RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Harding softball team had eight players named All-Great American Conference Wednesday in a release by the conference office. Brooklyn Gobble was also named GAC Freshman of the Year and Zoey Neal was named GAC Newcomer of the Year.
Harding had Brooklyn Gobble, Zoey Neal and Kaya Lee who were named to the first team. Avery Booker, Macy Ham, Riley Price and Emaline Pearson was named to the second team and Emma Curry was named honorable mention.
Harding's eight All-GAC players is the second most in school history. The Lady Bisons had nine in 2023.
Harding also had seven players named to the GAC Academic Honor Roll: Lana Danielson, Macy Ham, Brooke Johnson, Kaya Lee, Emaline Pearson, Riley Price and Tori Turner.
Brooklyn Gobble is the fourth Harding player to receive the freshman of the year award. She joins Peyton Mills (2016), Autumn Humes (2017) and Leigha Harris (2022). Gobble, who is from Tryon, Oklahoma, has a 16-6 record in the circle for Harding. She has a 2.14 ERA in 150 1/3 innings pitched. Gobble leads the team with 163 strikeouts and hitters are hitting .190 against her.
Zoey Neal is the second Harding player to receive newcomer of the year. Riley Price received the award in 2023. Neal, who is from Dyer, Tennessee, has been one of the key hitters for Harding this season. She has a .413 batting average with 69 hits, nine doubles and leads the team with eight home runs. Neal is also slugging .611 this season. She has only struck out 16 times in 167 at bats.
The 23rd-ranked Lady Bisons will be back in action Thursday when they take on Southeastern Oklahoma in the first round of the GAC Tournament in Bentonville, Arkansas. First pitch is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., at Bentonville West High School.
