2023 Academic All-America® Softball Teams Announced For All NCAA and NAIA Divisions

2023 Academic All-America® Softball Teams Announced For All NCAA and NAIA Divisions

Related
• 2022-23 Academic All-America® Teams and Honorees
• Download Academic All-America program logos


CSC members! Please download the new logos for use in your announcements!

Rogers, Hibbs, Saunders and Pelaez Highlight 2023 Academic All-America® Softball Teams
Four talented student-athletes hight 2023 softball Academic All-America® teams

Softball Release (NCAA & NAIA Divisions): PDF  |  doc 
 
AUSTIN, Texas – Four CSC Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year recipients highlight the 2022-23 CSC Softball Academic All-America® teams for NCAA Divisions I, II, and III along with the NAIA and announced Tuesday by the College Sports Communicators.
 
Ashley Rogers from the University of Tennessee, Lindsey Hibbs of Adelphi University, Karson Saunders of Union College and Sydney Pelaez of Georgia Gwinnett College are the All-America® of the Year honorees for NCAA Division I, Division II, Division III, and the NAIA, respectively.

Special thanks to ESPN's Holly Rowe for introducting our Team Members of the Year in the videos below.
 

7462NCAA Division I

9630

Ashley Rogers is a kinesiology graduate student from Athens, Tennessee, with a 4.0 undergraduate and 3.96 graduate GPA and a three-time All-Southeastern Conference first team selection.
 
Rogers was selected as the SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and was instrumental in leading the Volunteers to the SEC Softball Tournament Championship, Knoxville Regional title and to the Women’s College World Series. She is one of 16 CSC Academic All-Americans competing in the Women’s College World Series. In 2023, Rogers is 18-1 with a 0.75 ERA in 131.1 innings pitched with 173 strikeouts and 41 walks. She has 12 complete games and six shutouts.
 
Thirteen of the 35 members of the Academic All-America Division I softball teams boast a perfect 4.0 GPA in their undergraduate work or graduate school. The 12 members of the first team have an average GPA of 3.88.
 
In addition to Rogers, 10 additional student-athletes are repeat selections on the Academic All-America® Division I softball team and three are three-time selections – Montana Fouts (University of Alabama), Grace Lyons (University of Oklahoma) and Emily Young (Stanford University). The list also includes Tiare Jennings (University of Oklahoma), Kiki Milloy (University of Tennessee), Natalie DenHartog (University of Minnesota), Yannira Acuna (Arizona State University), Rachel Becker Oklahoma State University), Allee Bunker (University of Oregon) and Kelly Maxwell (Oklahoma State University)

