Kansas City, Mo. - Ten members of the Central Methodist Softball program earned Heart of America All-Conference honors, which were announced by the conference office Friday afternoon.
In addition to the all-conference selections, the Eagles garnered three superlative award winners. Elizabeth Palumbo was tabbed as the Heart Player of the Year and Jordyn Ball Heart Pitcher of the Year.
Head Coach Pat Reardon was named the Conference Coach of the Year for the ninth time in his career.
Palumbo and Ball were joined on the Heart All-Conference First Team by Lauren Hill, Madison Roberts, Madison White, Kelena Oots, Joely Crider, Haile Farris, and Kaysie Jolley. Daly Garland rounded out the All-Conference selections with an honorable mention nod.
The 10 all-conference selections mark the most by a CMU softball program since the 2019 season.
Palumbo was named the Heart Player of the Year and a first-team all-conference selection after earning honorable mention honors in 2023. The sophomore infielder appeared and started in all 46 of Central's games during the regular season. She led the team in hits (65), doubles (14), and RBI (44). She also crossed the plate 41 times.
The native of Sterling, Illinois is the fourth Eagle to earn Heart Player of the Year honors in the last four seasons, joining Kelli Gorman (2021), Madison White (2022), and Kelena Oots (2023).
Ball was tabbed as the Heart Pitcher of the Year after an incredible regular season inside the circle for the Eagles. The sophomore from Fayette posted a perfect 21-0 record as Central's ace, finishing the regular season with 20 complete games and five shutouts. She has tallied a 1.29 earned run average and, through 146.1 innings of work, has struck out 158 total batters in addition to recording a pair of no-hitters.
Reardon was tabbed as the Heart Coach of the Year after leading the Eagles to a 43-3 record during the regular season and a perfect 24-0 record in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Central finished Heart Play perfect for the first time since the 2015 season.
The Eagles are currently riding a 27-game winning streak, the second-longest winning streak in program history in the last 17 years.
Hill has proven a steady presence behind the plate, appearing in all 46 games with 44 starts, primarily at catcher. The junior from California, Missouri is batting .357 with nine doubles, a triple, and four home runs. She has also driven in 33 RBI and was named the Heart Player of the Week on Feb. 13. It marks the first all-conference honor for Hill in her Eagle career.
Roberts was named both a Heart First Team All-Conference selection and to the Heart Gold Glove team for her play at shortstop. The sophomore has appeared and started in all 46 games for the Eagles during the regular season. She is batting .416 with 13 doubles, two home runs, and a triple. Additionally, Roberts has driven in 37 runners and drawn 18 walks.
She finished the regular season action with a .972 fielding percentage and is now a two-time Heart All-Conference selection.
White is now a four-time Heart All-Conference performer and a two-time first-team selection. The senior from Columbia, Missouri batted .367 which included nine doubles, four home runs, and a triple. She also drove in 27 RBI.
Oots is the fifth Eagle to earn first-team honors, and the second Eagle to land on the Heart Gold Glove team for her play in the outfield. The 2023 Heart Player of the Year batted .382 on 60 hits in 157 at-bats, which included six doubles and two triples. She has also stolen 18 bases in 19 attempts and has committed just one error against 67 total chances. She is the new program record holder in career stolen bases with 78.
Crider lands on the first team after earning second-team honors as a freshman. As a DP, Crider has played and started in all 46 of Central's games in 2024, recording a .350 batting average with 10 doubles, three home runs, and a triple. She finished second on the team with 38 RBI and is tied for the team lead with 21 walks.
Farris earned Heart First Team honors for the first time in her Eagle career as part of Central's pitching staff. The senior came on strong in her final season with the Eagles, posting a 16-1 record through 21 appearances and 18 starts. Farris has compiled a 1.37 earned run average with 10 complete games and four shutouts. To date, the Camdenton, Missouri native has struck out 112 batters through 107.1 innings of work. She was named the Heart Pitcher of the Week twice and threw a perfect game against Park on April 13.
Farris was also named the Heart Gold Glove team after committing just two errors against 22 total chances.
Jolley is now a two-time Heart First Team All-Conference selection after batting .379 in 46 starts for Central. The sophomore led the Eagles with 12 home runs while also tallying 10 doubles and a triple. Additionally, the outfielder drove in 36 RBI and tied for the team lead with 21 walks. She was named the Heart Player of the Week on March 12 after hitting .727 in a four-game stretch.
Garland rounds out the All-Conference honorees for the Eagles, as the junior was recognized as an Honorable Mention performer. Garland has played in 43 games with 42 starts, batting .276 with eight doubles and a home run with 17 RBI.
Central is currently the No. 1 seed in the Heart of America Conference Tournament, taking place this weekend in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
To view the conference release on the 2024 Heart Softball All-Conference teams and award winners, please click here.
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