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Eight UCO Players Named To All-MIAA Softball Teams

Terin Ritz Selected Co-Player of the Year and Shayleigh Odom Defensive Player of the Year

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Central Oklahoma's Terin Ritz and Shayleigh Odom claimed two of the top individual awards on the All-MIAA Softball Teams that were released Tuesday, with Ritz named Co-Player of the Year and Odom selected Defensive Player of the Year.
 
Ritz was joined on the first-team All-MIAA squad by shortstop Emily Deramus and outfielder Rylee Lemos, with outfield Jacee Minter and pitcher Jordyn Pipkin picking up second-team accolades. Odom, second baseman Rylee Anglen and first baseman Tatum Long garnered honorable mention recognition.
 
"It's always a thrill to have our players acknowledged for their efforts on the field," head coach Cody White said. "I'm really proud of all of them for what they've meant to our team this season.
 
"Terin has been unbelievable with what she's done for us, both with her pitching and her offense. And I'm especially excited to see Shayleigh get the credit she's due for her defensive play, which has been amazing all season."
 
Ritz has enjoyed a dominating season at the plate and in the pitching circle in leading the Bronchos to a 41-11 record heading into the MIAA Tournament that UCO will host Wednesday-Saturday at Gerry Pinkston Stadium.
 
Offensively, the junior from Deer Creek leads the conference in home runs (17), slugging percentage (.830) and on base/slugging percentage (1.325). She also ranks third in on base percentage (.495), third in walks (32), fourth in runs batted in (54), sixth in runs scored (47) and 10th in average (.381).

Ritz also tops the league in earned run average (1.35) and is tied for second in wins (19). She's 19-6 on the season with 13 complete games, five shutouts and has issued just 22 walks in 145.2 innings.

Ritz is UCO's fifth MIAA Player of the Year honoree since the Bronchos joined the league in 2013, joining Morgan Heard (2016), Carrie Abrmas (2017 and '18) and JoBi Heath (2019).
 
Lemos is among the MIAA leaders in several offensive categories. The sophomore from South Coffeyville, Okla. is third in runs (62), fourth in triples (five) and slugging percentage (.643), fifth in hits (66), sixth in on base/slugging percentage (1.117) and seventh in average (.393) and on base percentage (.474).
 
Deramus made the first-team unit for the second straight year. The Edmond sophomore Is hitting .338 and ranks fourth in doubles (14) and runs (49), eighth in homers (eighth) and ninth in slugging percentage (.616) in the MIAA.
 
Minter earned All-MIAA honors for the fourth consecutive season, becoming just the sixth player in UCO's rich history to achieve that honor. The Edmond senior has a .369 average and is in the top 10 in six league categories – second in RBIs (61), third in slugging percentage (.669), fifth in homers (10), ninth in triples (four), seventh in on base/slugging percentage (1.102) and 10th in hits (58).
 
Pipkin is 15-4 with a 2.35 ERA and opponents are batting just .207 against her, which is fifth-best in the league. A second-team All-MIAA pick for the second straight year, the junior from Jenks has thrown six shutouts with just 44 walks in 119 innings.
 
Odom has been perfect in the field from her center field post, having used her speed and savvy to make a number of highlight-type plays in saving UCO countless runs. The senior from Deer Creek is also batting .307 with 12 doubles, four homers and 36 RBIs.

Odom is the fourth UCO player to be tabbed MIAA Defensive Player of the Year, joining Tori Collet (2014), Lexy Dobson (2021) and Brighton Gilbert (2022).
 
Anglen has been a key performer all season after taking over the starting role at second base. The Skiatook sophomore is hitting .306 with five doubles and has made a team-high 109 assists.
 
Long, a first-team utility/non-pitcher pick last year, has a .243 average with nine doubles, six homers and 26 RBIs. The senior from Enid has a stellar .996 fielding percentage, with just one error in 232 chances at first base.

UCO finished third in the regular season standings and will take on Emporia State at 4 p.m. Thursday in the quarterfinals of the MIAA Tournament.
 
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)
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Players Mentioned

Rylee Anglen

#9 Rylee Anglen

IF
5' 3"
Sophomore
L/R
Emily Deramus

#5 Emily Deramus

IF
5' 8"
Sophomore
R/R
Rylee Lemos

#8 Rylee Lemos

OF
5' 6"
Sophomore
L/R
Tatum Long

#24 Tatum Long

IF
5' 8"
Senior
R/R
Jacee Minter

#12 Jacee Minter

OF
5' 6"
Senior
R/R
Shayleigh Odom

#6 Shayleigh Odom

OF
5' 1"
Senior
L/R
Jordyn Pipkin

#15 Jordyn Pipkin

P
5' 6"
Junior
R/R
Terin Ritz

#99 Terin Ritz

P/1B
5' 8"
Junior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Rylee Anglen

#9 Rylee Anglen

5' 3"
Sophomore
L/R
IF
Emily Deramus

#5 Emily Deramus

5' 8"
Sophomore
R/R
IF
Rylee Lemos

#8 Rylee Lemos

5' 6"
Sophomore
L/R
OF
Tatum Long

#24 Tatum Long

5' 8"
Senior
R/R
IF
Jacee Minter

#12 Jacee Minter

5' 6"
Senior
R/R
OF
Shayleigh Odom

#6 Shayleigh Odom

5' 1"
Senior
L/R
OF
Jordyn Pipkin

#15 Jordyn Pipkin

5' 6"
Junior
R/R
P
Terin Ritz

#99 Terin Ritz

5' 8"
Junior
R/R
P/1B
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