STEPHENVILLE, Texas – In a season to remember for Tarleton Softball, two Texans took home prestigious honors dished out by the Western Athletic Conference on Monday.
The WAC announced that Tarleton infielder
Katy Schaefer and outfielder
Kelci Hill have been named to the All-WAC Second Team.
"Kelci and Katy have been steady all year so it is no surprise that they received this honor," head coach
Mark Cumpian said. "Both have worked hard all year and have put the team in a good position for a postseason run."
Of the 26 total All-WAC players among 12 WAC programs, Schaefer and Hill are among 13 on the All-WAC Second Team. Tarleton had the tied-fourth most honorees.
This is Schaefer's second career postseason conference award, adding to her All-WAC honorable mention in 2021. She has led the Texans in several offensive categories this year, including batting average (.365), home runs (11), RBI (48), total bases (102) and slugging percentage (.654). Conference-wise, Schaefer has the tied-fourth most RBI, the tied-seventh most home runs, the tied-seventh most total bases, and the 13th best batting average.
She was named the WAC Hitter of the Week in mid-February after batting .650 (13-20) while driving in nine RBI, including one home run and four doubles with two walks during Tarleton's 7-0 stretch. She posted an on-base percentage of .682 and went 3-for-3 in each of the final two games with two doubles and four RBI. Schaefer contributed heavily to the three run-rule decisions that week with multiple hits in four of the seven games, including three games with 3+ hits while starting at third base in all competitions.
This past weekend, the Texan junior moved into sole possession of fourth place on Tarleton's all-time RBI list at 132, and is now 17 away from third place. She's also top-five in home runs, fifth at 28.
Hill has made quite the impression in her first year with the Texan program, her junior campaign. So far, she has led the team in hits (65), runs (42) and triples (tied-most at four), plus was second on the team in batting average (.357), RBI (36), doubles (13) and total bases (92). WAC-wise she is tied-second in triples, tied-fifth in hits, tied-seventh in runs and tied-14th in batting average.
Hill is the third player in Tarleton's NCAA Division I history with 60 hits in a season, joining
Georgia Capell (64) and
Morgan Medford (62) in 2022.
This is Hill's second career postseason conference award, as she was on the All-Conference USA Second Team in 2021.
Schaefer, Hill and Tarleton will begin their first WAC Tournament on Wednesday against California Baptist at 3 p.m. CT in Phoenix. The Texans have already posted their second straight 30-win season, and with one more win, will have their most wins in their D1 era in their third season.
The full 2023 WAC Softball Awards list can be seen below.
Player of the Year
Shea Clements, Sr., C/OF, Utah Tech
Pitcher of the Year
Kate Dolinski, Grad, RHP, Utah Tech
Freshman of the Year
Tanya Windle, OF, Utah Tech
Defensive Player of the Year
Kinsey Koeltzow, Sr., C, Grand Canyon
Coach of the Year
Randy Simkins, Utah Tech
All-WAC First Team
Hannah Burnett, Grand Canyon
Katelyn Dunckel, Grand Canyon
Kristin Fifield, Grand Canyon
Meghan Golden, Grand Canyon
Ramsay Lopez, Grand Canyon
Kayla Bowen, NM State
Tai Wilson, Seattle U
Mackenzie Bennett, Stephen F. Austin
Brooke Gainous, Stephen F. Austin
Shea Clements, Utah Tech
Kate Dolinski, Utah Tech
Hannah Hughbanks, Utah Tech
Tanya Windle, Utah Tech
All-WAC Second Team
Priscilla Estrada, California Baptist
Ariel Thompson, Grand Canyon
Riley Carley, NM State
Brailey Wasik, Sam Houston
Jocelynn De La Cruz, Seattle U
Emily Gonzalez, Southern Utah
Gaby Garcia, Stephen F. Austin
Kelci Hill, Tarleton
Katy Schaefer, Tarleton
Marley Neises, UT Arlington
Lauren Almeida, Utah Tech
Sauren Garton, Utah Tech
Megan Gibbs, Utah Valley
WAC All-Defensive Team
Mercedes Eichelberger, Abilene Christian
Katelyn Dunckel, Grand Canyon
Kristin Fifield, Grand Canyon
Kinsey Koeltzow, Grand Canyon
Kayla Bowen, NM State
Lily Garcia, Seattle U
Madison Kahwaty, Seattle U
Gaby Garcia, Seattle U
Lauren Almeida, Utah Tech
Hannah Hughbanks, Utah Tech
