CIERA FLORES AND MILLENNI LUCERO NAMED TO NAIA SOFTBALL WORLD SERIES ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM

June 3, 2021

LINDSBORG - Following a historic run to the final four of the NAIA Softball World Series a pair of Bethany College Swedes have been named to the all tournament team. Ciera Flores and Millenni Lucero were the two Swedes chosen for All Tournament honors. Shortstop Ciera Flores earned the honor after batting .363 (4-11) in five games at the NAIA World Series. Flores hit two home runs and had three RBIs. She also scored a pair of runs and drew five walks. Millenni Lucero was selected following a World Series performance that her hit .400 (4-10) and score four runs. Lucero also walked twice and was twice hit by a pitch. Additionally Lucero went 3 for 4 on stolen base attempts and played exhilerating defense in left field for the Swedes. 

The 2019 defending national champions, Southern Oregon battled though elimination bracket winning five games straight to earn the 2021 Red Banner. The Raiders defeated Oregon Tech 3-2 forcing the if necessary game and then defeated the Owls, 7-5 in nine innings to claim the second victory. 


The two teams both call the state of Oregon home, with their campuses separated by just 66 miles the Cascade Collegiate Conference rivals played on the big stage Wednesday night. This was the first conference matchup in the national championship game since 2014. Prior to the first pitch Southern Oregon led the series against Oregon Tech 3-2.


This was the first championship game to go to extra innings since 2012. Opponents from the same conference hadn't matched up in the final since 2014, and SOU became just the second of the last 12 champions to come out of the elimination bracket to win it.

No. 1 Southern Oregon prevailed yet winning their fourth elimination game and forced the winner-take-all finale. The 3-2 victory snapped the Owls 14-game win streak. Both teams started out strong at the plate. Oregon Tech scored first off a Southern Oregon error at left field. Southern Oregon also scored one fun in the first piecing together two hits. The score remained 1-1 until the bottom of the fifth when Southern Oregon took their first lead of the day. Avery Morehead-Hutsell started the Raiders off with a single to short and then Hannah Shimek, Lauren Quirke and Riley Donovan all followed suite singling to total four hits. Quirke and Donovan both earned the RBIs for the inning. The Owls stopped the Raiders before further damage leaving two on base at the end of inning.

Owls attempted comeback in the top of the seventh, but fell short in the process. McKenna Armantrout singled through the gap to bring Olivia Lethlean home to make the score 3-2. Southern Oregon defense stopped the Owls leaving three on base and forcing the if necessary game. The win went to Gabby Sandoval (32-4), who finished a complete game by getting Aubrie Businger to pop out with the bases loaded in the seventh.


In the second game of the night Southern Oregon used the momentum from their win to take an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. The Owls strung together three hits for one run to get on the board early as well. With SOU up 5-1 and needing one final out in the bottom of the seventh Oregon Tech did not give up. They continued to battle getting five straight Owls got on base, the Owls sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning to extend the game. Three of them reached via walks, including Logan Nunes, who took a full-count fastball low with the bases loaded to force in the tying run. Sending the game into extra innings with a 5-5 score.



Riley Donovan, 2021 World Series MVP, led off the top of the ninth and muscled a 1-0 pitch at the letters over the center field fence for her eighth home run. Over seven games at the World Series, she went 11-for-17 with two home runs, two doubles and eight RBIs.

 

All-Tournament Team

Millenni Lucero, Bethany (Kan.)

Ciera Flores, Bethany (Kan.)

Veronica Pezzoni, Madonna (Mich.)

Maeson Schlaud, Madonna (Mich.)

Jess Heick, Mount Mercy (Iowa)

Jayna Witzany, Mount Mercy (Iowa)

Casson Rasmussen, Ottawa (Kan.)

