Amanda Lorenz crowned 2024 Athletes Unlimited Softball Champion

She never looked back after she took over the top spot on the leaderboard in Week Three. Each week she furthered her lead in first place, she brought everyone on her team up the leaderboard with her.

“It’s an honor. It’s just a tribute to the amazing athletes that I got to play with all season because without them helping me win ballgames I wouldn’t be here so I’m just really thankful to play alongside some really, really talented people,” Lorenz said. “I don’t really have words right now … Just thankful for this league and to keep playing this game.”

Lorenz’s bat was not just hot this season, it was a flame that couldn’t be extinguished.

In 51 at-bats, Lorenz knocked a hit in 19 of them and tied Aubrey Leach for a league-leading .373 average. Lorenz continuously drove in runs for a .569 slugging percentage on the season. She blasted three home runs and logged five walks.

Her aptitude as a captain and the ability to lead teams to not just wins but dominant success are what set her apart from the pack on the leaderboard. She is the winningest player of the season with 1,280 win points. She won 75 innings and went 11-4 in games. Lorenz was a captain in Weeks Two through Five and led her teams to an 8-4 record. She finished the season with 1,800 total leaderboard points.

2nd Place Medalist & Rookie of the Year: Lexi Kilfoyl

Pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl took pro softball by storm, earning her Rookie of the Year honors and a 2nd place medal. She was the only pitcher this season to throw a complete game shutout, a feat she accomplished twice in Week One. Kilfoyl started in nine games and stands with a 7-3 record, throwing the most innings of any hurler with 59 innings on the season. She also led in ERA at 2.23 and strikeouts with 39 total.

The Oklahoma State alum led the league in stat points (514) and MVP points (300) and finished the season ranked 2nd overall with 1,734 total points.

3rd Place Medalist: Aleshia Ocasio

2021 Champion Aleshia Ocasio was back in full stride this season, coming in second place overall and affirming herself as one of the best pitchers in the league.

In her 5-2 record across 39.0 innings thrown, Ocasio recorded a 2.51 ERA for second-best in the league, struck out 22 batters, and held opponents to a .242 average. Ocasio returned to the captain’s chair in Week Five and led her team to a 1-2 record.

She was also named to the 2024 All-Defensive Team for the pitcher position.

4th Place Medalist: Georgina Corrick

Georgia Corrick worked her way up the leaderboard all season to end it as the 4th-place medalist. The pitcher was a captain for the first time in Week Five and capped off her season with three outs to close Sunday’s finale and finish with 1,540 leaderboard points. Corrick had a 3-2 record on the season with a 2.73 ERA. She was third in the league in strikeouts with 28 across 32 innings of work.

Defensive Player of the Year: Aliyah Andrews

Her nickname is Air Aliyah for a reason but now Aliyah Andrews will have Defensive Player of the Year to add to her monikers.

The centerfielder commanded the outfield this season like an air traffic controller – no ball was touching the grass if she could get to it. Andrews had two spectacular diving catches this season, along with a runner she hosed down trying to steal home.

Andrews had 27 total chances in the outfield this season and logged 25 putouts, 2 assists, and no errors. She was voted a Game Defensive MVP twice for her impact as the centerfielder on her teams.

AIR ALIYAH ✈️ #SCTop10 | 📺 ESPNU pic.twitter.com/oBRTNRHQ1V

— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) June 19, 2023

Andrews was joined on the league’s All-Defensive Team by pitcher Ocasio, catcher Sashel Palacios, corner infielders Tori Vidales and Baylee Klingler, middle infielders Aubrey Leach and Hannah Flippen, outfielders Bubba Nickles and Haylie McCleney, and utility player Erin Coffel.

“Congratulations to Amanda Lorenz on winning the 2024 AU Pro Softball championship, Aliyah Andrews on being named Defensive Player of the Year, and Lexi Kilfoyl on earning Rookie of the Year honors,” said Cheri Kempf, Senior Vice President and Director of Softball for Athletes Unlimited. “I want to thank all the fans who came out to Rosemont and watched on ESPN for helping AU Pro Softball continue to grow, and set the stage for next year’s launch of the AUSL.” 

When AU Pro Softball returns, it will be in the form of the inaugural season of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL). Formally announced earlier this summer, the AUSL is set to begin in June 2025 with four teams playing a 30-game season (60 total games) in a traditional format, creating a new opportunity for the world’s best players to compete. The existing AU Pro Softball Championship Season will be renamed the AUSL Champions Cup, and follow the AUSL season. 

Kim Ng – a trailblazing executive who most recently became the first woman to serve as General Manager of a major American men’s professional sports team – has joined the organization as a Senior Advisor, while softball legends Jessica Mendoza, Cat Osterman and Natasha Watley are advisors to the AUSL, and will consult with Ng, AU leadership and current athletes on the strategic direction of the new league. 

Savanna Collins is the Digital Media Reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Twitter @savannaecollins.