Sacramento State's Brookshire Named #BigSkySB Player of the Year; All-Conference Team Unveiled
OGDEN, Utah (May 8, 2018) – After ranking in the top three in eight offensive statistical categories during the 2018 season, Sacramento State sophomore outfielder Suzy Brookshire has been tabbed the 2018 Big Sky Player of the Year to headline a group of 37 all-conference selections.
Brookshire put together a stellar sophomore campaign to earn a second-straight All-Big Sky First Team award after batting .374 with 52 hits, 48 RBI, 41 runs, 15 home runs and 13 doubles on the season. Brookshire became just the second sophomore in league history to be named the Big Sky Player of the Year, joining Idaho State’s Vicky Galasso who captured top honors in the league’s inaugural season in 2013.
Sacramento State senior Celina Matthias was named the Big Sky Pitcher of the Year for the second time in her career (2016) after guiding the Hornets to a share of their first Big Sky regular season title and a No. 1 seed in this week’s Big Sky Championship. Matthias paced the conference with a 2.10 ERA while limiting opponents to league-best .209 batting average on the season. She fanned a conference-high 195 batters while racking up 18 wins in the circle with an 18-9 record. Matthias landed on the All-Big Sky First Team for the second time in her career (2016).
Portland State sophomore Darian Lindsey was selected as the Big Sky Newcomer of the Year while earning all-conference second team honors at shortstop. Lindsey ranked in the top 10 in the league with a .340 batting average while leading the Big Sky with 10 sac bunts and ranking third with 13 doubles. In conference play, Lindsey was even more of a threat for the Vikings with a .431 hitting clip for second in the conference.
Southern Utah third baseman Kalei Watkins quickly made her presence felt on the collegiate stage to capture Big Sky Freshman of the Year honors after hitting .360 to rank fourth in the league this season. She also came in third in the Big Sky with nine home runs while ranking sixth with 30 RBI to be named a second team all-conference pick at pitcher/utility.
Sacramento State and Weber State led the Big Sky with seven all-conference selections apiece while Montana closely followed with six picks. Weber State placed a league-best four players on the first team while Sacramento State totaled three.
Brookshire and Matthias were joined by North Dakota senior Kaylin VanDomelen (Pitcher/Utility) and Portland State junior Kaela Morrow (Non-Pitcher/Utility) as unanimous first team honorees.
VanDomelen and Weber State senior pitcher Kirtlyn Bohling were tabbed first team selections for the third time in their careers. Brookshire, Matthias, Sacramento State senior Zamari Hinton (Second Base) and Weber State sophomore Takesha Saltern (Outfielder) captured their second All-Big Sky First Team nods.
The 2018 Big Sky Coach of the Year will be announced Wednesday at 10 a.m. MT.
| 2018 Big Sky Softball All-Conference Teams |
| FIRST TEAM |
| Name |
Position |
Year |
School |
| Molly Horne |
Catcher |
Senior |
Weber State |
| Ashlyn Visser |
First Base |
Sophomore |
Weber State |
| Zamari Hinton@ |
Second Base |
Senior |
Sacramento State |
| Delene Colburn |
Shortstop |
Senior |
Montana |
| Jordyn Wiatrak |
Third Base |
Junior |
Northern Colorado |
| Suzy Brookshire*@ |
Outfielder |
Sophomore |
Sacramento State |
| Sarah Murphy |
Outfielder |
Senior |
Southern Utah |
| Takesha Saltern@ |
Outfielder |
Sophomore |
Weber State |
| Celina Matthias*@ |
Pitcher |
Senior |
Sacramento State |
| Kirtlyn Bohling# |
Pitcher |
Senior |
Weber State |
| Kaylin VanDomelen*# |
Pitcher/Utility |
Senior |
North Dakota |
| Kaela Morrow* |
Non-Pitcher/Utility |
Junior |
Portland State |
|
|
|
|
| SECOND TEAM |
| Name |
Position |
Year |
School |
| Rachel Menlove |
Catcher |
Freshman |
Portland State |
| Ashlyn Lyons |
First Base |
Senior |
Montana |
| McKinley Brinkerhoff |
Second Base |
Senior |
Weber State |
| Darian Lindsey |
Shortstop |
Sophomore |
Portland State |
| Marissa Maligad |
Third Base |
Senior |
Sacramento State |
| Nene Alas |
Outfielder |
Junior |
Sacramento State |
| MaKenna McGill |
Outfielder |
Senior |
Montana |
| Landi Hawker |
Outfielder |
Sophomore |
Weber State |
| Alyssa Burk |
Pitcher |
Junior |
Portland State |
| Valerie Vidal |
Pitcher |
Junior |
Northern Colorado |
| Kalei Watkins |
Pitcher/Utility |
Freshman |
Southern Utah |
|
|
|
|
| HONORABLE MENTION |
| Name |
Position |
Year |
School |
| Madison Saacke |
Catcher |
Senior |
Montana |
| Mo Spieth |
First Base |
Sophomore |
Sacramento State |
| Gabby Martinez |
Second Base |
Senior |
Montana |
| Marina Marzolino |
Second Base |
Junior |
North Dakota |
| Sydney White |
Shortstop |
Sophomore |
Weber State |
| Taylei Williams |
Shortstop |
Freshman |
Southern Utah |
| Sydney Rasmussen |
Shortstop |
Junior |
Sacramento State |
| Genesis Zamora |
Third Base |
Freshman |
Idaho State |
| Taylor Nadler |
Outfielder |
Senior |
North Dakota |
| Angel Love |
Outfielder |
Sophomore |
North Dakota |
| Kendall Kapitzke |
Outfielder |
Junior |
Southern Utah |
| Colleen Driscoll |
Pitcher |
Junior |
Montana |
| Lauren Paige |
Pitcher/Utility |
Senior |
Northern Colorado |
| Ashlyn Ames |
Pitcher/Utility |
Senior |
Idaho State |
|
|
|
|
* Unanimous First Team Selection
# Three-time First Team Selection
@ Two-time First Team Selection |
Big Sky Individual Award Winners
Player of the Year: Suzy Brookshire, Sacramento State
Pitcher of the Year: Celina Matthias, Sacramento State
Freshman of the Year: Kalei Watkins, Southern Utah
Newcomer of the Year: Darian Lindsey, Portland State