Louisville, Ken. - The National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced the 149 student-athletes from 68 schools who comprise the 2023 NFCA NAIA All-Region teams.
The awards honor student-athletes from the Association's six regions with selection to one of two teams. NFCA member head coaches nominate and then vote for the winners in their respective region.
Five members of the Central Methodist softball program landed on NAIA Region V first and second teams.
Freshman pitcher Jordyn Ball, junior outfielder Kelena Oots, and senior utility player Katelyn Kiser were named to the first team. Freshman third baseman Joely Crider and freshman outfielder Kaysie Jolley landed on the second team.
Ball, a native from Fayette, had a remarkable freshman campaign with the Eagles. She finished the year with a 19-3 overall record through 25 appearances in 24 starts. Ball pitched 20 complete games including a perfect game against Peru State College on April 22. She was named both the Heart Pitcher and NAIA National Pitcher of the Week as a result.
She racked up 175 total strikeouts and finished the year with a 1.48 earned run average through 147 complete innings of work. For her efforts in conference play, Ball was named a Heart First Team All-Conference selection.
Oots served as one of Central's offensive weapons in 2023, as she batted .381 on 74 hits including three doubles and three triples. She also swiped 24 bases this season and drew 16 walks.
The Kansas City native was tabbed as the Heart Player of the Year and a Heart First Team All-Conference selection, in addition to being named the Heart Player of the Week on April 4. Oots never missed a game for the Eagles this season, starting every game in centerfield.
Kiser rounded out the First Team honors for the Eagles, as she is now a two-time All-Region selection. The native of Kansas City, Mo. led the Eagles with a .384 batting average on 63 hits which included 12 doubles, a triple, and four home runs. She drove in 36 total runners and was twice named the Heart Player of the Week and a Heart First Team All-Conference selection.
Crider was a welcome addition to the Eagles lineup in 2023, serving as Central's primary third baseman this season. She started in all 54 games for the Eagles, batting .368 with 16 doubles, a triple, and four home runs. She drove in 43 runners and drew 24 walks. Crider was also named a Heart First Team All-Conference selection.
Jolley rounds out the All-Region selections for the Eagles as she appeared in 51 games this season, primarily in the outfield. The native of Nampa Idaho batted .380 with 54 hits, including 10 doubles, a triple and seven home runs. She recorded seven stolen bases and drove in 28 runners. In the outfield, Jolley committed just one error, finishing the year with a .986 fielding percentage. Along with her teammates previously mentioned, Jolley also landed on the Heart All-Conference First Team.
As a team, the Eagles completed the Heart Regular Season and Conference tournament sweeps for the second-straight season. Central finished the year with a 42-12 record and a 21-5 mark in conference play, and an opening round championship of the Henderson Bracket in Henderson< Tenn. For just the fourth time in program history, CMU punched their ticket to the NAIA World Series in Columbus, Ga.
To view the complete list of NFCA NAIA All-Region teams, please click here.
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