FIRST TEAM
Pos. Name School GPA Yr. Major
P Ashley Rogers (2,5) University of Tennessee 4.00/3.96 Gr. Kinesiology (UG) / Kinesiology (G)
P Montana Fouts (1,4) University of Alabama 3.50/3.63 Gr. Hospitality Management
C Kayla Kowalik University of Kentucky 3.56 Sr. Business Administration (G)
IF Grace Lyons (1,5) University of Oklahoma 3.88 Gr. Biomedical Engineering (UG) / MBA (G)
IF Tiare Jennings (2) University of Oklahoma 3.59 Jr. Sports Business
IF Alyssa Brito University of Oklahoma 3.83 Jr. Human Relations
IF Allie Skaggs University of Arizona 3.96 Jr. Journalism
OF Kiki Milloy (2) University of Tennessee 3.65 Sr. Neuroscience
OF Natalie DenHartog (3) University of Minnesota 4.00/4.00 Gr. Organizational Leadership Policy & Development (G)
OF Yannira Acuna (3) Arizona State University 3.66/3.67 Gr. Liberal Studies (UG) / Communications (G)
DP Deja Davis Duke University 3.73 Gr. Sociology (UG) / Environmental Management (G)
SECOND TEAM
Pos. Name School GPA Yr. Major
P Jordy Bahl University of Oklahoma 3.62 So. Multidisciplinary Studies
P Megan Faraimo UCLA 3.69 Sr. Communications
C Ally Shipman University of Alabama 3.96/4.00 Gr. Health Studies
C Caitlyn Brockway UTEP 4.00/4.00 Gr. Rehabilitation Science
IF Rachel Becker (3) Oklahoma State University 3.76/4.00 Gr. Business Administration (G)
IF Allee Bunker (3) University of Oregon 3.59/3.64 Gr. Accounting
IF Katie Keller University of Wisconsin 4.00/4.00 Gr. Sports Leadership
IF Emily Young (2,6) Stanford University 3.88 Sr. Aeronautics & Astronautics
OF Ashley Trierweiler Santa Clara University 4.00 Sr. Child Studies
OF Chyenne Factor Oklahoma State University 3.51/4.00 Gr. Health Care Administration (G)
OF Emma Schutter University of Dayton 4.00 So. Mechanical Engineering
DP Morgyn Wynne Oklahoma State University 3.77 Sr. Strategic Comm. / Advertising & Public Relations
THIRD TEAM
Pos. Name School GPA Yr. Major
P Kelly Maxwell (2) Oklahoma State University 3.63/4.00 Gr. Health Care Administration (G)
P Nicole May University of Oklahoma 3.81 Jr. Psychology
C Riley Coyne Miami University 3.88 Gr. Gerontological Studies
C Sydney Collazos Baylor University 3.97 Jr. Health Science Studies
IF Emme Olson Illinois State University 4.00 Sr. Accounting
IF Erin Coffel University of Kentucky 3.62 Jr. Kinesiology
IF Makena Smith University of California 3.55/4.00 Gr. Public Health (UG) / Education (G)
IF McKenna Gibson University of Tennessee 3.60 So. Sociology / Criminal Justice
OF Alex Honnold University of Missouri 3.91 Jr. Parks, Recreation, & Sport / Sport Management
OF Caroline Jacobsen Clemson University 3.82/4.00 Gr. Political Science (UG) / MBA (G)
OF Katelynn Carwile Oklahoma State University 3.78 Jr. Applied Exercise Science / Strength & Conditioning
DP Caroline Hudson Liberty University 3.92 Sr. Developmental Psychology

(1) - 1st team Academic All-America® in 2022 | (2) - 2nd team Academic All-America® in 2022
(3) - 3rd team Academic All-America® in 2022 | (4) - 1st team Academic All-America® in 2021
(5) - 2nd team Academic All-America® in 2021 | (6) - 3rd team Academic All-America® in 2021
 

NCAA Division II
7456
9631

Lindsey Hibbs is a junior sport management major from Brampton, Ontario, Canada with a 3.89 GPA and was a two-time NFCA second team All-American and NE10 first team All-Conference selection.
 
Hibbs is the Northeast 10 Conference Pitcher of the Year and helped lead the Panthers to back-to-back NE10 Conference Championships. In 39 appearances, 32 starts, this season Hibbs went 28-5 with an NCAA Division II best 0.67 ERA with 26 complete games and 13 shutouts.
 
Nicole Purtell of Shepherd University was the lone three-time All-America® selection while seven additional student-athletes are repeat selections on the Academic All-America® Division II softball team – Gracey Brink (Augustana University), Lydia Goble (Grand Valley State University), Ashlyn Lerma (Angelo State University), Delaney Young (Augustana University), Keelah Griffith (Pittsburg State University), Clara Heislen (Concordia-St. Paul) and Morgan Hill (Valdosta State University)
 
Fifteen of the 34 members of the Academic All-America® Division II softball teams boast a perfect 4.0 GPA in their undergraduate work or graduate school. The 13 members of the first team have an average GPA of 3.90.
 
The Division II Academic All-America® program is being financially supported by the NCAA Division II national governance structure to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2022-23 Division II Academic All-America® program.
 
