Photo by: Karl Maasdam/Oregon State Athletics
Butler Named Conference Player of the Year
May 12, 2026 | Softball
SAN BRUNO, Calif. – Jaeya Butler has been named West Coast Conference Player of the Year, it was announced Tuesday.
Starting each of the Beavers' 53 games this season, Butler shattered the program's single season records for home runs (23), RBI (61), total bases (157) and slugging percentage (.882), marks that all led the WCC. She also now ranks top five in a single season in program history for doubles (16 – tied for second), runs scored (49 – tied for third) and batting average (.393 – tied for fifth).
One of three Beavers to tally double-digit home runs, Butler's consistency at the plate fueled a historic Beaver offense that set a program record with 62 homers, also the top mark in the conference, and hit more long balls than three conference opponents combined.
A three-time conference Player of the Week who was an All-Conference Honorable Mention selection in 2025, Butler's success in 2026 also resulted in a First Team All-Conference nod.
Morgan Howey (Second Team), Tristian Thompson (Honorable Mention), Jada Lewis (Honorable Mention), Camrynn Gordon (All-Freshman) and Mya Harrison (All-Freshman) also earned recognition as part of Tuesday's release.
Howey had an explosive senior season, hitting .325 across 53 starts in the Beaver outfield while totaling 12 doubles and a career-high 11 home runs, driving in 32 RBI. With 15 multi-hit games, Howey had three separate three-hit performances, and Tuesday's honor makes it back-to-back seasons with Second Team All West Coast Conference honors for the Arcadia, Calif., native.
Thompson finished second on the team and third in the conference with 13 home runs, helping fuel the Beavers' potent offense with 41 RBI. She hit two long balls in a 9-3 win over Weber State on March 14 and scored the go-ahead runs on a three-run blast hit against Seattle U April 26. An Honorable Mention All-Conference selection in 2025, Thompson is now up to 23 home runs and 73 RBI across two seasons at OSU.
Lewis was the team's primary leadoff hitter in 2026 and finished the season hitting .320 with six doubles, two triples, two home runs and 22 RBI across 47 starts. Finishing the season with a team-high 14 stolen bases, the Vallejo, Calif., native hit a walkoff grand slam March 28 against San Diego, and she finishes a two-year stint in the WCC with a pair of All-Conference nods, having earned a spot on the first team last season.
Gordon was the team's primary starting shortstop in 2026, starting 40 of 47 appearances and hitting .314 across 102 total at-bats. She ranked second on the team with 30 runs scored and nine stolen bases, also finishing the season on a roll with hits in five of the team's final six games, which included four Oregon State victories.
Harrison appeared 50 times for the Beavers in 2026, making 46 starts and totaling three doubles, three triples, two home runs, 17 RBI and nine stolen bases. She hit a grand slam in the second inning of OSU's 8-6 April 26 win over Seattle U and finished her freshman season with a .320 average across 128 at-bats.
Oregon State softball recently concluded its 14th season under the guidance of Head Coach Laura Berg.
Full list of All-West Coast Conference honorees:
Coach of the Year: Sonja Garnett, Saint Mary's
Player of the Year: Jaeya Butler, Oregon State
Defensive Player of the Year: Avery Francis, LMU
Pitcher of the Year: Odhi Vasquez, Saint Mary's
Freshman of the Year: Ellison Schroeder, Santa Clara
All-Conference First Team:
Sam Buckley, Saint Mary's
Jaeya Butler, Oregon State
Alex Cutonilli, Saint Mary's
Hannah Ferguson, Saint Mary's
Avery Francis, LMU
Izzy Jamgotchian, LMU
Justine Lambert, LMU
Rubi Lopez, LMU
Avari Morris, Seattle U
Rebecca Rubio, Santa Clara
Olivia Silvestre, Pacific
Odhi Vasquez, Saint Mary's
All-Conference Second Team:
Braxton Brown, Saint Mary's
Victoria Castillo, Saint Mary's
Taryn Clements, Santa Clara
Cairah Curran, Santa Clara
Cari Ferguson, Santa Clara
Taylor Fitch, Seattle U
Morgan Howey, Oregon State
Lindsay O'Dell, LMU
Sara Pinedo, LMU
Ellison Schroeder, Santa Clara
Ava Sin, Seattle U
Taelor Walker, LMU
Honorable Mention:
Robynn Balmediano, Santa Clara
Kaitlyn Bartlow, San Diego
Allie Capello, Pacific
Kaia Galaviz, Seattle U
Madeline Haun, Saint Mary's
Taylor Johnson, San Diego
Camille Lara, Saint Mary's
Jada Lewis, Oregon State
Mikee Morris, Seattle U
Karen Spadafora, Seattle U
Tristian Thompson, Oregon State
Berkley Vance, Seattle U
Kaitlyn Wynia, San Diego
All-Freshman Team:
Mya Allen, LMU
Abrielle Diaz, San Diego
Kaia Galaviz, Seattle U
Camryn Gordon, Oregon State
Mya Harrison, Oregon State
Madeline Haun, Saint Mary's
Rubi Lopez, LMU
Ellison Schroeder, Santa Clara
Taelor Walker, LMU
OUR MISSION:
Oregon State Athletics strives to Build Excellent Authentic Visionary Student-Athletes (Go BEAVS).
