Complete Release in PDF
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The Western Athletic Conference tonight announced its 2017 All-WAC softball teams and major awards as selected by the league's head coaches. NM State's
Kelsey Horton was named WAC Player of the Year, while Utah Valley's
Lauren Frailey was named WAC Pitcher of the Year and teammate
Caragh Morris was named WAC Freshman of the Year. Grand Canyon's
Ann Pierson was named WAC Coach of the Year.
Horton, a sophomore second baseman from San Clemente, Calif., earns WAC Player of the Year honors after breaking the conference records for batting average (.558) and slugging percentage (1.258) and tying the record for home runs per game (0.60) in WAC games only. She also led the league in on-base percentage (.678), runs (20), hits (24), RBIs (22), homers (9), total bases (54) and walks (13) in WAC play. She was a three-time WAC Hitter of the Week selection.
Frailey, a junior right-hander from Tooele, Utah, earns WAC Pitcher of the Year honors after earning six of the Wolverines' seven WAC wins. In league play, she led the WAC in games started (12), ranked second in ERA (3.40), tied for second in wins (6), innings pitched (59.2) and appearances (12), and ranked fourth in strikeouts (19). Frailey was named WAC Pitcher of the Week three times this season.
Morris, an outfielder from Ewa Beach, Hawaii, earns WAC Freshman of the Year honors after hitting .373 with a .569 slugging percentage and a .439 on-base percentage in WAC play. She ranked tied for fourth in the league in WAC games in doubles (4), tied for seventh in hits (19) and ninth in RBIs (14). Morris had seven multi-hit games and four multi-RBI games in WAC play.
Pierson earns Coach of the Year honors after leading the Lopes to a share of the WAC regular-season title with an 11-4 mark and the most overall wins since transitioning to Division I four years ago. She surpassed 400 career wins earlier this season and her program received votes in the USA Softball Top 25 poll for the first time in program history. This is her second WAC Coach of the Year honor in four seasons in the league and third overall honor.
| First Team |
School |
Ht. |
Yr. |
Pos. |
Hometown (Last School) |
| Paige Bouska |
Seattle U |
5-6 |
Sr. |
OF |
Keizer, Ore. (McNary) |
| Nikki Butler |
NM State |
5-8 |
Fr. |
C |
La Habra, Calif. (La Habra) |
| Lauren Frailey |
Utah Valley |
5-9 |
Jr. |
RHP |
Tooele, Utah (Salt Lake CC) |
| Kendsey Hill |
Grand Canyon |
5-6 |
Sr. |
C |
Walla Walla, Wash. (Walla Walla) |
| Chris Hipa |
CSU Bakersfield |
5-6 |
So. |
3B |
Aiea, Hawaii (Kamehameha Kapalama) |
| Kelsey Horton |
NM State |
5-11 |
So. |
2B |
San Clemente, Calif. (San Clemente) |
| Kendra Leach |
UMKC |
5-4 |
Jr. |
OF |
Easton, Kan. (McLouth) |
| Alyson Matriotti |
Seattle U |
5-9 |
Fr. |
3B |
Everett, Wash. (Archbishop Murphy) |
| Taylor Nowlin |
Grand Canyon |
5-6 |
Sr. |
LHP |
Peoria, Ariz. (Sunrise Mountain) |
| Rachel Rodriguez |
NM State |
5-5 |
Jr. |
SS |
Paramount, Calif. (Downey) |
| Sierra Smith |
Grand Canyon |
5-5 |
So. |
3B |
Waddell, Ariz. (Verrado) |
| Megan Stevens |
Grand Canyon |
5-8 |
Fr. |
1B |
Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (Etiwanda) |
| Brittney Vansway |
Utah Valley |
5-6 |
Sr. |
3B |
Irvine, Calif. (Irvine) |
| Second Team |
School |
Ht. |
Yr. |
Pos. |
Hometown (Last School) |
| Brianna Aguilar-Beaucage |
Grand Canyon |
5-7 |
Fr. |
RHP |
Tucson, Ariz. (Salpointe Catholic) |
| Kaylynn Burt |
CSU Bakersfield |
5-4 |
Jr. |
OF |
Fresno, Calif. (Central) |
| Victoria Castro |
NM State |
5-8 |
So. |
OF |
Albuquerque, N.M. (Volcano Vista) |
| Madison Cathcart |
Seattle U |
5-7 |
Fr. |
1B |
Longview, Wash. (R.A. Long) |
| Jenna Coates |
Grand Canyon |
5-8 |
Sr. |
OF |
Gilbert, Ariz. (Higley) |
| Fahren Glackin |
NM State |
5-6 |
Jr. |
1B |
Honolulu, Hawaii (Kamehameha Kapalama) |
| Kelsey Goodwin |
UMKC |
5-9 |
Jr. |
2B |
Broken Arrow, Okla. (Union) |
| Kayla Green |
NM State |
6-1 |
So. |
RHP |
Tucson, Ariz. (Cienega) |
| Andie Larkins |
Seattle U |
5-10 |
So. |
RHP |
Tucson, Ariz. (Sahuaro) |
| Caragh Morris |
Utah Valley |
5-5 |
Fr. |
OF |
Ewa Beach, Hawaii (James Campbell) |
| Maegan Rollow |
UMKC |
5-7 |
So. |
OF |
Broken Arrow, Okla. (Broken Arrow) |
| Shea Smith |
Grand Canyon |
5-5 |
So. |
SS |
Waddell, Ariz. (Verrado) |
| Camree Wartman |
Grand Canyon |
5-4 |
Sr. |
2B |
Riverton, Utah (Riverton) |
2017 WAC Player of the Year: Kelsey Horton, NM State
2017 WAC Pitcher of the Year: Lauren Frailey, Utah Valley
2017 WAC Freshman of the Year: Caragh Morris, Utah Valley
2017 WAC Coach of the Year: Ann Pierson, Grand Canyon