MCC Softball dominates All-Region IX team
Nine members of the Region IX Champion McCook Community College softball team have been selected to the 2025 All-Region IX Division 1 team by a vote of the seven region coaches.
This year’s All-Region’s IX team includes two MCC pitchers, a catcher, four infielders, an outfielder and the designated player. In addition, Kaliyah St. Amand was named Region IX Freshman of the Year and the region’s Player of the Year.
The Lady Indians are 48-9 on the year will make the school's first-ever appearance in the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series next week in Yuma, Ariz. MCC is one of 20 teams set to play May 19-24.
In addition to St. Amand, other MCC players named to the All-Region IX first-team include: pitcher Sadie Kahl; catcher Payton Kinsley; infielders Lexi Knapp, Paige Warren, Laila Gutierrez; outfielder Angela Banzet and designated player Rocio Mascorro. Ayana Goodwin was one of five players in the league receiving honorable mention.
In her first year at MCC, St. Amand (Duncan, British Columbia), started 27 games in the pitching circle, started 19 and went 19-3 with a 2.22 earned run average. In 126 innings pitched she struck out 146 batters, allowed 110 hits and walked 32. She led all Region IX pitchers in wins and ERA and was second in strikeouts. Adding to her resume as the league’s top freshman and top player she batted .442 with a .516 on-base average with 10 doubles, two home runs and 26 RBIs in 104 at bats. She was second in Region IX in batting average, reached base on 51.6 percent of her plate appearances and slugged .615.
Kahl, sophomore from Calgary, Alberta, went 12-3 with a 2.94 ERA. In 119 innings, she allowed 121 hits, walked 37 and struck out 96. She was second in Region IX in ERA and tied for third with 12 pitching wins. Offensively she hit .340 with a .404 on-base average in 94 at bats, with two homers and 18 RBIs.
Kinsley, a freshman catcher from Didsbury, Alberta, hit .371 with 21 home runs and 80 RBIs. She had an .832 slugging average, leading Region IX in homers and RBIs. Her home run total was tied for sixth in the nation, and she is 16th in RBIs.
Knapp, sophomore first-base, Berthoud, Colo. led Region IX with a .453 batting average. She had 73 hits in 161 at bats with a .539 on-base average, 48 RBIs, seven doubles and three home runs.
Warren, a freshman from Victoria, British Columbia, played primarily at third base and hit .434 in 196 at bats with a team-leading 24 doubles, eight triples, five home runs, 55 RBIs and 47 stolen bases. She reached base 47.6 percent of her plate appearances and slugged .714. She was third in the region in hitting and RBIs and second in stolen bases. She is fifth in the nation in doubles, just two fewer than the national co-leaders.
Gutierrez, sophomore shortstop, Seminole, Texas, is third in the nation and led Region IX with a school record 74 stolen bases. She batted .374 for the Lady Indians with 18 doubles, four triples, eight home runs and 45 RBIs in 179 at bats. She walked a team-leading 30 times leading to a .482 on-base average and also led the team with 87 runs scored.
Sophomore centerfielder, Angela Banzet (Surrey, British Columbia) anchored the defensive outfield with just three errors and a .942 fielding percentage in 53 games while batting .297 with 13 stolen bases and a .410 on-base average.
In being named the region’s top designated player, Mascorro (sophomore, Brownsville, Texas), batted .408 with a .442 on-base average and slugged .553 (.635 in Region IX play. She had nine doubles, two home runs and 27 RBIs in 37 games.
Goodwin, sophomore second base (Broomfield, Colo.) received honorable mention. She appeared in 42 games and batted .382 with a .418 on-base average. Defensively she had 50 putouts and 58 assists and a .939 fielding percentage with six double plays.
ALL-REGION IX 2025
Pitchers: Keira Gray, Otero; Kaliyah St. Amand, McCook; Sadie Kahl, McCook.
Catchers: Randi Mitchell, Western Nebraska; Payton Kinsley, McCook.
Infielders: Lexi Knapp, McCook; Paige Warren, McCook; Liegha Lucero, Trinidad State, Laila Gutierrez, McCook; Sierra Hilgner, Western Nebraska.
Outfield: Kelsi Jurczewsky, Northeastern JC; Angela Banzet, McCook; Jaylyn Kelly, Trinidad State, JoLee Huffaker, Western Nebraska
Utility: Mariah Johnson, Otero,
Designated Player: Rocio Mascorro, McCook.
Honorable Mention: Kelsey Grant, Trinidad State; Kayli Cooper, Western Nebraska; Mikey Llamas, Northeastern JC; Sienna Estrada, Otero; Ayana Goodwin, McCook.
Freshman of the Year: Kaliyah St. Amand, McCook.
Player of the Year: Kaliyah St. Amand, McCook.
Up-to-date information about MCC softball including livestream links, schedule, statistics, rosters, photos and more can be found on the MCC Athletics website, www.mccindians.com