FIRST TEAM
Pos. Name School GPA Yr. Major
P Kayla Betts Saint Leo University 3.98 Sr. Criminal Justice (G)
P Lindsey Hibbs Adelphi University 3.89 Jr. Sport Management
P Tatum Goff University of Texas at Tyler 3.84 Jr. Nursing
C Gracey Brink (1) Augustana University 3.95 Sr. Exercise Science
IF Talon LaClair  Lenoir-Rhyne University 4.00/4.00 Gr. Mathematics (UG) / Teaching (G)
IF Ashley Troutman Rollins College 4.00 Sr. Anthropology
IF Savanna Brooks Wingate University 4.00 So. Exercise Science
IF Lydia Goble (2) Grand Valley State University 3.50 Sr. Sport Management
IF Nicole Purtell (3,4) Shepherd University 3.93/3.75 Gr. Business Admin. / Sociology (UG) / MBA (G)
OF Shelby Robb Metropolitan State University of Denver 4.00 Jr. Sport Management
OF Rylee Couch Colorado Mesa University 3.87 So. Exercise Science
OF Logan Menzies Colorado Christian University 3.96 Sr. Psychology
DP Ava Caputo Saint Anselm College 4.00 Jr. Biology
SECOND TEAM
Pos. Name School GPA Yr. Major
P Lauren Dixon University of Minnesota Duluth 3.98 Jr. Chemical Engineering 
C Kenzie Middleton Colorado Christian University 3.74 Jr. Business
IF Tiarra Delrosario Lubbock Christian University 4.00 Sr. Mathematics
IF Jamie Roberts Frostburg State 4.00 So. Law & Society
IF Ashlyn Lerma (2) Angelo State University 3.95/4.00 Gr. Finance (UG) / MBA (G)
IF Michelle Arias University of Texas at Tyler 4.00 Jr. Business Administration
OF Taylor Shingler Maryville University 4.00 Gr. MBA (G)
OF Morgan Hill (1) Valdosta State University 3.97 Sr. Health Science
OF Megan Nichols University of Indianapolis 3.89 So. Nursing
DP Kamryn Eaton Mississippi College 3.56 Sr. Kinesiology
DP Calli Wibbenmeyer Rockhurst University 3.94/4.00 Gr. Elementary Education (UG) / Educational Studies (G)
THIRD TEAM
Pos. Name School GPA Yr. Major
P Kenzee Smith University of Indianapolis 3.59 Jr. Nursing
P Caleigh Rister PennWest, California 4.00 So. Education
P Hannah Harrison Pittsburg State University 4.00 Jr. History
C Keaolani Takemura Chaminade University 3.92 Jr. Psychology
IF Taylor Robinson University of Montevallo 4.00 Sr. Exercise & Nutrition Science
IF Delaney Young (3) Augustana University 3.70 Sr. Business Administration
IF Sydni Hawkins Missouri Western State University 3.80 Sr. Business Administration (UG) / MBA (G)
OF Keelah Griffith (1) Pittsburg State University 4.00/4.00 Gr. Recreation Services, Sport & Hospitality Mgmt.
OF Courtney Wengryn Adelphi University 3.89 Jr. Marketing
OF Clara Heislen (2) Concordia-St. Paul 3.98 Sr. Health & Physical Education


(1) - 1st team Academic All-America® in 2022 | (2) – 2nd team Academic All-America® in 2022
(3) - 3rd team Academic All-America® in 2022 | (4) - 2nd team Academic All-America® in 2021


 

NCAA Division III
7449
9632

Karson Saunders, a senior outfielder from Rexford, New York, is a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-America® selection with a 4.0 GPA as a sociology and English double major. She was also a NFCA First Team All-American, a two-time NFCA All-Region First Team honoree and three-time All-Conference selection, twice on the first team.
 
The 2023 Liberty League Player of the Year led the league in multiple categories this season including batting average (.528), OPS (1.364), slugging percentage (.764), and on-base percentage (.600). She led the team with 56 hits in 106 at-bats and scored a team-best 41 runs, while driving in 26 runs, stealing 22 bases and walking 19 times. She also posted the best batting average (.528) in Liberty League history, which dates back to 1995. Saunders recorded a hit in 31 of her 35 games this season, including 17 multi-hit games all while reaching base in 33 of the 35 games this season for Union. On the national level, Saunders is tied for fourth in Division III in batting average and is third in on-base percentage this year. This season, Saunders set new Union single-season records for batting average, on-base percentage and stolen bases.
 
