Softball 5/8/2019 3:00:00 PM

Heath, McKittrick, Puempel Named All-Region

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (May 8) – Central Oklahoma's JoBi Heath, Hazel Puempel and Bailey McKittrick have all been named first-team selections on the All-Central Region Softball Team by the Conference Commissioner's Association, it was announced Wednesday.

The threesome have helped lead the Bronchos to a 45-5 record and No. 1 ranking NCAA Division II. UCO is hosting the four-team Central Regional I Tournament Thursday-Saturday, meeting Minnesota-Duluth in a first-round game at 2:30 p.m. Thursday.

The Central Region is made up of teams from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Association and the Great American Conference and the CCA team is voted on by sports information directors of schools from the three conferences.. All three players now move on to the All-America ballot.

Heath has started every game of her illustrious four-year career at UCO and ranks as one of the school's all-time best players. Named the MIAA Player of the Year last week, the senior third baseman from Edmond is hitting .412 and leads Division II in doubles (22) and runs batted in (71) while having also bashed 14 home runs.

A four-time all-conference selection, Heath was named to the NFCA Top 25 list for the Division II Player of the Year two weeks ago. She's had hitting streaks of 11, 12 and 16 games this season.

Puempel came to Central this year after two standout years at Texas Woman's and has been an offensive sparkplug at the top of the lineup.

The junior outfielder from Tool, Texas is hitting .407 with 17 doubles, six homers, four triples and 52 RBI. Puempel has walked a school-record 38 times and also has a team-high .510 on-base percentage.

McKittrick has enjoyed a dominant season in the pitching circle in her first year with the Bronchos, having set a freshman school record for wins with 24. She's 24-2 with a 1.81 earned run average and has walked just 44 batters in 158.2 innings.

The MIAA Pitcher of the Year from Moore has 15 complete games in 22 starts. She went 3-0 with a 1.56 ERA in UCO's four-game MIAA Tournament sweep last week, giving up just four runs and 11 hits in 18 innings.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#13 JoBi Heath: IF/OF; 5' 7"; Senior; R/R

#27 Bailey McKittrick: P; 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R

#28 Hazel Puempel: UT; 5' 9"; Junior; L/R

Players Mentioned

#13 JoBi Heath
: 5' 7"; Senior; R/R
: IF/OF

#27 Bailey McKittrick
: 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R
: P

#28 Hazel Puempel
: 5' 9"; Junior; L/R
: UT

Players Mentioned

#13 JoBi Heath

#27 Bailey McKittrick

#28 Hazel Puempel

Players Mentioned

#13 JoBi Heath

#27 Bailey McKittrick

#28 Hazel Puempel