OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference announced its 2024 regular season honors for Division II softball and seven difference Johnson County players were recognized, including two major awards.

Lady Cavaliers infielder Aspen Burgardt headlines JCCC representation in the KJCCC's postseason awards announcement, as she was named both the Most Valuable Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. Burgardt become just the sixth player in KJCCC history, and second in Division II, to be selected for both awards in the same year. She also becomes the eighth player in team history be named MVP and the eighth to be selected Freshman of the Year.

Joining her on the first team are freshman infielder Jaylee Jefferson and sophomore pitcher Maggie McNally.

Sophomore outfielder Taryn Burkhardt was selected to the second-team and sophomore first baseman Kate Ediger, sophomore catcher Hannah Archdekin and freshman pitcher Mariah Unverzagt earned honorable mention recognition.  McNally, Burkhardt, Ediger and Archdekin were all-conference performers last year as well. 

Burgardt is the top hitter in the conference this season, ranking first in batting average (.512), doubles (31), RBI (82), extra base his (56) and runs (65). She is second in hits with 83 and third in homer runs with 23. Her 31 doubles and 23 home runs set new season records at JCCC, and her 82 RBI are the second most recorded in a season in program history. Burgardt also led the team with 24 multiple-RBI games and tied for the team lead in multiple-hit games with 24. Three times during the season she was named KJCCC D-II Player of the Week. 

Jefferson closed out the year batting .394 (67-for-170) with 21 doubles, a triple, 15 home runs, 64 runs and 73 runs driven in. She also produced 22 multiple-hit and 19 multiple-RBI games. She ranked second in RBI, tied for second in runs scored, third in the conference in doubles and seventh in home runs. Twice during the season she was named KJCCC D-II Player of the Week.

McNally finished with a mark of 14-4 with two saves and an ERA of 2.39. She struck out 117 batters over 114 innings pitched. Her 2.39 ERA ranked second in the conference and was ninth in strikeouts. She also held batters to an average of .184. McNally was selected as the KJCCC D-II Pitcher of the Week five times, and was the NJCAA National D-II Pitcher of the Week April 24-30. 

Burkhardt posted an average of .349 (59-for-169) with 18 doubles, six triples, 63 runs scored and 25 RBI. She also drew a conference high 37 walks and she stole 30 bases, third most in the conference. Burkhardt also collected 18 multiple-hit games. 

Ediger was the team's second leading hitter with a .417 average (73-for-175). She had 23 doubles and 17 home runs which both were second-best on the team, and her 50 RBI ranked third. Ediger tied for the team lead in multiple-hit games with 24, and she was third in multiple-RBI games with 15.

Archdekin hit .381 (37-for-97) with 14 doubles, two homers, 22 runs scored and 22 driven in. She also had 10 multiple-hit games and nine multiple-RBI games.

Unverzagt posted a mark of 10-2 in the circle, with an ERA of 3.45 over 69 innings of work. Three times during the season she was named the KJCCC D-II Pitcher of the Week.