Starting each of the Beavers' 53 games this season, Butler shattered the program's single season records for home runs (23), RBI (61), total bases (157) and slugging percentage (.882), marks that all led the WCC. She also now ranks top five in a single season in program history for doubles (16 – tied for second), runs scored (49 – tied for third) and batting average (.393 – tied for fifth).
One of three Beavers to tally double-digit home runs, Butler's consistency at the plate fueled a historic Beaver offense that set a program record with 62 homers, also the top mark in the conference, and hit more long balls than three conference opponents combined.
A three-time conference Player of the Week who was an All-Conference Honorable Mention selection in 2025, Butler's success in 2026 also resulted in a First Team All-Conference nod.
Morgan Howey (Second Team), Tristian Thompson (Honorable Mention), Jada Lewis (Honorable Mention), Camrynn Gordon (All-Freshman) and Mya Harrison (All-Freshman) also earned recognition as part of Tuesday's release.
Howey had an explosive senior season, hitting .325 across 53 starts in the Beaver outfield while totaling 12 doubles and a career-high 11 home runs, driving in 32 RBI. With 15 multi-hit games, Howey had three separate three-hit performances, and Tuesday's honor makes it back-to-back seasons with Second Team All West Coast Conference honors for the Arcadia, Calif., native.
Thompson finished second on the team and third in the conference with 13 home runs, helping fuel the Beavers' potent offense with 41 RBI. She hit two long balls in a 9-3 win over Weber State on March 14 and scored the go-ahead runs on a three-run blast hit against Seattle U April 26. An Honorable Mention All-Conference selection in 2025, Thompson is now up to 23 home runs and 73 RBI across two seasons at OSU.
Lewis was the team's primary leadoff hitter in 2026 and finished the season hitting .320 with six doubles, two triples, two home runs and 22 RBI across 47 starts. Finishing the season with a team-high 14 stolen bases, the Vallejo, Calif., native hit a walkoff grand slam March 28 against San Diego, and she finishes a two-year stint in the WCC with a pair of All-Conference nods, having earned a spot on the first team last season.
Gordon was the team's primary starting shortstop in 2026, starting 40 of 47 appearances and hitting .314 across 102 total at-bats. She ranked second on the team with 30 runs scored and nine stolen bases, also finishing the season on a roll with hits in five of the team's final six games, which included four Oregon State victories.
Harrison appeared 50 times for the Beavers in 2026, making 46 starts and totaling three doubles, three triples, two home runs, 17 RBI and nine stolen bases. She hit a grand slam in the second inning of OSU's 8-6 April 26 win over Seattle U and finished her freshman season with a .320 average across 128 at-bats.
Oregon State softball recently concluded its 14th season under the guidance of Head Coach Laura Berg.
Full list of All-West Coast Conference honorees:
Coach of the Year: Sonja Garnett, Saint Mary's
Player of the Year: Jaeya Butler, Oregon State
Defensive Player of the Year: Avery Francis, LMU
Pitcher of the Year: Odhi Vasquez, Saint Mary's
Freshman of the Year: Ellison Schroeder, Santa Clara
All-Conference First Team:
Sam Buckley, Saint Mary's
Jaeya Butler, Oregon State
Alex Cutonilli, Saint Mary's
Hannah Ferguson, Saint Mary's
Avery Francis, LMU
Izzy Jamgotchian, LMU
Justine Lambert, LMU
Rubi Lopez, LMU
Avari Morris, Seattle U
Rebecca Rubio, Santa Clara
Olivia Silvestre, Pacific
Odhi Vasquez, Saint Mary's
All-Conference Second Team:
Braxton Brown, Saint Mary's
Victoria Castillo, Saint Mary's
Taryn Clements, Santa Clara
Cairah Curran, Santa Clara
Cari Ferguson, Santa Clara
Taylor Fitch, Seattle U
Morgan Howey, Oregon State
Lindsay O'Dell, LMU
Sara Pinedo, LMU
Ellison Schroeder, Santa Clara
Ava Sin, Seattle U
Taelor Walker, LMU
Honorable Mention:
Robynn Balmediano, Santa Clara
Kaitlyn Bartlow, San Diego
Allie Capello, Pacific
Kaia Galaviz, Seattle U
Madeline Haun, Saint Mary's
Taylor Johnson, San Diego
Camille Lara, Saint Mary's
Jada Lewis, Oregon State
Mikee Morris, Seattle U
Karen Spadafora, Seattle U
Tristian Thompson, Oregon State
Berkley Vance, Seattle U
Kaitlyn Wynia, San Diego
All-Freshman Team:
Mya Allen, LMU
Abrielle Diaz, San Diego
Kaia Galaviz, Seattle U
Camryn Gordon, Oregon State
Mya Harrison, Oregon State
Madeline Haun, Saint Mary's
Rubi Lopez, LMU
Ellison Schroeder, Santa Clara
Taelor Walker, LMU
OUR MISSION:
Oregon State Athletics strives to Build Excellent Authentic Visionary Student-Athletes (Go BEAVS).
Players Mentioned
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