Cowley’s Saige Smith takes Freshman of the Year honors; Hoyt Coach of the Year

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By RAMA PEROO/Cowley College

Finishing as conference co-champions and earning the top seed in the District B Tournament, the No. 16-ranked Cowley College softball team led the list of all-conference selections with 10 players receiving recognition.

Highlighting the selections was pitcher Saige Smith being named the Freshman of the Year in the conference. Smith is 22-5 with a 2.42 earned run average. She has struck out 211 batters in 150 innings.

Hoyt

“Saige has had a great freshmen year,” Cowley head coach Jenny Hoyt said. “She has been a competitor for us in the circle. We are very proud of her, and it’s rewarding for her to be recognized by other conference coaches for her performance.”

Smith was one of four Cowley players named First Team all-conference performers. Joining Smith on the First Team was sophomore shortstop Maci Cole (.446 average, 22 home runs, 65 runs batted in), sophomore third baseman Kyla Bonnarens (.516 average, 15 home runs, 76 RBI), and freshman designated player Emily Louderback (.364 average, 10 doubles, 26 RBI).

Freshman outfielder Shayne Roberts (.354 average, four home runs, 44 RBI) was named to the Second Team, while Karleigh Bell (.294 average, 25 RBI), Aaliyah Ahmed (.314 average, 19 RBI), Laramie Neff (.296 average, 27 RBI), McKinzi Sowles (.366 average, 42 RBI), and freshman pitcher Jaala Nowlin (10-3, 3.99 ERA) received honorable mention recognition.

“We have a lot of strong players in our conference, and this just goes to show the strength of our team,” Hoyt said. “It’s very rewarding for those players to be recognized for the season they have had.”

With Cowley having won 33 of its last 35 games and finishing 21-1 in the conference, Hoyt was named the Coach of the Year.

“It takes all the players’ efforts, sacrifices, and dedication for me to get this honor, and for that, I will be forever grateful,” Hoyt said. “My assistant Tori (Beltz) deserves credit as she brings a lot to the table for us to be successful as well. I am so thankful to be their coach, but ultimately this is a team win for us as we all have given time and energy into being successful this season.”

KANSAS JAYHAWK COMMUNITY COLLEGE CONFERENCE

SOFTBALL DIVISION II ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

COACH OF THE YEAR

Jenny Hoyt, Cowley

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Jordan Harrison, Johnson

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

Saige Smith, Cowley

FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE

First Base          Kate Ediger                  Johnson

Second Base    Brooklyn Goehring       Allen

Short Stop       Maci Cole                  Cowley

Third Base       Kyla Bonnarens         Cowley

Utility              Winter Snyder              Labette

Outfield          Taryn Burkardt             Johnson

Outfield          Grace Batdorf              Coffeyville

Outfield         Ruby Nola                    Kansas City

Catcher          Gaige Pinkerton           Johnson

Pitcher           Saige Smith               Cowley

Pitcher           Jordan Harrison           Johnson

Pitcher           Mykala Johnico           Independence

DP                 Emily Louderback      Cowley

SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE

First Base       Hayley Bonython        Labette

SecondBase   Paiten Reavis              Fort Scott

Short Stop     Toree Hoobler            Johnson

Third Base     Ellie Facklam              Labette

Outfield         Shayne Roberts         Cowley

Outfield         Jaslyne Williams         Highland

Outfield        Maggie McKee           Labette

Catcher         Kelley Baker               Independence

Pitcher          Maggie McNally        Johnson

Pitcher          Logan Cates               Neosho

Pitcher          Emma Kreisel             Highland

DP                Ashley Tribble             Allen

HONORABLE MENTION

Coffeyville- Alex Ginnis, Payton Hayes

Cloud- Ryleigh Jones. Alexis Billings, Jayden Rehlander, McKenna Mayhew

Cowley- Karleigh Bell, Aaliyah Ahmed, Laramie Neff, McKinzi Sowles, Jaala Nowlin

Fort Scott- Julia Paisley, Ally Bartley, Halle Hance, Maddy Cole

JCCC- Hannah Archdekin, Emma Smith, Lauren Roberts, Eve Morris

Indy – Emma Jones

KCKCC- Trinity Tauer

Labette- Kaila Kaahu, Raven Hough, Lily Graue, Keira Jackson

Neosho- Braxton Stainbrook, Hannah Duin, Carsyn McCue

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