Kayla Lyon Leads Seven Lancers In WAC Awards Season
5/6/2024 3:00:00 PM | Softball
RIVERSIDE - The Western Athletic Conference announced the 2024 list of All-Conference players, highlighted by sophomore utility player Kayla Lyon, who made her award list debut on the All-WAC First Team team. Lyon is joined by a quartet of teammates who earned All-WAC Second Team distinction, Kalena Burns. Presley Hosick, Merissa Borkowski, and Kate Penberthy. Additionally, another pair of Lancers made the shortlist for the WAC All-Defensive team, as Sydney Soto and Priscilla Estrada topped that list.
Lyon finished the season sixth in batting average (.389), second in slugging (.701), sixth in runs batted in (41), doubles (20), and tied for eighth in home runs (9). The sophomore sensation led the Lancers in all those categories, sharing the home run lead with Burns and posting the third most runs scored (28). She finished the regular season with 61 total hits, 30 of which went for extra bases. Lyon was a two-time WAC Player of the Week after dominant conference series' against Utah Valley and Southern Utah.
Burns held down first base for most of the season, also spending some time in the designated player spot. The Inland Empire native and Iowa transfer came into the lineup and produced early and often. Burns closed the season with the second-highest average at 381, hitting nine home runs to go with the second-highest RBI total, 39. Borkowski was one of two Lancers to start all 53 games for the blue and gold, patrolling the outfield and slapping with great success. The senior posted a final average of .376 but peaked at .412 in mid-April and claimed the highest hit streak of the season for CBU at 17.
Hosick led the Lancers staff in all major categories, making her CBU's ace from start to finish. She posted the second-lowest ERA in the league (2.24), second-most wins (12), the fifth-lowest opponent batting average (.243), tenth-most strikeouts (58), and leading the WAC in saves (4). Penberthy was one of just two freshmen to make an All-WAC team, doing so at the hot corner, where she thrived all season long. The freshman from Valencia killed it at the plate, hitting for average (.326) and power (six home runs, 18 extra-base hits, and 30 RBI), and was reliable in the field, recording just eight errors in 51 appearances this season.
Soto makes her second straight WAC All-Defensive team list after another stellar season in the outfield. This year, she took over as the primary centerfielder and didn't miss a beat, committing just one error while dazzling with seven outfield assists. Estrada finds her way to the All-WAC honoree list for the second time in her career after being selected to Second Team last season. Estrada was as reliable as ever in the five-hole, being tagged for just 11 errors in 237 opportunities while also contributing to a team-high 14 double plays.
The Lancers now prepare for an unknown first opponent in the WAC Tournament. Action begins on Wednesday, but, as the No. 2 overall seed, CBU won't see the field until 10:00 a.m. on Thursday when they take on the winner of UT Arlington/Tarleton State vs Utah Valley. All tournament games will be streamed live on ESPN+.
FULL 2024 AWARD LIST
2024 WAC Player of the Year
Ashley Trierweiler, Gr., 1B, Grand Canyon
2024 WAC Pitcher of the Year
Hailey Hudson, Sr., Grand Canyon
2024 WAC Defensive Player of the Year
Karen Spadafora, Fr., C, Seattle U
2024 WAC Freshman of the Year
Savannah Groshong-Kirk, 2B, Grand Canyon
2024 WAC Coach of the Year
Shanon Hays, Grand Canyon
2024 All-WAC First Team
Kaydee Bennett, So., 2B, Abilene Christian
Kayla Lyon, So., C/DP, California Baptist
Savannah Groshong-Kirk, Fr., 2B, Grand Canyon
Hailey Hudson, Sr., P, Grand Canyon
Ramsay Lopez, Gr., DP, Grand Canyon
Ashley Trierweiler, Gr., 1B, Grand Canyon
Taylor Fitch, So., IF, Seattle U
Emily Gonzalez, So., RF, Southern Utah
Kelci Hill, Sr., OF, Tarleton State
Camille Corona, Fifth, 3B, UT Arlington
Megan Gibbs, R-Jr., IF, Utah Valley
2024 All-WAC Second Team
Olivia Marble, Jr., OF, Abilene Christian
Kalena Burns, Gr., 1B/DP, California Baptist
Presley Hosick, So., P, California Baptist
Merissa Borkowski, Sr., OF, California Baptist
Kate Penberthy, Fr., 3B, California Baptist
Katelyn Dunckel, Sr., SS, Grand Canyon
Kristin Fifield, Gr., UTL, Grand Canyon
Meghan Golden, Jr., P, Grand Canyon
Sydney Frankenberger, Sr., CF, Seattle U
LB Kahahawai-Kekona, So., CF, Utah Tech
Halle Morris, Gr., P/UTL, Utah Valley
2024 WAC All-Defensive Team
Priscilla Estrada, Jr., SS, California Baptist
Sydney Soto, Jr., OF, California Baptist
Lily Garcia, Sr., 2B, Seattle U
Karen Spadafora, Fr., C, Seattle U
Camille Corona, Fifth, 3B, UT Arlington
Others Receiving All-WAC Votes
Priscilla Estrada, Jr., SS, California Baptist
Mikee Morris, Fr., SS, Seattle U
Kamryn Becerra, Jr., 3B, Southern Utah
Brooke Gainous, Jr., P, Stephen F. Austin
Aydenne Brown, Sr., P, Stephen F. Austin
Gracie Bumpurs, Sr., P, UT Arlington
Carly Eldredge, Jr., 2B, Utah Tech
