MARSHALL, Texas – For the first time since 2010, East Texas Baptist University has been awarded the American Southwest Conference Female Athlete of Year in
Tristen Maddox (Jr., Mission, Texas). She becomes the second ETBU female and softball player to earn the award as Ayrika Henderson became the first in 2009-10. ETBU also produced the ASC Male Athlete of the Year in Sayers Collins and is the first ASC school to sweep the award since McMurry University did in the first year of the award in 1999-2000. The award is voted on by the ASC Sports Information Directors.
"We could not be more excited for Tristen. She is a true five-tool player who can do it all," says head ETBU softball coach
Janae Shirley. "We continue to be impressed by her every day and each year she continues to grow as a player, as a leader and as a person. She makes such a huge impact in our program as player, but she brings even more in the teammate and person that she is. She is very deserving of the award and we are so proud of her."
Maddox continues to be a force in the ASC for softball and was voted the 2023 ASC Player of the Year, made the NFCA All-American First Team, and wion a NFCA Gold Glove as the top defensive shortstop in NCAA Division III. It is the second year in a row she is a NFCA All-American and All- Region selection being on the second team for both awards last year. She led the ASC in batting average (.425), runs (51), hits (65), doubles (16), home runs (9), RBI (46), total bases (108) and was third in stolen bases (28) earning the ASC Hitter of the Week once this season.
Along with the ASC and NFCA awards, she was on the NFCA Player of the Year watchlist. She is now a two-time ASC Tournament champion helping ETBU to the 2021 and 2023 championships. She had two or more hits in 22 games with three hits in four games starting and playing in all 46 games. ETBU won 39 games and went 27-0 at home during the regular season. The Tigers rallied to a 3-2 walk-off win in extra innings to capture their 11th ASC title this year over Mary Hardin-Baylor and hosted their third straight NCAA Marshall, Texas, Regional Tournament. They have consistently been nationally ranked each year and finished at 16th.
ASC Dual School Winners
1999-2000 : Brad Parris (McM), Ognna Merritt (McM)
2022-2023 : Sayers Collins (ETBU),
Tristen Maddox (ETBU)
ASC Female Award Winners – By the Numbers
HSU – 6
McM – 3
Howard Payne – 3
UT Tyler - 3
ETBU – 2
UT Dallas - 2
UMHB – 2
Belhaven – 1
Louisiana College – 1
