Ottumwa, IA – Sophomore Ava Smith (Waukee, IA/Waukee Northwest) of the Indian Hills Softball team has been named the 2025 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 11 DI Softball Offensive Player of the Year, announced by the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) on Wednesday.
Smith becomes just the third individual in program history to earn the NJCAA Region 11 Offensive Player of the Year, joining former teammate Eva Fulk (2024) and former standout Sydney Anderson (2022, 2023).
In addition, the Warriors garnered 10 NJCAA All-Region 11 selections, including first-team honors for the Smith while interim head coach Jim Overturf was tapped as the NJCAA Region 11 Coach of the Year.
Read More: Warriors Land 10 on All-Region Squad
Read More: Overturf Named Coach of the Year
Smith produced a breakout sophomore campaign for the Warriors, leading the ICCAC with a .489 batting average, the eighth-best single season performance in school history. Smith also boasted a league-best .548 on-base percentage while finishing second overall with an .883 slugging percentage. The sophomore first baseman ranked second in the ICCAC with 12 home runs and third overall with 48 RBI.
Smith hit safely in 37 of her 46 games played on the year, including three separate hitting streaks of at least seven games. The sophomore produced a career-best 15-game hitting streak from March 1-April 7. Smith tallied 22 multi-games on the year, including seven games with at least three hits.
Smith upped her performance in conference-only games on the year to lead the Warriors to the ICCAC regular season title. In 15 league games, Smith powered the offense with a .585 batting average, connecting on six home runs for the Warriors.
The sophomore wrapped up a stellar two-year career for the Warriors, posting a two-year batting average of .433 while tallying 110 hits, including 24 home runs.
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