Colorado Christian University Women's Softball

Personal Awards/Honors RMAC Coach of the Year, 2023 RMAC Coach of the Year, 2022 NAIA National Championship, Lubbock Christian University, 2010 NAIA National Championship, Lubbock Christian University Baseball, 1983 Coached 22 years of baseball at Texas Tech winning over 1500 games  Southwest Conference Baseball Coach of the Year  Big 12 Baseball Coach of the Year  NAIA Hall of Fame Inductee National College Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee.  CCU Awards under Coach Larry Hays NFCA Third Team All American, Elyse McMullin, 2025 CSC First Team Academic All District, Camryn Quilling, 2025 CSC First Team Academic All District, Hanna Espinoza, 2025 NFCA DII Rawlings Gold Glove, Camryn Quilling, 2025  D2CCA Second Team All Region, Elyse McMullin, 2025 RMAC Academic First Team All Conference, Hanna Espinoza, 2025 RMAC Academic First Team All Conference, Camryn Quilling, 2025  NFCA Second Team All Region, Camryn Quilling, 2025 NFCA Second Team All Region, Elyse McMullin, 2025 South Central Regional Appearance, 2025 RMAC Tournament Champions, 2025 RMAC Regular Season Champions, 2025 RMAC Player of the Year, Elyse McMullin, 2025 RMAC First Team All Conference, Camryn Quilling, 2025 RMAC First Team All Conference, Gold Glove, Emma Duncan, 2025 RMAC First Team All Conference, Danae Lopez, 2025 RMAC Second Team All Conference, Rachel Williams, 2025 RMAC Honorable Mention, Mia Stankiewicz, 2025 RMAC Honorable Mention, Cheyenne Stark, 2025 RMAC Honorable Mention, Peyton Marvel, 2025  D2CCA First Team All American, Kayla Middleton, 2024  D2CCA Third Team All American, Kenzie Middleton, 2024 NFCA Second Team All American, Kayla Middleton, 2024 NFCA Third Team All American, Kenzie Middleton, 2024 RMAC First Team Academic All Conference, Kayla Middleton, 2024 RMAC First Team Academic All Conference, Kenzie Middleton, 2024 RMAC First Team Academic All Conference, Logan Menzies, 2024 RMAC First Team Academic All Conference, Sami Edwards, 2024 D2CCA First Team All Region, Kayla Middleton, 2024 D2CCA First Team All Region, Kenzie Middleton, 2024 D2CCA Second Team All Region, Logan Menzies, 2024 D2CCA Second Team All Region, Kaila Eastburn, 2024 RMAC Honorable Mention, Elyse McMullin, 2024 RMAC Gold Glove Team, Sami Edwards, 2024 RMAC Freshman of the Year, Elyse McMullin, 2024 RMAC First Team All Conference, Logan Menzies, 2024 RMAC First Team All Conference, Kaila Eastburn, 2024 RMAC First Team All Conference, Kenzie Middleton, 2024  RMAC First Team All Conference, Kayla Middleton, 2024 RMAC Second Team All Conference, Emma Duncan, 2024 RMAC Second Team All Conference, Leah Garcia, 2024 RMAC Second Team All Conference, Sami Edwards, 2024   South Central Regional Appearance 2024 RMAC Tournament Runners Up, 2024 RMAC Gold Glove Team, Taylor Olsen, 2023  RMAC Second Team All Conference, Taylor Olsen, 2023  RMAC All Tournament Team, Leah Garcia, 2023 RMAC Second Team All Conference, Savannah Tourville, 2023 RMAC Gold Glove Team, Logan Menzies, 2023  RMAC First Team All Conference, Logan Menzies, 2023  RMAC Academic Player of the Year, Logan Menzies, 2023  RMAC Tournament MVP, Logan Menzies, 2023  CSC First Team Academic All American, Logan Menzies, 2023  CSC Academic All District Team, Logan Menzies, 2023  D2CCA Third Team All American, Logan Menzies, 2023  D2CCA First Team All Region, Logan Menzies, 2023  NFCA Second Team All Region, Logan Menzies, 2023  CSC Academic All District Team, Sami Edwards, 2023 RMAC First Team All