Posted: Jun 11, 2014
FAYETTE, Mo. - Central Methodist senior pitcher�Aubrey Utley, junior catcher�Michele Rupard�and sophomore outfielder Jessica Wilmes�have been named to the 2014 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) NAIA All-Midwest Region first team.
Utley is a first-team choice for the fourth-straight season. Rupard earns the nod for the third-straight year. Both players were named NAIA first team All-Americans in May.
All three players were named to the All-Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) first team.
Utley, Rupard and Wilmes helped guide the 2014 Eagles' squad to its best record (43-8) and highest national ranking (No. 14) in school history. All three players helped the Green and Black to its fourth-consecutive HAAC championship,�third-straight HAAC Championship Series title and third-straight berth in the NAIA Softball National Championship.
Utley cemented her legacy as one of the greatest pitchers in HAAC history with arguably her finest year in the circle. The league's four-time Pitcher of the Year 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).
In 2014, Rupard became the second Eagle to win the 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 scored (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).
In 48 games this season, Wilmes, who was named to the first team in an at-large spot, batted .364 with 51 hits, four home runs, 30 RBIs, 36 runs scored, 10 doubles, two triples, an on base percentage of .447 and slugging percentage of .550. The sophomore from Flint Hill, Mo., committed only one error in the field.
