Ava McKee

Photo by: Daniel Carlson

Photo by: Madison Davidson, CMU Athletics

Photo by: Drake Harlett, BGSU Athletics

Photo by: Drake Harlett, BGSU Athletics

Photo by: Paul Hokanson / UB Athletics

BGSU Softball Media Day 2025
Sebo Center
1610 Stadium Dr.
Bowling Green, OH 43403

Photo by: Brian Dempsey of Glass City Phot

Position:
Catcher
Height:
5-0
Class:
Sophomore
High School:
Watkins Memorial
Hometown:
Pataskala, Ohio

Bowling Green

2026 | Sophomore

Made her season debut in a win over Lipscomb, and had a walk, a sac bunt and an RBI
Went 2-for-2 with a run scored in a win over Tennessee State
Started three of BGSU's six games at the Make It Happen Games in Florida
Had three walks and two hits in nine official plate appearances that weekend
Was 1-for-2 against UIC
Against the Flames, had a two-run homer in the seventh inning, but that game was halted due to weather and reverted back to the last completed inning, so that homer did not count in the official stats
Two days later, hit her first collegiate homer -- again -- and this time it counted
Was 1-for-2 with two walks and the two-run round-tripper against Siena

2025 | Freshman

Named an Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete
Played in 34 games, making 32 starts
Started 25 games behind the plate and seven at the designated-player spot
After starting just two of the season's first 21 games, moved into the lineup and started the next 30 contests
Hit .233 on the season, with a pair of doubles among her 21 total hits
Scored 10 runs and drove in 14
Had 10 walks and a .343 on-base pct.
Played in all 26 MAC games, starting 25
Hit .247 in conference contests, and was fourth on the team in both OBP (.353) and RBI (10)
Had a .962 fielding pct. in MAC play
Drove in 10 runs in home games, tying for third on the team
Started two games at the season-opening Spartan Classic in Spartanburg, S.C.
Drew a pinch-hit walk in BGSU's win over IU Indy at the Hoosier Classic
Played in all three games of the Buffalo series, starting the last two
Drove in a run in BG's win in the series opener
Then, had her first collegiate hit in the final game of the series, and also was hit by a pitch and scored a run
Walked and was hit by a pitch against Green Bay
Started all three games of the Kent State series, with three hits, three RBI and an OBP of .500
Walked twice in the series opener, then had a two-run single in game two
That hit tied the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the seventh, as BGSU wound up scoring four times in that frame for a 7-6, walk-off win
In the final game of the series, went 2-for-4 with a run and another RBI
Started both games of the Youngstown State DH behind the plate, and had three hits and a team-high four RBI
Had a two-run double in the first inning of the opener, then had a two-run single in the nightcap
Scored two runs in the second game
Also started both games vs. Ball State at catcher, and had a two-run single in the opener
That capped a stretch in which she had nine RBI in five games
Scored a run in game two vs. the Cardinals
Had a hit in each end of the Akron DH, and also drew a walk in game two
Had two hits in the NIU series, and threw out two of four runners attempting to steal
Drove in a run in the opening game of the Western Michigan series
Walked, singled and scored a run in game two vs. the Broncos
Was 2-for-3 with a walk and a run against Ohio
Hit .429 in the Central Michigan series, going 3-for-7 with a .556 on-base pct.
Had a hit in each of the three games, with a walk in the first two contests
In the final game in Mount Pleasant, had an RBI single and came around to score
Had an RBI single and scored a run in each of the first two games of the Toledo series
Also had a sac bunt along with the first stolen base of her collegiate career in game two
Walked and doubled against Miami

Watkins Memorial High School

Pataskala, Ohio

Earned a total of four softball letters in high school
A 2024 graduate of Watkins Memorial H.S., where she played two years of softball
Attended Bishop Hartley H.S. as a freshman and sophomore
Captained her teams in all four years
Earned All-CCL First-Team honors in both seasons at Hartley
Was named to the All-District First Team as a sophomore after earning honorable mention the previous year
Was the Hawks' Defensive Player of the Year as a freshman, and was named the team's Offensive P-O-Y the following spring
Earned All-LCL Second-Team honors in both of her years at Watkins
Helped the Warriors of coach Mike Jellison to a combined record of 59-4-1 in those two seasons
Watkins went a combined 26-0 in conference play in her two years, advancing to the state semifinals in both seasons including a runner-up finish in her senior campaign
Won the Archie Griffin Sportsmanship Award
Graduated Magna Cum Laude
National Honor Society
Honor Roll all four years

Personal

Born in Columbus, Ohio
Daughter of David and Claudia McKee
The youngest of four children, with an older sister and two older brothers
Majoring in Middle Childhood Education (Social Studies and Reading/Language Arts) at BGSU
Played travel ball for Ohio Outlaws National - Leggins
Favorite athlete is Jameis Winston
Lists her family and God as her biggest influences

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE BGSU?
"I chose BGSU because I immediately felt at home. I am able to pursue my major while also pursuing my athletic dream."