Sixteen of the 37 members of the Academic All-America Division II softball teams boast a perfect 4.0 GPA in their undergraduate work or graduate school. The 12 members of the first team have an average GPA of 3.96.
 
In addition to Saunders, eight additional student-athletes are repeat selections on the Academic All-America® Division III softball team – Lindsay Ambrosino (Worcester Polytechnic Institute), KaiLi Gross (Case Western Reserve University), Allie Fauth-Kilgore (Bethel University), Sydney Ouellette (Texas Lutheran University), Ashlyn Strother (Texas Lutheran University), Erin Askins (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute), Katia Pendowski (MIT) and Kenzie Dore (Husson University).
 
The Division III Academic All-America® program is being financially supported by the NCAA Division III national governance structure to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2022-23 Division III Academic All-America® program.
 
FIRST TEAM
Pos. Name School GPA Yr. Major
P McKenna Smith Husson University 3.92 Sr. Biology
P Anna Koeppl Trine University 3.98 Sr. English Education
C Maddie Luderman Simpson College 3.83 Sr. Neuroscience
IF Lindsay Ambrosino (1) Worcester Polytechnic Institute 4.00/4.00 Gr. Electrical & Computer Engineering
IF Alyssa Borozan Montclair State University 4.00/4.00 Gr. Clinical Mental Health Counseling (G)
IF Mackenzie Bivin MIT 4.00 So. Business Analytics
IF KaiLi Gross (3) Case Western Reserve University 4.00 Jr. Biomedical Engineering
IF Morgan Frye Berry College 3.85 Jr. Environmental Science
OF Karson Saunders (3) Union College 4.00 Sr. Sociology / English
OF Allie Fauth-Kilgore (3) Bethel University 3.98/4.00 Gr. Elementary Education (UG) / Counseling (G)
OF Grace Salaja Milwaukee School of Engineering 4.00 Sr. Electrical Engineering
DP Grace Houghton Loras College 3.94 Sr. Mathematics
SECOND TEAM
Pos. Name School GPA Yr. Major
P Sydney Ouellette (3) Texas Lutheran University 4.00 Sr. Business Administration & Accounting
P Ashlyn Strother (2) Texas Lutheran University 3.63 Sr. Accounting
C Candace Kipp Rockford University 4.00/3.96 Gr. MAT
IF Erin Askins (2) Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 3.87/4.00 Gr. Civil Engineering
IF Kaili Saathoff Linfield University 4.00 So. Mathematics
IF Karson Bagelmann Adrian College 4.00 Jr. Political Science
OF Grace Heath University of Mount Union 3.95 Sr. Accounting & Finance
OF Natalie Ritchey Huntingdon College 3.80 Sr. Business Administration
OF Hannah Biddlecome Calvin University 3.51/3.52 Gr. Media & Strategic Communication
OF Kaci Neveling The College of New Jersey 3.96 Sr. School Counseling
DP Katia Pendowski (1) MIT 4.00 Jr. Mechanical Engineering
THIRD TEAM
Pos. Name School GPA Yr. Major
P Grason Long University of Mary Hardin-Baylor 4.00 Sr. Nursing
P Charli Shinstine Manhattanville College 3.64 Sr. English Literature / Creative Writing
C Tyler Miller Emory University 3.98 Sr. Nursing
C Anna Jackson Berry College 3.54 Jr. Nursing
IF Mattea Nelson Whitworth University 4.00 Gr. Marriage & Family Counseling (G)
IF Jordyn McCormack University of Wisconsin-La Crosse 3.90 Jr. Psychology
IF Maleea Gallaspy John Jay College 3.92 So. Forensic Psychology
IF Kenzie Dore (1) Husson University 3.99 Jr. Criminal Justice
IF Mackenzie Latess Westminster College 3.87 Sr. Early Childhood Education / Special Education
OF Mary Frances Ellis East Texas Baptist University 4.00 So. Finance
OF Kami Anson Grinnell College 3.98 Jr. Psychology
OF Lexie Leggett Capital University 3.86 Sr. Intervention Education
OF Mackenzie Doyle Springfield College 3.69 Sr. Sport Management
DP Ashley Croft East Texas Baptist University 3.89 Sr. Rehabilitative Science

(1) - 1st team Academic All-America® in 2022
(2) - 2nd team Academic All-America® in 2022
(3) - 3rd team Academic All-America® in 2022


 

NAIA
7449
9633

Sydney Pelaez, a senior catcher from Tampa, Florida, led the Grizzlies to a fourth-straight Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) tournament championship and a trip to the NAIA World Series. She has a 3.88 GPA as a Political Science major.
 
