All-American accolades continue for Alabama softball national champions

The hardware keeps piling up for Northeast Alabama Community College following their triumphant run to the NJCAA Division I softball national championship. Following their impressive title victory, several standout players have been recognized with prestigious postseason honors.

Ace Pitcher Leads the Way

Freshman right-hander Addie Edwards headlines the accolades, having been named the NJCAA Pitcher of the Year. The Chatsworth, Georgia native, who posted a perfect 34-0 record in the circle, also secured first-team All-American status. Edwards dominated the national stage, leading the NJCAA in wins, ERA (1.12), and WHIP (0.79) while throwing 32 complete games. Her performance during the NJCAA Division I Softball World Series, where she went 5-0, earned her the tournament’s “Best Pitcher” title.

Edwards is far from alone in the spotlight. Joining her on the NJCAA first-team All-American list are teammates Marti McCluskey and Lorelai Sullivan. McCluskey, a Tuscaloosa native and Hillcrest graduate, put together a massive season, batting .429 with 15 home runs and a conference-leading 78 RBIs. Sullivan, who hails from Lawrenceville, Georgia, led the ACCC with a staggering .503 batting average.

Local Stars Recognized

Northeast Alabama’s postseason haul includes third-team All-American honors for sophomore outfielder Kiley Weston of Hayden. Additionally, the program celebrated a milestone as sophomores Chloe Hatch and Emma Hindmon received the school’s first-ever NJCAA Division I Softball Gold Glove Awards for their defensive excellence in left field and at first base, respectively.

The success extended beyond Northeast Alabama. Wallace State-Hanceville sophomore catcher Brooklynn Sertell, a St. Clair County product, earned a spot on the first-team All-American list after hitting .490 with 23 home runs and 76 RBIs. Meanwhile, Gadsden State freshman Pressley Salton of Alexandria was named to the third-team All-American list as a designated player, finishing her season with 22 home runs and 69 RBIs.

Additional State Honorees

Other Alabama players earning national recognition included Bevill State’s Isabella Billings, who was named a Division II second-team All-American. Emily Rice (Marion Military Institute) and Ally Whitehead (Enterprise State Community College) were both named to the third-team All-American roster.

NJCAA Division I Softball All-Americans

First Team

• P – Addison Edwards – Northeast Alabama – Fr.
• P – Zoe Yzaguirre – Florida SouthWestern – So.
• P – Izzy Garcia – Temple (Texas) – Fr.
• P – Jayda Lorigan – Odessa (Texas) – So.
• C – Brooklynn Sertell – Wallace State-Hanceville – So.
• INF – Marti McCluskey – Northeast Alabama – Fr.
• INF – Maysen Kurene-Iwikau – Garden City (Kan.) – So.
• INF – Caroline Mito – Miami Dade (Fla.) – So.
• INF – Karson McGowan – Northwest Florida State – So.
• INF – Alexys Cornejo – Midland (Texas) – Fr.
• OF – Noelani Livingstone – Florida SouthWestern – So.
• OF – Kaitlyn Simpson – Seminole State (Okla.) – So.
• OF – Adi Hansen – Southern Idaho – So.
• OF – Lorelai Sullivan – Northeast Alabama – Fr.
• UTL – Allie Wainwright – Trinity Valley (Texas) – Fr.
• DP – Maddie Perez – San Jacinto (Texas) – So.

Second Team

• P – Olivia Garrett – McLennan (Texas) – Fr.
• P – Jessica Smith – Arizona Western – So.
• P – Gracie Major – Seminole State (Okla.) – So.
• P – Savannah Carter – Northwest Florida State – Fr.
• C – Maiarangi Waipara – Garden City (Kan.) – Fr.
• INF – Reese Contrell – Temple (Texas) – So.
• INF – Angelique Iredale – Odessa (Texas) – Fr.
• INF – Annalyn Duncan – Eastern Florida State – So.
• INF – Kennedy Borud – Iowa Western – Fr.
• INF – Rilyne Keck – Southern Idaho – So.
• OF – Christi McGuire – Paris (Texas) – So.
• OF – Addison Beech – Walters State (Tenn.) – So.
• OF – Skylar Flanagan – Blinn (Texas) – Fr.
• OF – Molly Bender – Santa Fe (Fla.) – So.
• UTL – Avery Velasquez – Eastern Florida State – So.
• DP – Cassandra Benberg – Indian Hills (Iowa) – So.

Third Team

• P – Aiden Ledbetter – Gaston (N.C.) – Fr.
• P – Natalie Moreaux – Grayson (Texas) – Fr.
• P – Belle Mancillas – Santa Fe (Fla.) – So.
• P – Brecka Larson – Salt Lake (Utah) – Fr.
• C – Traci Lowry – McLennan (Texas) – Fr.
• INF – Taylin Tabor – Iowa Western – Fr.
• INF – Brodie Wilcoxen – Northeastern (Colo.) – Fr.
• INF – Jasmine Benavidez – Temple (Texas) – So.
• INF – Jazmine Prathan – Salt Lake (Utah) – Fr.
• INF – Kylie Walker – Three Rivers (Mo.) – Fr.
• OF – Aracelis Jimenez – Eastern Florida State – So.
• OF – Hayleigh Atkinson – Florence Darlington Tech (N.C.) – So.
• OF – Kiley Weston – Northeast Alabama – So.
• OF – Ariana Evans – USC Union (S.C.) – Fr.
• UTL – Analy Trejo – Arizona Western – So.
• DP – Pressley Salton – Gadsden State – Fr.