OKLAHOMA CITY – Science & Arts's Jaclyn Gray has been tabbed as the 2023 Sooner Athletic Conference player of the year.
For pitcher of the year, the vote was split, and the honor was shared by Shelbey Cornelson of Oklahoma City, and Sophie Williams of Science & Arts. OCU's Analise Rayburn was honored as the conference's freshman of the year.
Rounding out the end of the year awards, Sasha Jennings from SAGU was picked as the Newcomer of the Year while Kent Williams was selected by his peers as the Coach of the Year.
Gray became the fourth player in program history to earn the conference's top honor for a position player. During the regular season, the SAC selected Gray as the Player of the Week on three separate occasions. Through 51 games played this season, Gray has produced a .434 batting average, with 72 hits, 19 doubles, four triples, 11 homeruns, 44 runs scored, and 77 runs batted in. The senior catcher also currently has a .795 slugging percentage and a .461 on base percentage.
This season, Gray led the Sooner Athletic Conference in hits, homeruns, runs batted in, and slugging percentage, while ranking second in doubles and second in batting average. Additionally, she leads the NAIA in RBIs and ranks in the top 20 of nearly every other offensive category.
Sophie Williams extended the incredible streak of a USAO pitcher being selected as the conference's pitcher of the year. A Drover has earned at least a share of the award for the sixth consecutive season, after Emily Cerny earned the recognition in each of the last five seasons.
Williams delivered the Drovers a 21-6 record, along with a perfect game and a no-hitter, a 1.37 earned run average and 233 strikeouts in 183.1 innings pitched. For her numerous impressive performances, she was selected as the SAC Pitcher of the Week three times.
Among conference ranks, Williams led the SAC in strikeouts, and she ranked second in wins and earned run average. She ranks 10th in the NAIA in wins and strikeouts and in 24th in ERA.
Sharing the award with Williams is OCU's Shelbey Cornelson, who boasted the conference's most wins with 25. The Tuttle, Oklahoma native, appeared in 32 games this season for the Stars and was the Oklahoma Ford pitcher of the week four times, throwing her 4th career no-hitter against Langston on February 28. Through the regular season and SAC tournament she has logged 184 innings pitched with a 1.37 ERA and 203 strikeouts.
Cornelson's 1.37 ERA is tops in the conference, and she is second in strikeouts. Among the best in the NAIA, she is in the top 25 in both categories.
Jennings helped the SAGU Lions to a 22-26-1 overall record and a 13-19 mark in conference play, landing them the 6th seed in the conference tournament this past weekend. The sophomore from Lewisville, Texas boasted a .426 batting average with 72 hits, including three doubles and a triple, in 169 at bats.
Rayburn was pivotal to OCU's run to the SAC regular season title in 2023. The infielder from just down the road in Yukon, Oklahoma led the Stars with a .420 batting average and a .482 on base percentage. She recorded 150 at bats and was successful 63 times including 11 doubles, four triples, and nine homeruns.
Coach Williams has been the SCU skipper since the program started in 2012 and the Eagles' 36 wins in 2023 is the most in his 11 year tenure. He guided the Eagles to a berth in the National Christian College Athletic Association World Series a year ago and will be making an appearance in the national tournament field again this year.
| 2023 All-Sooner Athletic Conference Softball |
| Player of the Year: Jaclyn Gray, Science & Arts |
Co-Pitcher of the Year: Shelbey Cornelson, Oklahoma City
Sophie Williams, Science & Arts |
| Newcomer of the Year: Sasha Jennings, SW Assemblies of God |
| Freshman of the Year: Analise Rayburn, Oklahoma City |
| Coach of the Year: Kent Williams, Southwestern Christian |
