Columbia, Mo. - The American Midwest Conference (AMC) has announced the 2023 AMC Softball All-Conference Teams, season award winners, Academic All-Conference Team and the AMC Softball Champions of Character Team. 

How the Awards are Selected:

• Coaches nominated up to five field players and three pitchers. 
• Coaches from the 11 AMC institutions vote for 20 field players and 10 pitchers. 
• The coaches then select the first team (20) and second team (20) on a call, mixing the players and pitchers based on point totals. 
• Player of the Year is the top vote getter in the field players vote, while Pitcher of the Year is the top pitcher vote getter. 
• Newcomer of the Year and Freshman of the Year is nominated on and voted on in a separate ballot. 
• A player cannot be nominated as both a field player and pitcher. 

Academic All-Conference:

• To be eligible for Academic All-Conference honors, student-athletes must be in their second semester at their AMC institution, have at least a 3.0 GPA and finish the year on the team.
• Fall sport freshman are not eligible for the award in their first season.

Champions of Character:

• Each coach selects one player from their own team.
• The nominee is a player the exemplifies the NAIA Five Core Values of Respect, Responsibility, Sportsmanship, Integrity and Servant Leadership.

All-Conference & Season Award Highlights:

*All stats and records are prior to the AMC Softball Postseason Tournament*

• Lauren Johnson (Cottey) hit her way to AMC Player of the Year after batting .417 on the year with 10 home runs and 65 RBIs. She struck out just 13 times in 151 at-bats. 
• Lacey Cruz (Cottey) took home co-Pitcher of the Year honors after going 17-6 in the circle with 11 complete-games and a 2.12 ERA. She racked up 186 strikeouts in 139.0 innings pitched. 
• Coach of the Year honors went to Jamie Taylor after she led Cottey to the AMC Regular Season co-Championship in their first season in the conference. 

AMC Softball Season Award Winners:

Player of the Year:  Lauren Johnson, Cottey

co-Pitcher of the Year:  Lacey Cruz, Cottey

Coach of the Year:  Jamie Taylor, Cottey

First Team All-Conference

Lacey Cruz

Amelia Gassman

Lauren Johnson

Aryana Palencia

Jenna Wilson

Second Team All-Conference

Alyssa Montoya

Champions of Character Team

Jenna Wilson

Academic All-Conference