Academic, Sami Edwards, 2023 NFCA Second Team All Region, Sami Edwards, 2023  RMAC Gold Glove Team, Sami Edwards, 2023 First Team All Conference, Sami Edwards, 2023 CSC Academic All District Team, Kayla Middleton, 2023  RMAC First Team All Academic, Kayla Middleton, 2023  NFCA Second Team All Region, Kayla Middleton, 2023  D2CCA Second Team All Region, Abrie Castillo, 2023  South Central Regionals Finalist, Abrie Castillo, 2023  RMAC First Team All Conference, Abrie Castillo, 2023  D2CCA Third Team All American, Kali Crandall, 2023  NFCA Second Team All American, Kali Crandall, 2023  D2CCA First Team All Region, Kali Crandall, 2023 NFCA South Central Region First Team, Kali Crandall, 2023 South Central Regionals Finalist, Kali Crandall, 2023 RMAC All Tournament Team, Kali Crandall, 2023  RMAC Pitcher of the Year, Kali Crandall, 2023  RMAC Pitcher of the Week 7x, Kali Crandall, 2023 CSC Second Team Academic All American, Kenzie Middleton, 2023  CSC Academic All District, Kenzie Middleton, 2023  D2CCA/NFCA First Team All American, Kenzie Middleton, 2023  South Central First Team All Region, Kenzie Middleton, 2023  D2CCA South Central Region Player of the Year, Kenzie Middleton, 2023  RMAC Academic First Team, Kenzie Middleton, 2023  RMAC Player of the Year, Kenzie Middleton, 2023 Golden Glove Team, Kenzie Middleton, 2023  First Team All Conference, Kenzie Middleton, 2023 RMAC Tournament Title, 2023 RMAC Regular Season Champions, 2023 NCAA Regional Tournament, 2022 RMAC Tournament Champions, 2022 All-American Sami Edwards, 2022 RMAC First Team All Conference, Alexis Hamilton, 2022  RMAC First Team All Conference, Taylor Olsen, 2022 RMAC First Team All Conference, Sydney Reamer, 2022 Golden Glove Team, Sydney Reamer, 2022  RMAC First Team All Conference, Sami Edwards, 2022  RMAC First Team All Conference, Kenzie Middleton, 2022  RMAC First Team All Conference, Piper Lujan, 2022  Golden Glove Team, Piper Lujan, 2022  RMAC Second Team All Conference, Kayla Middleton, 2022  Golden Glove Team, Kaelin Morkisch, 2022 All-American Sydney Reamer, 2021 All-American Piper Lujan, 2021 RMAC First Team All Conference, Sydney Reamer, 2021  RMAC First Team All Conference, Stephanie Day, 2021  RMAC First Team All Conference, Piper Lujan, 2021 RMAC First Team All Conference, Caitlin McCarthy, 2021 RMAC Second Team All Conference, Kenzie Middleton, 2021 Golden Glove Team, Kaelin Morkisch, 2021 South Central First Team All Region, Sydney Reamer, 2021  D2CCA South Central First Team All Region, Piper Lujan, 2021  NFCA South Central Second Team All Region, Piper Lujan, 2021  RMAC All-Academic First Team, Piper Lujan, 2021  RMAC Tournament, 2021 CoSIDA Academic All American, Stephanie Day, 2020 RMAC All Academic First Team, Stephanie Day, 2020 RMAC All Academic Second Team, Kaci Burger, 2020  RMAC All Academic Honorable Mention, Piper Lujan, 2020 RMAC All Academic Honorable Mention, Caitlin McCarthy, 2020 RMAC All Academic Honorable Mention, Jennifer Romero, 2020 All-American Stephanie Day, 2019 D2CCA South Central First Team All Region, Stephanie Day, 2019 D2CCA South Central Second Team All Region, Kendall Yasui, 2019 NFCA South Central First Team All Region, Stephanie Day, 2019 NFCA South Central Second Team All Region, Charlotte Romero, 2019 RMAC First Team All Conference, Kenzie Mattey, 2019 RMAC First Team All Conference, Stephanie Day, 2019 RMAC First Team All Conference, Kendall Yasui, 2019 RMAC First Team All Conference, Hanna Farmer, 2019 RMAC Second Team All Conference, Charlotte Romero, 2019 RMAC Honorable Mention All Conference, Kaci Burger, 2019 RMAC All Academic First Team, Kenzie Mattey, 2019 With a resume full of outstanding accomplishments, Larry Hays joined the softball program in 2019 as the Colorado Christian head softball coach.    