Softball lands eight on all-conference teams, Kinnett named COTY

After winning the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference western division title, eight Colby Community College softball players were named to Division I all-conference teams, and Steve Kinnett was named Coach of the Year.

Landing on the first team was pitcher Mahealani Haegele—who was also named the most valuable player in the West, shortstop Haley Fox, third baseman Alexis Kagan, and outfielder Emily Brackett. Second team members include catcher Jayda Shaw, second baseman Makenna Pendergrass, outfielder Laynie Gillins and utility player Whisper Doliwa.

Haegele was named the conference pitcher of the week three times in 2019. The sophomore from Richland, Mich., went 19-5 with a 2.02 ERA. She had 133 strikeouts and tossed 156.2 innings, which was second in the Jayhawk. Earlier in the season, she signed a letter of intent with Fort Hays State University.

As a sophomore, Fox led the Trojans with 40 RBIs. The Colorado Springs, Colo., native hit .324 with eight home runs and tied for a club-best 12 stolen bases. Next season she will play for the Tigers of Fort Hays State.

Kagan hit .387 for CCC and had team-highs in home runs (10), hits (63), and doubles (16). A sophomore from Castle Rock, Colo., Kagan also was second on the team with 36 RBIs. She signed with Fort Hays State to play in 2019.

Gunnison, Colo., freshman Brackett was second on the team with a .376 batting average and second with 53 runs scored. She also had 12 stolen bases, tied for a CCC best.

In her freshman campaign, Shaw collected 14 doubles and 37 RBIs, both second-best on the team. From Manti, Utah, she was third on the squad with a .366 batting average.

Pendergrass, from Carbon, Utah, drove in 36 runs while hitting .372. The freshman also ranked second on the team with a .437 on-base percentage.

Gillins tallied 42 hits in 116 at-bats for a .362 batting average. The Mount Pleasant, Utah, freshman had 12 walks while striking out just six times. She earned player of the week honors in February for a stretch in which she hit .619.

To finish her sophomore year, Doliwa led the Trojans with a .400 batting average. The Roy, Utah, native also pitched 94 innings, posting an 11-8 record.

As a team, the Trojans went 30-19. In six season as head coach, Kinnett has a record of 173-143. The Jayhawk Conference title is the first for the program since joining in 1997.

The full list of all-conference selections is available on the KJCCC website.