Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association

CHARLOTTE, NC - The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) announces its 2019 Softball All-Conference Teams and superlatives as voted by the CIAA Softball Coaches Association and Sports Information Directors Association. This year's team is led by Player of the Year Kayla Cato and Pitcher of the Year Shaniya Thomas, both from Claflin University. 

Cato, a native of Decatur, GA, finished the regular season with a .408 batting average and a .835 slugging percentage while recording 58 runs batted in (RBI), 54 hits, and 51 runs scored in 48 games. Her total RBI, hits, and runs scored were the most by a CIAA player this season while her 11 total home runs tied for first. In CIAA contests, the senior first baseman registered 35 RBI and a 1.245 slugging percentage, both of which ranked first in the league, while finishing second with six home runs and tied for first with 10 doubles. Cato also finished third with 27 hits and fourth in triples with three in league play while going a perfect 12-for-12 on stolen bases during the regular season, including eight in CIAA games which tied for 10th-best. Defensively, her 284 putouts and .993 fielding percentage in all games were tops in the CIAA this season. 

Freshman Shaniya Thomas was impressive in her first collegiate season as she finished the regular season with a 12-1 record while leading all CIAA pitchers with a 2.07 earned run average (ERA), a .185 opposing batting average (OBA), and 114 strikeouts in 101 innings. Her 12 total wins were second-most by a pitcher in the conference this season. In CIAA games pitched, the Jefferson, SC native had a league-leading eight wins and six saves, ranked second in strikeouts with 62 and OBA at .138 while her 1.30 ERA was third-best in league play. For her efforts, Thomas was also named CIAA Rookie of the Year. 

James "Marty" Kinard of Claflin University was named Coach of the Year. In their inaugural CIAA season, Kinard led the Panthers to an undefeated record of 18-0 in conference during the regular season to win the CIAA Southern Division title. Kinard and the Panthers finished with a 32-17 overall record and will be a no. 1 seed in the CIAA Softball Championship (April 29th - May 1st). 

Claflin led the conference with eight all-CIAA selections followed by Winston-Salem State with six and Chowan with five. The three aforementioned programs combined to make up the all-rookie team with the Panthers producing five selections followed by the Rams and Hawks with two each. 

2019 ALL-CIAA SOFTBALL FIRST TEAM

Pitcher                                  Shaniya Thomas, Claflin
Catcher                                 Evelyn Arguelles, Johnson C. Smith
First Base                              Kayla Cato, Claflin
Second Base                          Daijah Chambers, Winston-Salem State
Third Base                             Brittany Parson, Chowan
Shortstop                              Miranda Glover, Chowan
Outfield                                 Shauntaja Dedecker, Winston-Salem State
Outfield                                 LaKaylin Lee, Claflin
Outfield                                 Destiny Snipes, Winston-Salem State
Designated Player                 Erica Davis, Winston-Salem State
Utility Player                         Makayla August, Saint Augustine’s
 
2019 ALL-CIAA SOFTBALL SECOND TEAM

Pitcher                                  Tia Robinson, Winston-Salem State
Catcher                                 Marion Goins, Claflin
First Base                             Beth Walker, Chowan
Second Base                         Haley Cooper, Chowan
Third Base                            Jada Ames, Claflin
Shortstop                             Kaela Robinson, Claflin
Outfield                                Ashley Thomas, Claflin
Outfield                                Hannah Naifeh, Chowan
Outfield                                Nyla Howard, Winston-Salem State
Designated Player                Chaston Huntly, Claflin
Utility Player                        Madison Mendoza, Fayetteville State
 
2019 CIAA ALL-ROOKIE TEAM

Jessie Gentry, Chowan
Marion Goins, Claflin
Alleigh Himes, Winston-Salem State
Aniyah Jones, Winston-Salem State
Bre’Zhay Chambers, Claflin
Shaniya Thomas, Claflin
Hannah Naifeh, Chowan
Chaston Huntly, Claflin
Ashley Thomas, Claflin

Player of the Year – Kayla Cato, Claflin
Pitcher of the Year – Shaniya Thomas, Claflin
Rookie of the Year – Shaniya Thomas, Claflin
Coach of the Year – Marty Kinard, Claflin
Dr. Freddie Vaughns Highest Team Academic Award (Highest Team GPA) - Chowan University