| FIRST TEAM |
| P |
Sophie Williams |
Science & Arts |
So. |
Vernon, Texas |
| P |
Shelbey Cornelson |
Oklahoma City |
Sr. |
Tuttle, Okla. |
| P |
Rachel Eggleston |
Mid-America Christian |
So. |
Kiowa, Okla. |
| P |
Sarah Conley |
Panhandle State |
Sr. |
Lenexa, Kan. |
| C |
Jaclyn Gray |
Science & Arts |
Sr. |
Chickasha, Okla. |
| C |
Jessie Moralez |
Southwestern Christian |
Fr. |
Norman, Okla. |
| INF |
Analise Rayburn |
Oklahoma City |
Fr. |
Yukon, Okla. |
| INF |
Hannah Keele |
Southwestern Christian |
Fr. |
Mustang, Okla. |
| INF |
Sierra Selfridge |
Science & Arts |
So. |
Mustang, Okla. |
| INF |
Tiffany Paul |
Oklahoma City |
So. |
Choctaw, Okla. |
| INF |
Janessa Larman |
Mid-America Christian |
Sr. |
Choctaw, Okla. |
| INF |
Rally Radacy |
Oklahoma City |
So. |
Lookeba, Okla. |
| INF |
Malea McMurtrey |
Science & Arts |
Fr. |
Lone Grove, Okla. |
| OF |
Cailey Parsells |
Mid-America Christian |
Sr. |
Oklahoma City |
| OF |
Sasha Jennings |
SW Assemblies of God |
So. |
Lewisville, Texas |
| OF |
Brooklyn Mason |
Oklahoma City |
Sr. |
Lone Grove, Okla. |
| OF |
Lexi Cahwee |
Southwestern Christian |
So. |
Sapulpa, Okla. |
| DP |
Lexi Duff |
Oklahoma City |
Sr. |
Lone Grove, Okla. |
| DP |
Emylee Campbell |
Mid-America Christian |
So. |
Blanchard, Okla. |
| Utility |
Trista Ford |
SW Assemblies of God |
Fr. |
Walters, Okla. |
| SECOND TEAM |
| P |
Lauren Schallert |
Southwestern Christian |
RS Fr. |
Purdy, Mo. |
| P |
Avery Schneringer |
Mid-America Christian |
Jr. |
Blanchard, Okla. |
| P |
Sara Lynch |
Central Christian |
Jr. |
Evergreen, Colo. |
| INF |
Gracelyn Rosales |
Langston |
Sr. |
Fort Worth, Texas |
| INF |
Bryerly Avina |
Panhandle State |
Jr. |
Salt Lake City |
| INF |
Madison Jones |
Southwestern Christian |
So. |
Kingston, Okla. |
| INF |
Megan Vess |
Southwestern Christian |
Sr. |
Sapulpa, Okla. |
| INF |
Camryn Frick |
Central Christian |
Fr. |
Bay City, Texas |
| INF |
Jadyn Goucher |
Science & Arts |
Fr. |
Binger, Okla. |
| INF |
Kamryn Garvie |
Oklahoma City |
Jr. |
Edmond, Okla. |
| INF |
Mikaylee Allen |
Mid-America Christian |
Sr. |
Moore, Okla. |
| INF |
Airiana Magdaleno |
SW Assemblies of God |
Sr. |
Cedar Hill, Texas |
| OF |
Brielee Daniell |
Panhandle State |
Sr. |
Floresville, Texas |
| OF |
Macenzie Ruth |
Science & Arts |
Jr. |
Sulphur, Okla. |
| OF |
Kaitlyn Jones |
Oklahoma City |
Jr. |
Edmond, Okla. |
| OF |
Meagan Bellar |
Panhandle State |
Jr. |
Guymon, Okla. |
| OF |
Jaylee Willis |
Science & Arts |
Fr. |
Latta, Okla. |
| DP |
Addison Hanna |
Southwestern Christian |
Jr. |
Lawton, Okla. |
| DP |
Candence Hopgood |
SW Assemblies of God |
Fr. |
Italy, Texas |
| Utility |
Tandy Garrett |
Langston |
Fr. |
Irving, Texas |
| GOLD GLOVE |
| INF |
Halee Wilson |
Central Christian |
So. |
Claremore, Okla. |
| INF |
Gracelyn Rosales |
Langston |
Sr. |
Fort Worth, Texas |
| OF |
Brooklyn Wilson |
Mid-America Christian |
So. |
Oklahoma City |
| C |
Amy Crabaugh |
Oklahoma City |
Sr. |
Edmond, Okla. |
| OF |
Brielee Daniell |
Panhandle State |
Sr. |
Floresville, Texas |
| INF |
Airiana Magdaleno |
SW Assemblies of God |
Sr. |
Cedar Hill, Texas |
| INF |
Megan Vess |
Southwestern Christian |
Sr. |
Sapulpa, Okla. |
| INF |
Malea McMurtrey |
Science & Arts |
Fr. |
Lone Grove, Okla. |
| OF |
Alyssa Bates |
Texas Wesleyan |
Jr. |
Corsicana, Texas |
HONORABLE MENTION
Slater Eck, Science & Arts
Jaycee Kievit, Science & Arts
Nicole Peralta, Panhandle State
Rachel Humburg, Mid-America Christian
Amberly Barrere, Central Christian
Shadie Davis, Langston
Aubrea Hall, Langston
Amy Crabaugh, Oklahoma City
Carlee Mollet, Oklahoma City
Destiny Holt, Central Christian
Aurelia Holguin, Mid-America Christian
McKenzie Schulze, SW Assemblies of God
Alys Parr, Southwestern Christian
Mallori Brown, Southwestern Christian
Jalen Durrence, Southwestern Christian
Izzy Valenzuela, Texas Wesleyan
Bryanna Foster, Texas Wesleyan