Jay Daubenberger
Liberal, Kansas – After wrapping up the 2024 season this past weekend in the Region VI Tournament, the Seward County Lady Saints softball team saw three of their players named to the All-Conference teams led by Aaliyah Gutierrez who was named to the First Team while Raeana Ortiz and Anberlin O’Dell were placed on the Second Team.
A record breaker during her time at Seward County, Gutierrez was named to the All-KJCCC First Team in the Utility spot after playing both in the outfield and on the mound this past season for the Lady Saints. When at the plate she was a constant threat with a batting average of .402 with 66 hits on the season while also recording 56 runs, 44 RBIs, 15 2Bs, 5 3Bs, and 8 HRs through 47 games. When on base she was as good as they get when it came to stealing bases with a school record of 46 on the year while also surpassing the all-time record with 80 through two years including three coming in her final game as a Lady Saints in the Region VI Tournament against Dodge City.
Ortiz joined the Seward County softball program this year as a freshman and made an immediate impact in the infield where she appeared in all 47 games for the Lady Saints. At the plate the second baseman hit an average of .353 on 48 hits through the season while also recording 40 runs, 38 RBIs, 15 2Bs, and 5 HRs through her freshman campaign to earn Second Team honors.
Rounding out the trio of Lady Saints to earn All-Conference honors was O’Dell who placed in the DH spot on the Second Team after a fantastic freshman campaign that started with her earning Player of the Week honors after the first week of the 2024 season. She hit .380 at the plate through 45 games while connecting on 52 hits and recording 43 RBIs, 12 2Bs, and 13 HRs which led the KJCCC heading into the Region VI Tournament with her first two coming in her first collegiate game in February against McCook.
“Well deserved award for all three of these young ladies!! They worked hard on and off the field!! And really enjoyed watching them play!” said Head Coach Kristen Silva