Posted: Jun 11, 2014
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Central Methodist junior catcher Michele Rupard and senior pitcher�Aubrey Utley�have been named to the 2014 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) NAIA All-America Teams. Rupard is a first-team selection after being named a 2013 second-team at-large choice.�Utley is a second-team at-large choice for the second-straight season and second-team All-American for the third-straight season.
In 2014, Rupard became the second Eagle to win the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) Player of the Year honor. In 46 games, the Kansas City native led the team in batting average (.402), hits (53), doubles (17), runs (45), on-base percentage (.546), slugging percentage (.689) and walks (39). She also posted seven home runs and 29 RBIs. Rupard posted single-season school records for walks (39) and on-base percentage (.546). The 39 walks ranks ties for ninth all-time in NAIA history. Rupard's .689 slugging percentage this season was the second highest in a season in school history. Rupard's 17 doubles tied for third highest in a season, while her seven homers tied for eighth most in a single-season in school history.
In the NAIA this season, Rupard ranked 19th in doubles per game (0.370) and 31st in doubles (17).
Utley cemented her legacy as one of the greatest pitchers in HAAC history with arguably her finest year in the circle. The first Eagle to be named the league's Pitcher of the Year four times rolled to a 26-3 record in 30 appearances in 2014 while tossing 26 complete games to become the school's all-time leader in wins (94) and strikeouts (559). Utley's 26 wins tied her own 2012 single-season school record. Her 13 shutouts in 2014 set a single-season school record. Utley posted a 1.64 ERA in 184.0 innings pitched and allowed only 54 runs, 43 earned, with 138 strikeouts against only 26 walks. Opponents batted a paltry .239 against the five-time HAAC Pitcher of the Week this season. Utley was the only pitcher to shut out Auburn Montgomery (Ala.), this season's National Champion.
In the NAIA this season, Utley ranked third in wins (26), 12th in innings pitched per game (6.133), 13th in fewest walks allowed per nine innings (0.99), 21st in innings pitched (184.0) and 24th in lowest earned run average (1.64).
The squads are comprised of 32 players representing 19 schools across the five NFCA geographic regions on each of two All-America teams.
NAIA national champion Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) and Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) garnered the most selections, with four apiece, while Central Methodist was one of six other institutions to have two players each honored.
NFCA member coaches in the five regions selected the teams.�
