University of Northern Colorado softball infielder Amailee Morales repeated as a first-team All-Big Sky Conference selection, and infield teammates Krista Francia and Katie Walling also picked up honors announced Monday.
The Big Sky Conference announced the individual and all-conference awards one day before the start of the Big Sky tournament at UNC’s Gloria Rodriguez Field in Greeley. The conference tournament is scheduled to start Tuesday and run through Friday.
Morales, Francia and Walling were three of six UNC players recognized by the conference after finishing fourth in the conference standings with a 16-28 overall record.
UNC was scheduled to play No. 5 Portland State in the first game of the double-elimination conference tournament at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
The player and all-conference awards were voted on by the league’s six head coaches. Coaches could not vote for their own players.
University of Northern Colorado junior Krista Francia works to throw out the Portland State runner while playing at Gloria Rodriguez Field on Saturday, April 19, 2025.(Jim Rydbom/Greeley Tribune file photo)Francia joined Morales on the first team, and Walling shared the newcomer of the year award with two other players. She also earned a spot on the honorable mention team.
Morales, a junior first baseman from Surprise, Arizona, was one of the top hitters in the Big Sky and she led the Bears with a .382 batting average. She also ranked first among UNC players with 13 home runs, 31 RBI, a .756 slugging percentage, .491 on-base percentage and a 1.247 on-base plus slugging percentage.
In her third year at UNC, Morales was one of four unanimous selections on the first team. She joined Idaho State catcher Jenna Kearns and outfielders Ava Brown and Gracie Smith. Brown was the coaches’ unanimous choice as player of the year.
University of Northern Colorado senior Jaycie Gandert snags the ball while playing against Portland State at Gloria Rodriguez Field on Saturday, April 19, 2025.(Jim Rydbom Rydbom/Greeley Tribune file photo)Idaho State, the regular season champion and top seed for the conference tournament, won or shared four of the five individual awards. Junior Kasey Aguinaga was the pitcher of the year and she shared the newcomer of the year award with Walling and Sacramento State junior outfielder Lafulafu Malepeai. Idaho State’s Andrew Rich was the coach of the year.
Morales was the conference’s co-player of the year in 2024 when the program won its first Big Sky regular season title and repeated as the conference tournament champion.
Francia, a junior shortstop also from Surprise, Arizona, joined the Bears this season after playing two years at the University of Maine. Francia started 42 of 44 games, hitting .346 with eight doubles, three home runs, 23 RBI and five stolen bases.
Walling is from San Diego, California, and she transferred to UNC for this season from Seattle University. She finished the regular season with a .353 batting average, 13 doubles, four home runs and 23 RBI. Walling led the Bars with 53 hits, she had 10 stolen bases and a .933 on-base plus slugging percentage.
Northern Colorado softball player Anna Wilming was named Big Sky Conference co-pitcher of the week April 28 for the second time this season by the conference. (Jesus Ayala/University of Northern Colorado Athletic Department)Three other UNC players were named honorable mentions: catcher Sabrina Javorsky, second baseman Jaycie Gandert and pitcher Anna Wilming.
Javorsky, a senior from Ladera Ranch, California, hit .273 with 33 hits, six doubles, three home runs and 25 RBI while starting 42 of 44 games.
Gandert, a senior from Rio Rancho, New Mexico, hit .274 in 33 games with 20 hits, two triples, five RBI and three stolen bases.
Wilming, a sophomore from Columbus, Ohio, and Valparaiso, capped her first season with the Bears by throwing a perfect game in the final regular season series at Weber State. Wilming had a 6-10 record with 93 2/3 innings pitched in 25 appearances and 16 starts. She struck out 38 with six complete games, two shutouts, a save and 5.23 earned-run average.
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