KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Six members of the Pittsburg State University softball team earned All-MIAA honors today (Apr. 30) highlighted by Co-Player of the Year Heather Arnett, Freshman of the Year Ava Laurent and MIAA Coaching Staff of the Year honors for head coach Jenny Fuller and her staff.
 
In addition to the major award winners, graduate second baseman Hannah Burnett, senior first baseman Maddie Fernandez and senior designated player Paxtyn Hayes joined Arnett and Laurent in earning first-team All-MIAA recognition. Senior shortstop Gabby Schultz was named to the honorable mention All-MIAA squad.
 
Arnett and Burnett also were named to the MIAA Gold Glove Team.
 
Arnett racked up the awards during her sophomore campaign for the Gorillas, with the Co-POY, Gold Glove and first-team All-MIAA accolades. She becomes just the fourth player in school history to earn MIAA Player of the Year honors, joining Lisa Hill (1994), Amanda DeCastro (2012) and Tiffany Brown (2014).
 
The Pittsburg native is hitting .452 on the season with 65 runs scored, 90 hits, seven triples, two home runs, 29 RBI and 49 stolen bases. She leads NCAA Division II in stolen bases, ranks second nationally in hits, tied for fourth in run scored, eighth in triples and 23^rd in batting average.
 
Laurent becomes the seventh Gorilla to be named MIAA Freshman of the Year, joining Renee Dunlap (1992), Shelly Graham (1997), Tera Swartslander (2005), DeCastro (2009), Emmie Robertson (2015) and Kala Holder (2017).
 
The Grand Island, Neb., native has posted an 18-1 record in the circle with a 1.97 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP in 149.1 innings pitched. She has posted seven shutouts, registered 192 strikeouts and limited opponents to a .197 batting average. Laurent ranks in the top 25 nationally in strikeouts per 7 Innings (17^th, 9.0), shutouts (18^th) and strikeouts (22^nd).
 
Fuller becomes the first head coach in program history to receive MIAA Coaching Staff of the Year recognition along with her assistant staff of Brad Fuller, Abby Atkins, Tyler Fuller and Ashton Friend. Picked seventh in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll, Fuller and her staff helped guide Pitt State to the program's second MIAA regular season crown (1994) as well as school single season records for victories (49), MIAA victories (23), overall winning streak (22), home winning streak (25), RBI (323) and stolen bases (99).
 
Burnett (Independence, Kan.) is hitting .432 with 64 runs scored, 73 hits, five triples, five home runs, 43 RBI and 30 stolen bases in her first season with the Gorillas, after transferring from NCAA Division I Grand Canyon University. She ranks 11^th nationally in stolen base percentage (.968, 30-31), 17^th in runs per game (1.19) and 25^th in hits.
 
Fernandez (San Antonio, Texas) is hitting .375 with 29 runs scored, 51 hits, seven doubles, 11 home runs and 50 RBI in her first season in the Pitt State program, after transferring from Angelo State University. She ranks fourth in the MIAA in home runs and fifth in the conference in RBI.
 
Hayes (Greenwood, Ark.) is hitting .361 with 27 runs scored, 61 hits, 12 doubles, 11 home runs and 62 RBI. She leads the MIAA and ranks 14^th in Division II in RBI. Hayes becomes a three-time first-team All-MIAA selection with this honor, joining Swartslander, DeCastro, Robertson and Holder as the only Gorillas to so in team history. She has a .354 career batting average with 40 home runs and a school record 189 RBI.
 
Schultz (Gardner, Kan.) is batting .313 with 23 runs scored, 36 hits, seven doubles and 25 RBI to date. She was the 2023 MIAA Defensive Player of the Year and an NFCA Rawlings Gold Glove winner last year. Schultz also is a three-time All-MIAA selection with a .336 career batting average and a .963 career fielding percentage at shortstop.
 
 
Below is the complete listing of All-MIAA honors.
 
2024 MIAA Softball Postseason Awards
Co-Player of the Year – Heather Arnett – Pittsburg State, So.
Co-Player of the Year – Terin Ritz – Central Oklahoma, Jr.
Pitcher of the Year – Sara Llamas-Howell – Rogers State, Sr.
Defensive Player of the Year – Shayleigh Odom – Central Oklahoma, Sr.
Freshman of the Year – Ava Laurent – Pittsburg State, Fr.
Coaching Staff of the Year – Pittsburg State – Jenny Fuller, Brad Fuller, Abby Atkin, Tyler Fuller and Ashton Friend
 
2024 All-MIAA Softball Teams
First Team
Pitcher: Ava Laurent – Pittsburg State
Pitcher: Sarah Llamas-Howell – Rogers State
Pitcher: Terin Ritz – Central Oklahoma
Catcher: Callie Yellin – Rogers State
First Base: Maddie Fernandez – Pittsburg State
Second Base: Hannah Burnett – Pittsburg State
Shortstop: Emily Deramus – Central Oklahoma
Third Base: Josie Harrison – Emporia State
Outfield: Heather Arnett – Pittsburg State
Outfield: Alexis Dial – Emporia State
Outfield: Rylee Lemos – Central Oklahoma
Designated Player: Paxtyn Hayes – Pittsburg State
Utility/Pitcher: Jaycee Ginter - Washburn
 
Second Team
Pitcher: Jordyn Pipkin – Central Oklahoma
Pitcher: Sadie Walker - Washburn
Catcher: Abbey Rogers – Rogers State
First Base: Hayley Bonython - Newman
Second Base: Taylor Nuckolls – Missouri Southern
Shortstop: Kalee Higdon – Missouri Western
Third Base: Marrit Mead - Washburn
Outfield: Jacee Minter – Central Oklahoma
Outfield: Kylee Jacks – Missouri Southern
Outfield: Lillie Filger – Northwest Missouri
Outfield: Paxton Donaldson – Rogers State
Designated Player: Hayden Serna – Central Missouri
Utility/Pitcher: Kara Amos – Missouri Southern
 
Gold Glove Team
Pitcher: Kiki Pickens – Missouri Southern
Catcher: Mac Moore - Washburn 
First Base: Bridgett Morales – Rogers State 
Second Base: Hannah Burnett – Pittsburg State 
Shortstop: Regan Curry – Fort Hays State
Third Base: Marrit Mead – Washburn
Outfield: Heather Arnett – Pittsburg State
Outfield: Lillie Filger – Northwest Missouri  
Outfield: Kylee Jacks – Missouri Southern  
Outfield: Shayleigh Odom – Central Oklahoma
Outfield: Yazmin Vargas – Missouri Southern 
*Ties in voting

Honorable Mention
Central Missouri: Taylor Thompson (Second Base)
Central Oklahoma: Tatum Long (First Base); Rylee Anglen (Second Base); Shayleigh Odom (Outfield)
Emporia State: Bailey Flewelling (Catcher)
Fort Hays State: Loren Beggs (Third Base); Peyton Shepard (Outfield)
Missouri Southern: Katie Gray (First Base); Yazmin Vargas (Outfield)
Missouri Western: Sydney Rader (Pitcher); Mackenzie DeVine (Outfield); Ashlyn Finarty (Utility/Pitcher)
Nebraska Kearney: Mary Chvatal (Shortstop)
Northeastern State: Maddie Messenger (First Base)
Northwest Missouri: Skylar Pieper (First Base)
Pittsburg State: Gabby Schultz (Shortstop)
Rogers State: Jade Sanders (Pitcher); Kaylee Lyon (Third Base)
Washburn: Alexis Tanguma (Second Base)