Courtesy of Midland Athletics
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The 2024 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Softball All-Conference team has been announced after a vote of league coaches. Midland University swept the individual player awards with Roni Foot being named the GPAC Player of the Year and Aliyah Rincon earning GPAC Pitcher of the Year honors. In total, the Warriors had four All-GPAC First Team members, three All-GPAC Second Team members, and one honorable mention.
Foote, a senior from Omaha, Nebraska, has had a stellar final season to date. She leads the Warriors in several statistical categories including batting average (.433), RBIs (55), on-base percentage (.545), slugging percentage (.787), hits (65), walks (33), doubles (13), triples (5), and home runs (10).
Rincon, a senior from Granada Hills, California, has been dominant in the circle this season. She leads the team and the GPAC in all three major pitching categories. Through the conference tournament, she has 26 wins, 236 strikeouts, and a 1.05 ERA through 32 games pitched.
Emily Prai, a senior from Lincoln, Nebraska, leads Midland in hits (77), runs (55), and stolen bases (21) while ranking second in batting average (.416). Playing centerfield and leading off the batting order, she is one of four players who have started every game this year.
Amanda Schmaderer, a senior from Lincoln, Nebraska, has split time behind the plate, in the field, and as the designated player while starting all 52 games this year. At the plate, she ranks second on the team in home runs (7), RBIs (52), and slugging percentage (.556) and is third in batting average (.351), hits (53) and doubles (8).
Paeton Coler, a junior from Norfolk, Nebraska, has put together a solid junior season as the typical second-game starter in the circle for the Warriors. She owns a 1.41 ERA, which ranks fifth in the GPAC, and has struck out 61 batters while compiling 13 wins this season.
Reese Floro, a junior from Plattsmouth, Nebraska, is having a great start to her Midland career while playing first base and batting in the heart of the lineup. Through 41 games, she has a .318 batting average with 41 hits, 5 doubles, 26 RBIs, and 16 walks.
Camille Vestal, a senior from Madera, California, has been a great addition to the Warriors. In her senior season, she has proven to be a player who can fill multiple roles with games at catcher, designated player, and in the infield. She is hitting .303 at the plate with 23 hits, 6 doubles, and 17 RBIs.
Matti Reiling, a senior from Lincoln, Nebraska, has started and played in all 52 games so far this season. Playing primarily at shortstop, she has 44 hits in 150 at-bats this year with 10 doubles, 2 triples, and a home run while adding 26 RBIs.
The Warriors are set to add to their individual and team accolades in the coming weeks as they begin play in the NAIA National Tournament. Midland finished the year as the regular-season and postseason runners-up in the GPAC, earning its sixth-straight appearance in the NAIA Opening Round which gets underway next Monday.
For a complete look at the 2024 GPAC Softball All-Conference Honor and Awards, click here.
