All-District
Regan Curry - Sophomore - Infield - Oskaloosa - Fort Hays State University - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
CSC Academic All-District
Conference No. 5 Assists (122)
Olivia Daugherty - Senior - Infield - Liberty North - Northwest Missouri State Univ. - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
CSC Academic All-District
Conference No. 5 Total Bases (113)
Conference No. 5 Slugging Percentage (.702)
Honorable Mention All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Alexis Dial - Junior - Outfield - Shawnee Heights - Emporia State University - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Conference No. 5 Triples (4)
Breck Dickey - Junior - LHP - Blue Valley - Northwest Missouri State University - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
CSC Academic All-District
Taylor Duff - Senior - Catcher - Seckman - Maryville University - Great Lakes Valley Conference
Conference No. 5 Catcher Caught Stealing (7)
Emily Eberwine - Senior - Outfield - Francis Howell - Truman State University - Great Lakes Valley Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Maguire Estill - Sophomore - RHP - Haven - Univ. of Arkansas-Monticello - Great American Conference
Conference No. 3 Saves (3)
CSC Academic All-District
Karma Fields - Freshman - Outfield - Frontenac - Elizabeth City State University - Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Conference No. 1 Batting Average (.507)
NCAA No. 1 Batting Average (.507)
Conference No. 1 Home Runs (9)
Conference No. 1 Slugging Percentage (.907)
NCAA No. 3 Slugging Percentage (.907)
Conference No. 1 On Base Percentage (.580)
NCAA No. 3 On Base Percentage (.580)
Conference No. 4 RBI (37)
Conference No. 4 Total Bases (74)
First Team All-Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Lillie Filger - Sophomore - Outfield - Kearney - Northwest Missouri State Univ. - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Honorable Mention All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Abbey Fischer - Senior - Infield - Shawnee Heights - Univ. of Central Missouri - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
CSC Academic All-District
Conference No. 1 Triples (6)
Conference No. 3 Runs (55)
Second Team All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Brooklynn Fischer - Freshman - LHP - Montgomery County - Quincy University - Great Lakes Valley Conference
Conference No. 3 Saves (4)
Margo Frossard - Sophomore - Infield - Rock Bridge - Southwest Baptist University - Great Lakes Valley Conference
Second Team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference
Emma Furnish - Junior - Outfield - Eisenhower - Emporia State University - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Conference No. 5 Triples (4)
Maya Gallagher - Senior - Infield - Olathe North - Rockhurst University - Great Lakes Valley Conference
Conference No. 2 On Base Percentage (.461)
Conference No. 3 Home Runs (10)
Conference No. 3 Fielding Double Plays (11)
Conference No. 5 Slugging Percentage (.586)
CSC Academic-All District
Jaycee Ginter - Junior - RHP - Shawnee Heights - Washburn University - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Conference No. 1 Innings Pitched (213.0)
Conference No. 1 Strikeouts (251)
NCAA No. 9 Strikeouts (251)
Conference No. 2 ERA (1.71)
Conference No. 2 Wins (25)
Conference No. 2 Opposing Batting Average (.207)
First Team All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Defensive All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
CSC Academic All-District
Second Team NFCA All-Central Region
Katie Gray - Freshman - Infield - Lansing - Missouri Southern State Univ. - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Associaion
Honorable Mention All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Lauren Gray - Junior - Catcher - Tonganoxie - Northwest Missouri State University - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
CSC Academic All-District
Josie Harrison - Senior - RHP - St. Mary’s KS - Emporia State University - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
CSC Academic All-District
Sydni Hawkins - Senior - Infield - Wichita Southeast - Missouri Western State - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
CSC Academic All-District
CSC Academic All-America
Conference No. 1 Hitting (.418)
Conference No. 1 Hits (87)
NCAA No. 8 Hits (87)
Conference No. 2 Doubles (20)
NCAA No. 9 Doubles (20)
Conference No. 2 Triples (5)
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Player of the Year
Frist Team All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
First Team NFCA All-Central Region
Second Team NFCA All-America
Avery Huffman - Freshman - RHP - Grain Valley - Rockhurst University- Great Lakes Valley Conference
Third Team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference
Mykah Hurley - Junior - Utility - Trenton - Quincy University - Great Lakes Valley Conference
Conference No. 2 Assists (111)
Samantha Jessie - Senior - Catcher - Fort Zumwalt West - Upper Iowa University - Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
Conference No. 4 Catcher Caught Stealing (8)
Conference No. 5 Catcher Stealing Percentage (.178)
Julia Kanoy - Sophomore - LHP - Penney - Univ. of Missouri-Science & Tech - Great Lakes Valley Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Hadley Kerschen - Senior - Infield - Bishop Carroll - Washburn University - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Honorable Mention All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Rylee Kolb - Junior - Outfield - Helias - Drury University - Great Lakes Valley Conference
Second Team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference
Bailey Lacy - Senior - RHP - Thomas More Prep-Marion - Missouri Southern State - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Conference No. 1 Saves (4)
Taylor Lambert - Senior - Utility - Circle - Pittsburg State University - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Conference No. 2 On Base Percentage (.478)
Honorable Mention All-Mid-America Intercollgiate Athletics Association
Omara Love - Freshman - Outfield - Lee’s Summit - Northwest Missouri State Univ. - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Honorable Mention All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Isabel Marcotte - Sophomore - Infield - Bishop Carroll - Georgia Southwestern State University - Peach Belt Conference
Conference No. 4 Putouts (326)
Conference No. 5 Fielding Chances (352)
Second Team All-Peach Belt Conference
Eliyah McCarthy - Sophomore - Outfield - Battle - Univ. of Minnesota-Moorhead - Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
CSC Academic All-District
McKenzie McAtee - Graduate Student - Infield - Lee’s Summit West - Univ. of Central Missouri - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Assoc.
