CORVALLIS, Ore. – With postseason softball underway, Eastern Oregon University has earned multiple Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) All-Conference honors, highlighted by senior outfielder Hope Burke being named Player of the Year and Golden Glove recipient, as announced Monday morning.

The Mountaineers placed four athletes on the All-Conference First Team, one on the Second Team, and two earned Honorable Mention recognition following a standout 2026 campaign. Eastern opened the season ranked No. 3 in the preseason poll and climbed to the program's first-ever No. 1 ranking in the NAIA Coaches Top 25 Week 2 Poll after a 19-3 start. The Mounties finished the regular season 37-9 overall and 18-6 in CCC play, winning seven of eight conference series and placing second in the regular-season standings. They added a 1-2 mark in the CCC Tournament under seventh-year head coach Nicole Christian.

In her senior season, Burke earned Player of the Year, First Team All-CCC, and Golden Glove Outfield honors. In her second year with Eastern, she was a consistent offensive force, ranking second in the CCC in home runs. Burke went 53-for-135 at the plate with eight doubles, 12 home runs, and 46 RBIs, posting a .393 batting average. Frequently pitched around, she drew 23 walks and was hit by pitches six times for a .488 on-base percentage. Defensively, Burke split time between left and right field, recording 48 putouts and two assists for a .980 fielding percentage with just one error all season.

Joining Burke on the All-CCC First Team were sophomore shortstop Raygun Klippert, junior third baseman Lexi Grumbois, and freshman outfielder Elizabeth Heinz.

Klippert followed up her Newcomer of the Year season with another strong performance, earning First Team honors for the second consecutive year. She started all 49 games and recorded 54 hits, including 11 doubles, seven triples, and one home run, batting .367. A catalyst at the top of the lineup, she drew 24 walks, stole 45 bases, and scored 54 runs. Defensively, she tallied 49 putouts and 89 assists, including five double plays, finishing with a .952 fielding percentage. Klippert broke program records for single-season runs scored and stolen bases (while leading the CCC in stolen bases), while also setting the career stolen base record as just a sophomore. 

Grumbois, a lefty junior transfer, made an immediate impact, starting 44 of 45 games. A power threat at the plate, she batted .423, going 55-for-130 with seven doubles, five home runs, and 50 RBIs. She also drew 21 walks and was hit once, posting a .503 on-base percentage. Beyond her power, Grumbois often put herself in scoring position, tallying 15 stolen bases. Defensively, she recorded 41 putouts and 62 assists at third base, committing just five errors for a .954 fielding percentage. She ranked second in the CCC in both batting average and RBIs.

Freshman outfielder Heinz made an immediate impression in her debut season, batting .367 with 36 hits in 98 at-bats, including four doubles and 15 RBIs, while scoring 32 runs. She added 18 walks and one hit-by-pitch for a .470 on-base percentage and contributed five stolen bases. Defensively, Heinz was flawless, recording 40 putouts and three assists without committing an error.

Senior pitcher Camille Schmitz earned Second Team All-CCC honors as a key contributor out of the bullpen. She appeared in 29 games, throwing 80.2 innings with a 12-2 record, three saves, and a 1.91 ERA—fourth-best in the conference. Schmitz struck out 60 batters and held opponents to a .211 batting average.

Senior pitcher Natalie Dimitrov and freshman second baseman Isabella Lauerman were both named Honorable Mention selections.

Dimitrov made a strong impact in her final season, particularly down the stretch. She pitched 90.2 innings, posting a 7-4 record with a 2.55 ERA and 57 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .232 average. She recorded three complete-game shutouts, including wins over Puget Sound, Carroll, and No. 1-ranked Oregon Tech.

Lauerman made an immediate contribution in her freshman campaign, starting 45 of 48 games at second base. She batted .320 with 14 RBIs and 32 runs scored. Known for her discipline, she drew 20 walks and was hit by pitches three times for a .421 on-base percentage. She also effectively moved herself and others into scoring position, with 16 stolen bases and six sacrifice bunts. Defensively, Lauerman recorded 45 putouts and 42 assists, finishing with a .897 fielding percentage.

Eastern Oregon now turns its attention to the NAIA National Tournament and will await the selection show on Wednesday, May 6 at 3 p.m. PT, hoping to secure an at-large bid to the Opening Round, scheduled for May 11–14.