At CCU, Hays has turned the program into a national powerhouse, winning 191 games with the Cougars. He has taken them to Regionals four times and has claimed three RMAC tournament titles.  2025 saw another strong season for CCU as they claimed the regular season and RMAC Tournament title, booking their fourth straight spot at the NCAA Regionals.  During the 2024 season, the Cougars continued with another incredible season winning 50 out of 60 games played. CCU finished as the runner ups at the RMAC Championships and made their third straight appearance at Regionals.  In 2023, the Cougars soared to new heights setting a program record with 34 straight wins in route to a 42-2 conference record. CCU rolled their way to the RMAC regular season title and continued their hot streak as they did not lose a game on their way to their second consecutive RMAC Tournament Title.  In 2022, Hays' Cougars made history, winning the program's first ever RMAC Tournament title. He led the Cougars to a 49-10 overall record and a berth in the NCAA Regional Tournament.  During the 2021 campaign, he guided the Cougars to the championship game of the RMAC Tournament. Hays also coached Piper Lujan and Sydney Reamer to All- American honors.  A shortened 2020 season, he led the team to a 20-7 record and tied for the lead in the RMAC and created a high-powered offense that was second in the nation in runs. During his first season, he led the squad to a second-place finish in the RMAC while coaching six all-conference players. Four players earned All-Region accolades while one, Stephanie Day, earned All-American honors. As a collegiate women's softball coach in 2010, Hays led the Lubbock Christian Lady Chaps to a 54-7 record and an NAIA National Championship.  He coached baseball for 15 years at Lubbock Christian and for 22 years at Texas Tech, compiling a remarkable 1509-860 record over those years. Coach Hays is one of four coaches in NCAA history to reach 1,500 career wins while he was coaching baseball at Texas Tech. Additionally, Hays coached the men's & women's basketball teams at Lubbock Christian and served as their Athletic Director for eight years.   In addition to winning multiple conference and national championships, Hays has received numerous personal awards including the following: Southwest Conference Baseball Coach of the Year, Big 12 Baseball Coach of the Year, NAIA Hall of Fame Inductee, Texas Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee, and National College Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee.  Larry and his wife, Nell, have five children: three boys, two girls, and 11 grandchildren. Ironically, Larry will be coaching in the same region as his two sons Shanon, at Grand Canyon University, and Daren at Lubbock Christian. Two of his grandchildren, Hunter and Heath, played on the Colorado Christian baseball team.  Quoted from Coach Hays    ”I always coached for the fun of it,” Larry Hays said. “My 20 years at Lubbock Christian University and my 22 years at Texas Tech coaching baseball were a blast. Now coaching softball at CCU is icing on the cake. It’s even more fun seeing my two sons and grandson Hunter having the privilege to get to coach at the college level. We have been blessed.”    