Katelyn Wilfert, College of Idaho

Hattie Hruza, College of Idaho

McKenna Armantrout, Oregon Tech

Lauren Quirke, Southern Oregon

Allie Stines, Southern Oregon

Sarah Abramson, Oregon Tech

Gabby Sandoval, Southern Oregon

Kaila Mick, Oregon Tech

Hannah Shimeck, Southern Oregon

The Most Valuable Player

Riley Donovan, Southern Oregon


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Lindsborg, Kan. – Bethany College is proud to announce the 2026 Hall of Honor award recipients, recognizing eight individuals whose achievements and service have made a lasting impact on Swede Athletics. "The Athletics Hall of Honor celebrates those who exemplify excellence, leadership, and commitment in sport,” shared Laura Moreno, Dean of Athletics. The 2026 class embodies those attributes and much more. From memorable performances in five different sports, to remarkable coaching careers in nearby communities, to local business owners who support our current Swedes students and staff, this entire group has elevated our programs and department and embodied the very best of our institution. We look forward to honoring and celebrating their extraordinary achievements this October.” The annual Bethany College Hall of Honor Award Ceremony celebrates former student-athletes, coaches, and supporters whose excellence, leadership, and dedication have shaped Bethany College athletics. This year's honorees include four Hall of Honor inductees, two Coach of the Year recipients, and two Bethany Athletic Association (BAA) Award of Merit recipients. Bethany College Hall of Honor award winners include: • Sven Delin, a 2001 graduate, was a captain of the golf team that won four consecutive conference championships, leading to four national championship appearances. He won the conference tournament individually...twice! Delin was also a four-year all-conference academic athlete. • Vinny Butka, a 1982 graduate, was a three-time KCAC shot put champion, District 10 indoor shot put champion in 1981, ACCK champion in 1980 and 1982, three-time outdoor national qualifier, and ranks second in Bethany College history for shot put distance. • Tim Leaf, awarded posthumously, a 1981 graduate, was the KCAC Individual Champion in cross country in 1979 and 1980. In 1979, Leaf was the lead runner on Bethany College’s only KCAC championship team. He placed 33rd in the national cross country meet and remains the highest finishing individual in Bethany College history. In track, Leaf won the 1980 5,000-meter race and set the current school record with a time of 15:18.64. • Amy (Yonally) Wilson, a 1999 graduate, was a dual-sport athlete playing softball and volleyball. In volleyball, she was named to an all-conference volleyball team. In softball, Wilson was a four-time all-conference softball player, all-region softball award winner, and made the All-American Farm Team. Bethany College Coach of the Year award winners include: • Kent Teeter, a 1987 graduate, has had many successes over the last 39 years from his time at Hays High School and his current position at Holcomb High School. While coaching football, Teeter has won two state championships and four league titles. He has also been named the Sports in Kansas Coach of the Year twice, KFBCA Coach of the Year in 2015, and KFBCA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2024. Along with coaching football, Teeter has also been successful in coaching track and field as he led his Holcomb boys' teams to three consecutive state titles (looking to make it four next year), seven league titles (currently on a four-year streak), and six top three finishes in the state track meet. He has coached over 25 different individual state titles in track and field as well. • Greg Maxwell, a 1997 graduate, coaches both volleyball and girls' basketball at Ellinwood High School. In volleyball, he has over 230 career wins and won the 2025 2A State Championship with a perfect 47-0 record. In girls' basketball, Maxwell led his team to the 2026 2A State Championship, finishing as the runner-up. These were the first ever state tournament wins for Ellinwood who were also the Central Prairie League champions. Maxwell holds a 2A state runner up finish in girls' golf as well. Bethany Athletic Association Award of Merit award winners include: • Danielle (DuMars) Greene and Spencer Greene. Danielle, a 2013 graduate, and her husband have made an immediate impact on Bethany College Athletics. They are a host family for Women’s Basketball, providing numerous meals for the team as well. The Greenes are also the owners of the Ol’ Stuga which hosts the Coaches Radio Show and is a valued partner for both Athletics and Bethany College as a whole. • Brandi Swenson, owner of the Crown & Rye, has also hosted the Coaches Radio Show while also hosting many Swedes Athletics celebrations and playoff sendoff events. In addition, Crown and Rye provided food for the 2026 All Swede Awards, the annual Athletic Department celebration for all teams and student-athletes. The Crown & Rye is a valued partner of Bethany College Athletics. All recipients will be honored during a special ceremony during Homecoming/Inauguration Weekend on Sunday, October 25. About Bethany College Bethany College (bethanylb.edu) is a higher educational institution located in Lindsborg, Kansas. Bethany College was established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881. For more than 140 years, Bethany College has been dedicated to educating, developing, and challenging individuals to pursue truth and excellence while leading lives of faith, learning, and service. At Bethany College, students join a community of dedicated educators and caring mentors who support them as they discover, explore, and navigate their purpose. Bethany College is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. CONTACT: Christie Denniston, APR Vice President of Strategic Engagement 303-827-5164 Bethany College 335 East Swensson Street Lindsborg, KS 67456
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