The center field starter is the first SOU outfielder to receive the honor
The National Fastpitch Coaches Association stamped Sarah Kerling’s defensive excellence in center field with a Rawlings NAIA Gold Glove Award on Friday.
Kerling, who was also selected this week to the NAIA All-America first team, is the first Southern Oregon outfielder and the third Raider at any position to receive the honor.
A four-year starter in center field, Kerling not only displayed arguably the best range and throwing arm of anyone in the country at her position, she committed just six errors in 241 career games. During the 2025 season, she logged a career-high 107 putouts.
The Livermore, California native was a three-time Cascade Conference Gold Glove winner. Last year, she won it despite playing with a shoulder injury that prevented her from throwing overhand for the final month of the season.
Kerling also enjoyed the best season of her career at the plate this spring, batting .445 with 15 extra-base hits, 47 runs scored, 42 RBIs and 23 stolen bases. She led the conference in batting average and ranked fourth in the country in total hits with 94.
She made the NAIA World Series All-Tournament team again, just as she did when the Raiders won the national championship in 2023. Across eight games in Georgia, she batted 15-for-33 with two doubles, eight RBIs and five runs scored.
This story first appeared on the Southern Oregon University Sports Information website, souraiders.com.