Pelaez, the 2023 CAC Player of the Year and four-time all-conference selection, hit .438 this season with a 1.195 on-base plus slugging percentage. She tied for the team lead with 46 runs scored and led the team with 46 RBIs, 17 doubles and seven home runs. She recorded at least one hit in 47 of the 57 games she played.
 
Six of the 23 members of the Academic All-America NAIA softball teams boast a perfect 4.0 GPA in their undergraduate work or graduate school. The 12 members of the first team have an average GPA of 3.85.
 
In addition to Pelaez, who is a three-time Academic All-America® selection, five additional student-athletes are repeat selections on the Academic All-America® NAIA softball team – Haley Loffer (College of Idaho), Claire Buckley (Arizona Christian University), Katie Cronin (Milligan University), Lexi Duff (Oklahoma City University) and Ashton Whitman (Indiana Wesleyan University).
 
The NAIA Academic All-America® program is being financially supported by the NAIA national governance structure to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2022-23 NAIA Academic All-America® program.
 
FIRST TEAM
Pos. Name School GPA Yr. Major
P Ella Schouten Columbia College (Mo.) 3.81 Jr. Childhood Development
P Kacie Schmidt Oregon Tech 3.70 Jr. Civil Engineering
C Sydney Pelaez (1,3) Georgia Gwinnett College 3.88 Sr. Political Science
IF Haley Loffer (2) College of Idaho 3.80/4.00 Gr. Accounting (UG) / Sports Administration (G)
IF Kaila Mick Oregon Tech 3.92 Sr. Dental Hygiene
IF Claire Buckley (1) Arizona Christian University 3.89 Sr. Interdisciplinary Studies
IF Payton Lewis Concordia University Ann Arbor 3.71 So. Elementary Education
IF Camryn Scott Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College 3.55/3.70 Gr. Psychology (UG) / Leadership Development (G)
OF Katie Cronin (1) Milligan University 3.89 Sr. Nursing
OF Emily Prai Midland University 4.00 Jr. Accounting
OF Shannon McAlinden Concordia University Ann Arbor 3.84 Jr. Sport & Entertainment Business
DP Kate Pendleton Milligan University 3.81 Sr. Exercise Science
SECOND TEAM
Pos. Name School GPA Yr. Major
P Abby Kraemer Dordt University 3.61 Sr. Agriculture & Animal Science
P Lexi Duff (2) Oklahoma City University 3.65 Sr. Biomedical Sciences / Exercise Science
P Aliyah Rincon Midland University 3.83 Jr. Nursing
C Ashton Whitman (2) Indiana Wesleyan University 3.96/4.00 Gr. Business Administration
IF Katie Smith Central Baptist College 4.00 So. Accounting
IF Carly Oliver University of the Cumberlands 3.77 Jr. Nursing
IF Elisa Koshy Indiana Wesleyan University 3.61 Sr. Business Administration
OF Kylee Pettit Mount Vernon Nazarene University 3.77 Sr. Biology
OF Lexi Klum Oregon Tech 4.00 Jr. Applied Psychology
OF Kaylie Sippel University of St. Francis (IL) 4.00 Sr. Biology
DP Athena Wheeler Columbia College (Mo.) 3.91 Jr. Elementary Education

(1) - 1st team Academic All-America® in 2022
(2) - 2nd team Academic All-America® in 2022
(3) - 2nd team Academic All-America® in 2021


 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Jeff Schwartz, Retired, North Dakota State University | Academic All-America® Co-Director for Publicity
schwartzy2@yahoo.com | (701) 793-0538

Zachary Shore, Conference Carolinas | Academic All-America® Coordinator of Publicity
zachary@conferencecarolians.com | (734) 338-1960