As one of the best athletes to come through the CCU Softball program, Kenzie Middleton began a legacy for herself that will continue on within her new role as assistant coach. The spring season of 2025 will be her first season and one to look forward to. From Arvada, Colorado she brings consistency and familiarity to a team she knows well.  During her four years as an athlete, Middleton garnered countless awards and school records that set the bar high. her records range from most career hits, career runs, career RBI, career home runs, career doubles, career triples, career slugging percentage, season runs, season RBI, and season home runs. These numbers came from a strong love for the game, work ethic, and diligence on and off the field. Kenzie has showcased her versatility as a player, excelling behind the plate, in the batter's box, and the outfield. Her impact has also been demonstrated through her leadership as team captain her senior year. 

Awards under Coach Kenzie Liberty NFCA Third Team All American, Elyse McMullin, 2025 CSC First Team Academic All District, Camryn Quilling, 2025 CSC First Team Academic All District, Hanna Espinoza, 2025 NFCA DII Rawlings Gold Glove, Camryn Quilling, 2025  D2CCA Second Team All Region, Elyse McMullin, 2025 RMAC Academic First Team All Conference, Hanna Espinoza, 2025 RMAC Academic First Team All Conference, Camryn Quilling, 2025  NFCA Second Team All Region, Camryn Quilling, 2025 NFCA Second Team All Region, Elyse McMullin, 2025 South Central Regional Appearance, 2025 RMAC Tournament Champions, 2025 RMAC Regular Season Champions, 2025 RMAC Player of the Year, Elyse McMullin, 2025 RMAC First Team All Conference, Camryn Quilling, 2025 RMAC First Team All Conference, Gold Glove, Emma Duncan, 2025 RMAC First Team All Conference, Danae Lopez, 2025 RMAC Second Team All Conference, Rachel Williams, 2025 RMAC Honorable Mention, Mia Stankiewicz, 2025 RMAC Honorable Mention, Cheyenne Stark, 2025 RMAC Honorable Mention, Peyton Marvel, 2025  Personal Achievements/Awards   Patch News 1 of 5 Top Athletes, 2024 D2CCA Third Team All American, 2024 NFCA Third Team All American, 2024 RMAC First Team All Academic, 2024 D2CCA First Team All Region, 2024 NFCA First Team All Region, 2024 RMAC First Team All Conference, 2024 South Central Regional Appearance 2024 RMAC Tournament Runners Up, 2024 Week 5 RMAC Player of the Week, 2024 Week 2 RMAC Player of the Week, 2024 Sportswoman of Colorado Honoree, 2023 CSC Second Team Academic All American, 2023 NFCA First Team All American, 2023 D2CCA First Team All American, 2023 CSC Academic All District Team, 2023 RMAC Academic First Team, 2023 NFCA First Team All Region, 2023 D2CCA South Central Region First Team, 2023  D2CCA South Central Region Player of the Year, 2023 RMAC Player of the Year, 2023 First Team All Conference, 2023 South Central Regional Finalist, 2023 RMAC Tournament Title, 2023 RMAC Regular Season Champions, 2023  RMAC Tournament Title, 2022 Week 4 RMAC player of the week, 2022 Week 7 RMAC player of the week, 2022 Week 12 RMAC player of the week, 2021 RMAC Tournament Runners Up, 2021   As one of the best athletes to come through the CCU Softball program, Kenzie Middleton began a legacy for herself that will continue on within her new role as assistant coach. The spring season of 2025 will be her first season, and in the summer of 2025 she was promoted to First Assistant Coach. From Arvada, Colorado she brings consistency and familiarity to a team she knows well.    During her four years as an athlete, Middleton garnered countless awards and school records that set the bar high. her records range from most career hits, career runs, career RBI, career home runs, career doubles, career triples, career slugging percentage, season runs, season RBI, and season home runs. These numbers came from a strong love for the game, work ethic, and diligence on and off the field. Kenzie has showcased her versatility as a player, excelling behind the plate, in the batter's box, and the outfield. Her impact has also been demonstrated through her leadership as team captain her senior year.  Off the field, Kenzie and her twin sister, Kayla enjoy spending time with family and being outdoors. Boating, camping, golf, tennis, and pickle ball are just a few hobbies she enjoys. It comes as no surprise that sports run deep in their family as Kenzie and her twin sister have left their mark on the CCU Softball team. Middleton's mom, aunt, and uncle all played tennis in college at UNC; a further testimony to the skilled and hard working family she was raised by.     

