COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Mountain West announced the 2024 MW All-Conference honors on Wednesday as voted on by the leagues nine head coaches.
San Diego State head coach Stacey Nuveman Deniz has been tabbed the MW Softball Coach of the Year. Mountain West Softball Co-Players of the Year are Nevada’s Gabby Herrera and San Diego State’s Mac Barbara. Fresno State’s Taylor Gilmore was named the MW Softball Pitcher of the Year. UNLV’s Maddie Schmidt collected the Defensive Player of the Year award, while Boise State’s rookie Sophia Knight garnered the MW Softball Freshman of the Year nod.
Nuveman Deniz led the Aztecs to a MW regular-season championship while finishing the season with a 28-18 overall record and 15-7 in league action. Nuveman Deniz and her team look to secure a second-straight MW title and an automatic berth to the 2024 NCAA tournament and their 14th trip to the big dance.
The Nevada senior, Herrera, earned the MW Co-Player of the Year nod, logging a .352 batting average, a .402 on-base percentage and a .761 slugging percentage. She recorded 25 hits, including 13 extra base hits and eight home runs, 17 runs and 30 RBIs. Defensively, posted 36 putouts. Herrera earned MW Softball Player of the Week once during the 2024 season.
The 2022 Mountain West Player of the Year, Barbara, earns the honor for a second time. The 2024 MW Co-Player of the Year from San Diego State registered a .418 batting average with 28 hits, 18 runs, while posting a .536 on-base percentage and a slugging percentage of .776. She notched 13 extra-base hits, including five home runs. Barbara registered 105 putouts for the Aztecs. The junior earned MW Softball Player of the Week honors once in 2024.
Bulldog veteran, Gilmore, logged a 3.04 ERA, earning the Colorado native the MW Pitcher of the Year nod. In 80.2 innings of work in the circle for Fresno State, she recorded 66 strikeouts. Gilmore logged a 9-2 record with one save during Conference play. She earned MW Pitcher of the Week once during the season.
Schmidt earned the MW Defensive Player of the Year honor with 43 putouts and 56 assists during league action. The short stop also logged 25 hits, 13 runs and six RBIs for the Rebels.
Boise State’s Knight grabbed national attention after being named to the NFCA Freshman of the Year Top 25 list along with fellow MW freshman Jesse Farrell from UNLV. Knight recorded a .358 batting average with 29 hits, 19 runs and seven RBIs, while registering a .409 on-base percentage and a slugging percentage of .383. She also logged seven stolen bases. Defensively, posted 39 putouts and three assists for the Broncos. The rookie was named MW freshman of the Week three times during the 2024 season and MW player of the week once.
CO-PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Gabby Herrera, Sr., UTL, Nevada
Mac Barbara, Jr., UTL, San Diego State
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Taylor Gilmore, Sr., Fresno State
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Maddie Schmidt, Sr., INF/OF, UNLV
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Sophia Knight, OF, Boise State
COACH OF THE YEAR
Stacey Nuveman Deniz, San Diego State
ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST FIRST TEAM
Taylor Caudill, Sr., P, Boise State
Sophia Knight, Fr., OF, Boise State
Peyton Allen, Gr., INF, Colorado State
Maya Matsubara, Sr., INF, Colorado State
Ashley York, Sr., OF, Colorado State
Taylor Gilmore, Sr., Fresno State
Sophia Medellin, Sr., Fresno State
Gabby Herrera, Sr., UTL, Nevada
Aaliyah Jenkins, Jr., UTL, Nevada
Chelie Senini, Sr., OF, Nevada
Rachael Hathoot, Sr., INF, New Mexico
Mac Barbara, Jr., UTL, San Diego State
Dee Dee Hernandez, Jr., P, San Diego State
Allie Light, Sr., P, San Diego State
Ariana Martinez, Jr., INF, UNLV
ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST SECOND TEAM
Alycia Flores, Sr., OF, Boise State
Sydney Groves, So., INF, Boise State
Mykenzie Hanna, Jr., OF, Boise State
Molly Gates, Sr., OF, Colorado State
Sydney Hornbuckle, Sr., P/UTL, Colorado State
Jailey Wilson, Fr., INF, Colorado State
Serayah Neiss, So., Fresno State
Blake Craft, Sr., P, Nevada
Bridgette Gilliano, Sr., INF, Nevada
Haley Painter, So., UTL, Nevada
Cali Decker, Jr., UTL, San Diego State
Reina Zermeno, So., INF/UTL, San José State
Maddie Schmidt, Sr., INF/OF, UNLV
Ellie Zellien, Sr., P, UNLV
Grace Matej, So., INF, Utah State
