5/7/2024 | Softball
BOCA RATON, Fla. – In their first year in the American Athletic Conference, the regular season champion Florida Atlantic softball team was well represented in the AAC awards given out following the conclusion of the 2024 regular season.
The Florida Atlantic coaching staff was named Coaching Staff of the Year. Kiley Channell was named Rookie of the Year and selected to the All-Rookie Team, while Ainsley Lambert, Katelynn de Leon, Kamryn Jackson, Presley Leebrick, and Trinity Schlotterbeck have been named First Team All-Conference. Sophomore Jesiana Mora was named Second Team All-Conference.
The 2024 coaching staff guided Florida Atlantic to an overall record of 41-13 and 21-6 in conference play, their most wins since 2016.
Channell started in all 54 games as a shortstop this season as a freshman. The Rookie of the Year led the Owls in doubles with 19 on the year (second in conference). She was named No. 9 in Softball America for her position in the month of April. Channell ended the regular season with a .333 batting average in 156 at-bats with 29 runs, 52 hits, and 33 RBI. She was named AAC Weekly Honor Roll twice (Mar. 18 and Mar. 25)
Lambert made 33 appearances on the season with 83.1 innings pitched. She registered a 1.85 ERA in the regular season with a 9-2 record and eight saves (first in conference and third in the nation). She recorded 88 strikeouts on the year with a 3.83 strikeout-to-walk ratio (second in conference). Lambert was named Pitcher of the Week (May 6) and AAC Weekly Honor Roll twice throughout the season.
de Leon started behind the plate in 34 games out of 41 games played this year. She registered a .244 batting average on the year with a total of 19 hits, 15 RBI, and 24 total bases.
Jackson played and started in all 54 games in center field this season as a graduate transfer. She recorded 143 at-bats on the season with 51 runs, 48 hits, 45 RBI, and 17 hit-by-pitches on a .336 batting average and a .608 slugging Jackson led the conference in hit-by-pitches and ended the regular season ranked No. 10 in the nation. She recorded her eighth home run of the season in the sweep against Tulsa to claim the regular season title. From making routine plays to diving catches, Jackson was on it. The Player of the Week (Feb. 19) and AAC Weekly Honor Roll (Apr. 10 and Apr. 22) recipient started in 53 out of 53 games played.
Leebrick finished first in the conference in walks per game (0.85) and was No. 11 in the nation. She registered a .356 batting average on the year with 45 runs, 53 hits, 23 RBI, and 44 walks. Leebrick led the Owls with a .508 on-base percentage. On the base path, she went 10-for-10 in stolen bases. She recorded her 200th career hit against North Texas.
Schlotterbeck made 27 appearances in the circle for the Owls. She led Florida Atlantic with 135.0 innings pitched with a 16-5 record (second in conference), nine complete games, and four shutouts (second in conference). Schlotterbeck registered 133 at-bats and hit ten home runs in the regular season. She totaled 25 runs and 39 hits and led the Owls with 46 RBI on the year. She won Player of the Week (Mar. 11), Pitcher of the Week (Feb. 19), and AAC Weekly Honor Roll twice. The graduate student earned national attention for her two-way prowess, being ranked No. 3 in the Softball America Two-Way Rankings for the month of May.
Mora led the Owls with a .394 batting average and 17 stolen bases (first in the AAC) on the year. She recorded 160 at-bats this season with 42 runs, 63 hits, 44 RBI, and 22 walks. The third baseman started in 53 out of 54 games played. She hit her 100th career hit versus North Texas. Mora was named a AAC Weekly Honor Roll recipient the week of April 1.
Florida Atlantic now enters their first AAC Tournament in Wichita, Kansas from May 8 through May 11 as the number one seed in the conference. Their first game is on Friday, May 10. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. EST, airing on ESPN.
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