Awards Under Coach Katie Thornton NFCA Third Team All American, Elyse McMullin, 2025 CSC First Team Academic All District, Camryn Quilling, 2025 CSC First Team Academic All District, Hanna Espinoza, 2025 NFCA DII Rawlings Gold Glove, Camryn Quilling, 2025  D2CCA Second Team All Region, Elyse McMullin, 2025 RMAC Academic First Team All Conference, Hanna Espinoza, 2025 RMAC Academic First Team All Conference, Camryn Quilling, 2025  NFCA Second Team All Region, Camryn Quilling, 2025 NFCA Second Team All Region, Elyse McMullin, 2025 South Central Regional Appearance, 2025 RMAC Tournament Champions, 2025 RMAC Regular Season Champions, 2025 RMAC Player of the Year, Elyse McMullin, 2025 RMAC First Team All Conference, Camryn Quilling, 2025 RMAC First Team All Conference, Gold Glove, Emma Duncan, 2025 RMAC First Team All Conference, Danae Lopez, 2025 RMAC Second Team All Conference, Rachel Williams, 2025 RMAC Honorable Mention, Mia Stankiewicz, 2025 RMAC Honorable Mention, Cheyenne Stark, 2025 RMAC Honorable Mention, Peyton Marvel, 2025  NFCA Second Team All American, Kayla Middleton, 2024 NFCA Third Team All American, Kenzie Middleton, 2024 RMAC First Team Academic All Conference, Kayla Middleton, 2024 RMAC First Team Academic All Conference, Kenzie Middleton, 2024 RMAC First Team Academic All Conference, Logan Menzies, 2024 RMAC First Team Academic All Conference, Sami Edwards, 2024 D2CCA First Team All Region, Kayla Middleton, 2024 D2CCA First Team All Region, Kenzie Middleton, 2024 D2CCA Second Team All Region, Logan Menzies, 2024 D2CCA Second Team All Region, Kaila Eastburn, 2024 RMAC Honorable Mention, Elyse McMullin, 2024 RMAC Gold Glove Team, Sami Edwards, 2024 RMAC Freshman of the Year, Elyse McMullin, 2024 RMAC First Team All Conference, Logan Menzies, 2024 RMAC First Team All Conference, Kaila Eastburn, 2024 RMAC First Team All Conference, Kenzie Middleton, 2024  RMAC First Team All Conference, Kayla Middleton, 2024 RMAC Second Team All Conference, Emma Duncan, 2024 RMAC Second Team All Conference, Leah Garcia, 2024 RMAC Second Team All Conference, Sami Edwards, 2024   South Central Regional Appearance 2024 RMAC Tournament Runners Up, 2024 RMAC Gold Glove Team, Taylor Olsen, 2023  RMAC Second Team All Conference, Taylor Olsen, 2023  RMAC All Tournament Team, Leah Garcia, 2023 RMAC Second Team All Conference, Savannah Tourville, 2023 RMAC Gold Glove Team, Logan Menzies, 2023  RMAC First Team All Conference, Logan Menzies, 2023  RMAC Academic Player of the Year, Logan Menzies, 2023  RMAC Tournament MVP, Logan Menzies, 2023  CSC First Team Academic All American, Logan Menzies, 2023  CSC Academic All District Team, Logan Menzies, 2023  D2CCA Third Team All American, Logan Menzies, 2023  D2CCA First Team All Region, Logan Menzies, 2023  NFCA Second Team All Region, Logan Menzies, 2023  CSC Academic All District Team, Sami Edwards, 2023 RMAC First Team All Academic, Sami Edwards, 2023 NFCA Second Team All Region, Sami Edwards, 2023  RMAC Gold Glove Team, Sami Edwards, 2023 First Team All Conference, Sami Edwards, 2023 CSC Academic All District Team, Kayla Middleton, 2023  RMAC First Team All Academic, Kayla Middleton, 2023  NFCA Second Team All Region, Kayla Middleton, 2023  D2CCA Second Team All Region, Abrie Castillo, 2023  South Central Regionals Finalist, Abrie Castillo, 2023  RMAC First Team All Conference, Abrie Castillo, 2023  D2CCA Third Team All American, Kali Crandall, 2023  NFCA Second