Liberal, Kansas – After climbing the record books this past season for the Seward County Lady Saints’ softball team, Aaliyah Gutierrez has made her decision to continue both her athletic and academic career at the four-year level as she has signed with Northwestern Oklahoma State University for the 2025 season.

Gutierrez helped lead the Lady Saints to their best season since 2018 as Seward County went 26-23 overall while going 19-13 in Jayhawk conference action including a first-round win in the Region VI Tournament over Colby 13-0 in five innings. On the 2024 season she hit .402 at the plate while recording 66 hits, 56 runs, 15 2Bs, 5 3Bs, 8 HRs, and 44 RBIs as a sophomore. When on base she timed her runs perfectly for 46 stolen bases on the year which placed her at the top for most stolen bases in a single season in Seward County history.

Over the past two years Gutierrez was a true leader for the Lady Saints as she averaged .346 at the plate through 100 games while connecting on 115 hits and scoring 106 runs. During her career with SCCC she also recorded 29 2Bs, 8 3Bs, 11 HRs, and 68 RBIs while also shattering the career record for stolen bases with 80 through two seasons which beats the previous record by fifteen.

Gutierrez will be joining a Ranger squad led by former Seward County Head Coach Casady Webb who led NWOSU to a 17-33 overall record in the 2024 season while going 7-26 in conference play. She will be looked upon as a veteran presence early on and will be an absolute thief for the Rangers as she continues to record more stolen bases throughout her softball career.

“I am really excited for Aaliayh as she continues her education and athletic career at NWOSU. Aaliyah will be an immediate impact player & leader for NWOSU” said Head Coach Kristen Silva. “They are getting an all-around player, strong offensively and defensively. Aaliyah will create chaos on bases by getting on with a hit or a bunt! Aaliyah is a great young lady on and off the field and we are excited to watch Aaliyah attack her goals academically and athletically. We wish her well and look forward to watching her play at NWOSU.”