Honorable Mention All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Aubrie McRoberts - Junior - Infield - Warsaw - Univ. of Central Missouri - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association
CSC Academic All-District
Marrit Mead - Junior - Infield - Santa Fe Trail - Washburn University - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
CSC Academic All-District
Conference No. 4 Runs (52)
Conference No. 4 Stolen Bases (28)
Conference No. 5 Batting Average (.397)
Second Team All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Defense All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Paige Petefish - Sophomore RS - RHP - Shawnee Heights - Univ. of Central Missouri - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Honorable Mention All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
CSC Academic All-District
Jayla Pierce - Sophomore - Infield - Eudora - Rockhurst University - Great Lakes Valley Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Harley Pruetting - Freshman - RHP - Gardner-Edgerton - Missouri Western State - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Conference No. 4 Opposing Batting Average (.221)
Honorable Mention All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Ellie Quaethem - Junior - RHP - Washington MO - McKendree University - Great Lakes Valley Conference
Conference No. 1 Strikeout to Walk Ratio (7.97)
NCAA No. 7 Strikeout to Walk Ratio (7.97)
Conference No. 2 Wins (19)
Conference No. 2 Strikeouts (231)
Conference No. 4 Opposing Batting Average (.186)
Conference No. 4 Innings Pitched (156.0)
Conference No. 5 ERA (1.48)
First Team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference
Second Team NFCA All-Midwest Region
Adi Reese - Senior - Infield - Whitewater - Oklahoma Baptist University - Great American Conference
First Team All-Great American Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Sydney Righi - Graduate Student - RHP - Blue Springs South - Emporia State University - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
CSC Academic All-District
Taylor Rowley - Junior RS - Infield - Valley Center - Cameron University - Lone Star Conference
Third Team All-Lone Star Conference
Jessica Sader - Graduate Student - Infield - Knob Noster - Univ. of Central Missouri - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Honorable Mention All-Mid-Ameria Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Gabby Schultz - Junior RS - Shortstop - Gardner-Edgerton - Pittsburg State University - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Defensive Player of the Year
Defense All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Honorable Mention All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Rawlings NCAA Division II Gold Glove
Emily Shipman - Sophomore - Catcher - Forsyth - Southern Arkansas University - Great American Conference
Second Team All-Great American Conference
Sophie Stuart - Freshman - RHP - Kirksville - Wayne State University-NE - Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
Conference No. 3 ERA (5.98)
Carly Stuke - Freshman - Utility - Hayden - Fort Hays State Univ. - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Honorable Mention All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Gracie Sullivan - Junior - Catcher - Columbus - Pittsburg State University - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
CSC Academic All-District
Conference No. 1 Catcher Stealing Percentage (.205)
Conference No. 3 Catcher Caught Stealing (9)
Kylie Swinney - Junior - Outfield - St. Charles - Maryville University - Great Lakes Valley Conference
Conference No. 1 Triples (6)
First Team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference
Payton Totzke - Senior - Outfield - Mill Valley - William Jewell College - Great Lakes Valley Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Gracie Thomas - Senior - Catcher - Malden - Drury University - Great Lakes Valley Conference
Conference No. 2 Fielding Percentage (.996)
Callie Unrein - Senior - Outfield - Francis Howell - Truman State University - Great Lakes Valley Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Abby Vandiver - Junior - RHP - Richmond - William Jewell College - Great Lakes Valley Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Yazmin Vargas - Junior - Outfield - Garden City KS- Missouri Southern State - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Conference No. 1 Stolen Bases (36)
Conference No. 2 Hitting (.406)
Conference No. 3 On Base Percentage (.476)
First Team All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
First Team NFCA All-Central Region
Abbey Ward - Senior - Infield - Olathe South - Emporia State University - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
CSC Academic All-District
Conference No. 1 Stolen Bases (36)
Conference No. 5 Assists (124)
McKenzie West - Senior - RHP - Monroe City - Truman State University - Great Lakes Valley Conference
Second Team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference
CSC Academic All-District
Lexi Williams - Junior - Outfield - Hutchinson - Emporia State University - Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
CSC Academic All-District
Conference No. 3 Stolen Bases (29)
Isabella Wilson - Sophomore - Outfield - Troy Buchanan - Univ. of Illinois-Springfield - Great Lakes Valley Conference
Conference No. 1 Doubles (18)
Conference No. 3 Fielding Percentage (.996)
Second Team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference
Want to contact me? Please email me at PlayingOnSports@gmail.com
Here is the spreadsheet with 22 statistics on all 233 batters, in Batting Average order:
Here is the spreadsheet with 26 statistics on all 56 pitchers, in ERA order:
This concludes Softball for 2023. Softball will come once again next Spring. But, before then, there are many other sport seasons. Don’t miss any of it. Get your free subscription now:
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