Butler Softball pitcher Allyson Montgomery and Butler Baseball pitcher Izack Tiger have been selected as Butler Grizzly Athletes of the 2023 Spring Semester, presented by White Eagle Credit Union

#7 Allyson Montgomery (Softball)

Allyson Montgomery, the Grizzlies standout sophomore pitcher from Goddard, Kansas, had an excellent 2023 season, including setting two Butler Softball program records. She set the program record for strikeouts in a single game with 18 on April 3rd, 2023 at home against Dodge City. Montgomery also became Butler Softball program leader for strikeouts in a career this season with 412. She passed Lauren Supak's previous record of 374 on May 6th, 2023 against Colby in the Region VI Semi-Finals. She finished the year with a pitching record of 25-4 and an ERA of 2.18. The Grizzlies rode the arm of Montgomery to an opening round win over the College of Southern Idaho at the NJCAA Division I Softball World Series, a game where Montgomery tossed six innings, allowing just one run on one hit, while striking out 12 in the Grizzlies 4-1 win.

Montgomery was named the MVP of KJCCC Division I Softball in addition to her All-KJCCC First Team selection. Montgomery was also selected as an NJCAA Division I Softball All-American, garnering a second-team selection for her efforts this season. Montgomery exits the Butler Softball program as one of the best two-year pitchers in program history. She finishes third all time on the career wins list with 47, she has the 12th best career ERA in team history at 2.05, and is the program leader in strikeouts with 412. 

Others considered: Freddie Wallace (Women's Basketball), Star Mpama (Women's T/F), Ryanna Valdivia (Softball), Briona Woods (Softball)

#24 Izack Tiger (Baseball)

Izack Tiger, the Grizzlies dominant sophomore pitcher from Del City, Oklahoma, etched his name deep into the Butler Baseball program record book. Tiger finishes his career holding four different Butler Baseball program records. This year, he set the program record for strikeouts in a single season with, comfortably passing former record holder Craig Bradshaw's 99 strikeouts set back in 1990. Tiger is the program leader for pitching wins with 21, innings pitched in a career with 192, and strikeouts in a career with 243. Tiger had several gem games this season, but he ultimately saved his best for last, as in his final start as a Grizzly in the second round of the Region VI Playoffs, Tiger dealt a complete-game dominant performance, allowing just two runs on six hits while striking out a whopping 15 Greyhound batters in the Grizzlies narrow 3-2 win.

Tiger was named to the All-KJCCC West First Team and was named the Pitcher of the Year in the KJCCC West. He was also one of just three pitchers in the entire KJCCC to be named to the All-Region VI First Team. Tiger finished the 2023 season with a record of 10-5, an ERA of 3.93, 84.2 innings pitched, six complete games, a program record 121 strikeouts, and a K/9 of 12.86.

Other considered: Nazzio John (Men's T/F), Wail Bourahli (Men's T/F), Isaiah Williams (Men's Basketball), Rob Brown (Men's Basketball), Caden Kickhaefer (Baseball)