COLUMBUS, Ga. – Following the conclusion of the NAIA Softball World Series, multiple Oregon Tech student-athletes were honored by both the NAIA and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association with postseason awards.
The NAIA named first baseman
Puakea Milbourne and pitcher
Kacie Schmidt to the World Series All-Tournament team – leading Tech to a fourth-place finish at the event.
Milbourne ended the week 6-for-12 at the plate with a pair of RBI, while Schmidt picked up two victories at the tournament – both against No. 4-ranked Cumberlands and held eventual national champion, Our Lady of the Lake without an earned run – finishing the week with a 1.64 ERA in 21.1 innings of work.
The NFCA honored shortstop
Kaila Mick, second baseman
Nita Cook and centerfielder
Lexi Klum as first-team All-Region 4 selections. The trio will be on the ballot for the upcoming NAIA-NFCA All-America Team.
Mick had one of the most prolific seasons in program history, hitting .455 with 62 RBI, setting school records with 25 doubles and 11 triples – while capping her career as the NAIA all-time leader in at bats and the Cascade Conference all-time leader in runs scored and hits.
Cook had a breakout season, elevating to the leadoff role in the line-up, finishing with a .375 batting average, 13 doubles, seven triples, six homers, 33 RBI and 21 stolen bases – while committing just two errors in 231 defensive chances.
Klum closed out her career with an outstanding senior season – setting personal marks with a .360 batting average, nine home runs and 56 RBI – while also earning CCC Gold Glove team honors.
In addition, Schmidt, Milbourne and catcher
Jayce Seavert were named second-team All-Region 4.
Schmidt finished the year 27-9 with a 1.69 ERA – becoming the second player in program history to win 25 games in a season twice. Milbourne had a monster year, hitting .370, while leading the team with 13 home runs and 67 RBI. Seavert hit .353 for the year, recording 14 doubles and 36 RBI, while not recording a passed ball during the season.