Team All American, Kali Crandall, 2023  D2CCA First Team All Region, Kali Crandall, 2023 NFCA South Central Region First Team, Kali Crandall, 2023 South Central Regionals Finalist, Kali Crandall, 2023 RMAC All Tournament Team, Kali Crandall, 2023  RMAC Pitcher of the Year, Kali Crandall, 2023  RMAC Pitcher of the Week 7x, Kali Crandall, 2023 CSC Second Team Academic All American, Kenzie Middleton, 2023  CSC Academic All District, Kenzie Middleton, 2023  D2CCA/NFCA First Team All American, Kenzie Middleton, 2023  South Central First Team All Region, Kenzie Middleton, 2023  D2CCA South Central Region Player of the Year, Kenzie Middleton, 2023  RMAC Academic First Team, Kenzie Middleton, 2023  RMAC Player of the Year, Kenzie Middleton, 2023 Golden Glove Team, Kenzie Middleton, 2023  First Team All Conference, Kenzie Middleton, 2023 RMAC Tournament Title, 2023 RMAC Regular Season Champions, 2023 RMAC Tournament Champions, 2022 All-American Sami Edwards, 2022 RMAC First Team All Conference, Alexis Hamilton, 2022  RMAC First Team All Conference, Taylor Olsen, 2022 RMAC First Team All Conference, Sydney Reamer, 2022 Golden Glove Team, Sydney Reamer, 2022  RMAC First Team All Conference, Sami Edwards, 2022  RMAC First Team All Conference, Kenzie Middleton, 2022  RMAC First Team All Conference, Piper Lujan, 2022  Golden Glove Team, Piper Lujan, 2022  RMAC Second Team All Conference, Kayla Middleton, 2022  Golden Glove Team, Kaelin Morkisch, 2022 Katie Thornton was born and raised in Wheaton, IL outside Chicago. A former standout student-athlete at Wheaton (Ill.) College, Thornton rewrote the Wheaton record books during her career, finishing as the Thunder career leader in pitching victories, innings pitched, and strikeouts. She also ranks second in career ERA and sits in the career top ten list in five other categories including batting average. The first two-time All-American in program history, Thornton was a two-time CCIW Player of the Year award winner and was also named the CCIW Pitcher of the Year in 2016. Helping Wheaton to its first-ever postseason appearance as a senior, Thornton established new single-season school records in pitching wins, innings pitched, and strikeouts as well as recording the third-lowest single season ERA in program history. Thornton led FCA in high school and college, and did a variety of internships for FCA as well. Thornton said, “I loved the ministry and had always wanted to be on staff full time, but wasn’t sure when/if that would happen.” After graduating, Thornton taught 4th grade for 3 years in Wheaton and coached at Wheaton College. Then in 2018, while in a conversation with a friend, she dreamed about being on staff with FCA full time. There were 3 things Thornton had said she wanted to do if she were to come on staff. They were: 1) Work with college athletes, 2) Do more discipleship work vs. evangelistic work and 3) Get to do something similar to the model of FCA she had in Wheaton where college athletes got plugged into a local high school near campus to lead high schoolers. Thornton said, “A few months later, that position was created at CCU, and the Lord opened the door the following spring for me to apply and accept the position.” Thornton moved out to Colorado in September of 2019, and worked for FCA while helping with the softball team at CCU since 2020. Now, she currently serves as the Salt Company Associate Minister at Storyline Church in Arvada, CO.