Lebanon, Tenn. – May 1, 2024 – Anna Lay was voted First Team All-Conference, while Ashley Evans and Jacey Hatfield were both selected to the Second Team; Kaitlin Higgins named Gold Glove pitcher, as was announced by the league office this morning.
Sophomore Anna Lay was the Phoenix’s leadoff hitter all season and batted .471 in that spot, leading the whole of the Mid-South in batting average. Her ability on the basepaths was unmatched in the conference as well, outpacing the field by 14 bags, as she stole 40 bases and kept constant pressure on opposing defenses.
The first Second Team representative, Ashley Evans, was Lay’s partner in crime as they batted one-two all season, keeping runners in scoring position more often than not. Evans batted .365 on the year and her two triples led the team.
The final Second Team representative was Jacey Hatfield, Cumberland’s staple at shortstop. The Smithville, Tennessee native batted .307 on the season and was perfect on the basepaths, stealing ten bags on ten attempts.
Grabbing Cumberland’s only Gold Glove award, Kaitlin Higgins was a brick wall on the mound. In her 35 chances, the senior managed 100% fielding percentage, recording 33 assists and two putouts.
Cumberlands’ (Ky.) Jade Gainer was named the MSC Player of the Year while teammate Talli Burgess earned Pitcher of the Year honors. Campbellsville’s (Ky.) Jessie Daniels was named the Freshman of the Year.
Cumberlands’ Bailey Dillender was voted the MSC Coach of the Year while Alyssa Richards earned Assistant Coach of the Year honors.
Gainer leads the Patriots in batting average (.436), and ranks second on the team in home runs (7). She recorded 25 extra base hits which leads the team and ranks second in RBIs with 50. Gainer ranks second in the MSC in batting average and RBIs and third in the conference in stolen bases with 20.
In the circle, Burgess made 26 appearances with 18 starts in 100 innings pitched. She is 14-0 this season while recording four saves. Burgess has an ERA of 1.89 allowing 27 earned runs and has struck out 70. She leads the conference in saves and is tied for third in the MSC in wins.
Daniels batted .369 recording 58 hits and driving in 42 in her freshman campaign for the Tigers. She also leads the team and the conference in home runs with 12. Daniels is tied for third in the MSC in RBIs.
Dillender and Richards led the Patriots to a 42-5 overall record and a 23-1 MSC record as the Patriots captured their second MSC championship.
First Team All-Conference
CÂ Amber Atkins University of the Cumberlands
CÂ Kaeleigh Tuck Campbellsville University
IFÂ Emily Bryant University of the Cumberlands
IFÂ Brinley Cousar Freed-Hardeman University
IFÂ Jessie Daniels Campbellsville University
IFÂ Carly Oliver University of the Cumberlands
IFÂ Caroline Pitcock Campbellsville University
IFÂ Bailey Turnbow University of the Cumberlands
OFÂ Amber Gainer University of the Cumberlands
OFÂ Jade Gainer University of the Cumberlands
OFÂ Natalie Gilmore Freed-Hardeman University
OF Anna Lay Cumberland University
OFÂ Karli Quillin Freed-Hardeman University
OFÂ Emily Reynolds Campbellsville University
DPÂ Alivia Eggleston Freed-Hardeman University
PÂ Brittany Adair Freed-Hardeman University
PÂ Talli Burgess University of the Cumberlands
PÂ Katy Chadwell Campbellsville University
PÂ Kayden Murray Lindsey Wilson College
Utility Makenzie Keatts University of the Cumberlands
Second Team All-Conference
CÂ Kelsie Bostock Lindsey Wilson College
IFÂ Miranda Carnell Bethel University
IFÂ Elizabeth Funk Lindsey Wilson College
IF Jacey Hatfield Cumberland University
IFÂ Lindsey Mitchell Campbellsville University
IFÂ Alanna Pierce Georgetown College
OFÂ Chloe Carter Freed-Hardeman University
OF Ashley Evans Cumberland University
OFÂ Maria Murdaugh Bethel University
PÂ Lindsey Shope University of the Cumberlands
Gold Glove
CÂ Amber Atkins University of the Cumberlands
1BÂ Kalani Kuroda Bethel University
2BÂ Carly Oliver University of the Cumberlands
SSÂ Aniyah White University of the Cumberlands
3BÂ Emily Bryant University of the Cumberlands
OFÂ Amber Gainer University of the Cumberlands
OFÂ Natalie Gilmore Freed-Hardeman University
OFÂ Karli Quillin Freed-Hardeman University
P Kaitlin Higgins Cumberland University
Source: Cumberland
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