Local standout Tinley Schmidgall earns NJCAA First-Team All American honor

Schmidgall becomes the first Arizona Western softball All-American since 2019

YUMA, Ariz., (KYMA, KECY) - After kicking up dirt on the softball diamond at Gila Ridge high school, Tinley Schmidgall made the quick transition right down the street to play for Arizona Western.

Now, she is the next NJCAA All-American.

Schmidgall not only shined as a good representation of Arizona Western softball in 2023 - but becomes the first Matador Softball player to be honored as an NJCAA All-American since Koryne Coddington in 2019.

Schmidgall was named a First Team NJCAA All-American after a sophomore campaign where she led the Lady Matadors with a .461 clip and 59 RBIs - putting together an impressive 20-game hitting streak from March to April where she homered seven times. She also was efficient in the circle, going 3-0 in 19 innings pitched.

The former Hawk bounced back strong after a freshman season where her time was cut short due to injury. She hit .548 with two home runs and seven RBIs through her first 10 games before she was sidelined.

As a Hawk, Schmidgall shined as a four-year starter where she totaled a .552 average at the plate with 17 home runs and 105 RBIs.