SCAC Spring Sport Senior Recognition - Softball

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- For the next two weeks, the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference will recognize and honor all of its senior spring sport student-athletes who had their final seasons cut short by the COVID-19 outbreak.

After the NCAA made the unprecedented decision on Thursday, March 12 to cancel all winter and spring championships due to the coronavirus pandemic, the SCAC Presidents Council decided to indefinitely suspend all regular season conference and non-conference competition.

"This was a heartbreaking decision we had to make," said SCAC Commissioner Dwayne Hanberry. "No one wanted it to come to this, but at the end of the day we are tasked with prioritizing the health and well-being of thousands of students and student-athletes on each of our campuses. That has to to be the focus above all else."

Although the league held out hope that by only suspeding play a window of opportunity may present itself for an abbreviated spring season with some form of tournament play the following month, with the virus continuing to spread throughout the country which has caused campuses who had originally hoped to remain open to close for the semester, the 2020 athletics season has effectively ended for over a thousand of the league's spring sport student-athletes along with the careers of 100+ seniors.

And even though some of the league's student-athletes may take advantage of a blanket waiver that would grant an additional season of participation, the SCAC office would like to honor and recognize all of its spring sport senior student athletes.

Today, the league turns the spotlight on its senior softball student-athletes. Represented among these 27 student-athletes is:

• 43 SCAC All-Academic selections
• 22 NFCA All-America Scholar Athletes
• 2 SCAC All-Sportsmanship selection
• 13 All-SCAC First Team selections
• 8 All-SCAC Second Team selection
• 1 SCAC Player-of-the-Year
• 1 SCAC Pitcher-of-the-Year
• 1 SCAC Elite 19 recipient
• 1 NCAA Elite 90 recipient
• 6 NFCA All-Region selections
• 23 SCAC Championship titles
• 11 SCAC All-Tournament selections
• 23 NCAA Tournament appearances
• 9 NCAA National Championships
• 1 NCAA Super Regional Most Outstanding Pitcher

NOTE | If viewing from a mobile device, head shots are best viewed if device is flipped horizontal. 

Favorite memory as a SCAC student-athlete:

Marisa Duke | The life lessons that I was able to learn with my teammates that allowed us to grow as people and players.  


Favorite memory as a SCAC student-athlete:

Ashley Albright | All the crazy bus rides and hotel stays that made my teammates family 

Haley Campbell | I have a ton of favorite memories as a SCAC student-athlete, but one in particular is all of the lasting friendships I have made. Strangers that have become family. From the early morning workouts to the late night bus rides after playing weekend long series, it cannot be beat!

Madison Fremen | The intense Mario Party games with my teammates. Fun fact: the mini-games are very difficult. 

Kaitlyn Price | When the southwesterns coach got coach kicked out of the game. As he sat up on the hill by the lacrosse field and watched us play and we fought back and ended up winning that game.

 
Favorite memory as a SCAC student-athlete:

Julissa Dueñas | My favorite memory is when we beat Schreiner during the 2018 postseason.  

Emily Martin | Playing second base for the first time senior year 

Mackenzie Tano | My favorite memory during my time as a SCAC student-athlete has to be my first homerun. I was lucky enough to get to start as a freshman and I really just wanted to prove myself. When I hit my homerun I just felt like everything I had worked for all these years had paid off. It made me incredibly excited for the years to come. 

  
Favorite memory as a SCAC student-athlete:

Courtney Bigley  | Playing tik tac toe on a softball with Centenary during a rain delay 

Hannah Ortiz | For the majority of my collegiate career, I have been strictly a PO. This year I ended up hitting 2 homeruns in one game and am ending my career hitting 1.000 with a slugging of 4.000. 


Favorite memory as a SCAC student-athlete:

Kaitlynn Copher | During my career at SU there have been so many ups and downs, so I think my favorite memory and something that I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life is just having the opportunity to love the game of softball with outstanding women by my side.

Andrea Hern | There are many things I have loved and will remember from my time being an SCAC athlete. If I had to choose my favorite memory, it would be every pre-game announcement for the past 4 years. I’m specifically talking about the short time when the team is done warming up, in line to be announced and just hanging out. During this time, music is played and every player’s adrenaline and anxiousness is building until that first pitch of the game. During this time the southwestern team dances, jokes around and just hangs out. Waiting to get our chance to play. This time is one of my favorite times in every softball game I’ve ever played because in that moment there is nothing but you, your coaches, your teammates, the fans and the opponent. In those moments everything else stops and only softball matters and that is my favorite memory of being an athlete.  

Lindsey Longuet | My favorite memory being a SCAC student-athlete is the time I got to spend with my teammates who have become my home away from home and pitching my first no-hitter of my college softball career to finish off my years as a softball player. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.  

Sydney Scott | My favorite memory is getting to walk back on the field with my fellow seniors after I had broken my wrist the year before. I’m also forever grateful for the support and love all my teammates gave me when I told them my mom had been diagnosed with breast cancer early this year. 


Favorite memory as a SCAC student-athlete:

Jordaine Bishop | My favorite memory as a SCAC student-athlete was when we competed against Linfield in Oregon for Super-Regionals, it was the toughest series I have ever been apart of. It was a great experience to be able to compete against such a great team and advance to play for the National Championship. I am very grateful to have been recognized as the Most Outstanding pitcher for the Super-Regional series. I am so thankful for all of the memories softball has given me, and for getting the opportunity to play for Texas Lutheran University for the last four years.

Alyssa Cantu | One of my most cherished memories that never fails to bring me joy, is winning the 2019 National Championship. To this day, it still feels unreal and gives me chills just thinking about it. But above that, being able to share the experience with my best friends and TLU softball across my chest was a feeling that cannot be beat. I will forever be in debt to what this game has brought me over the years, especially during my collegiate career. Part of the journey is the end, and although the end was nothing we could have anticipated, I'm grateful for the time I was fortunate enough to have as a SCAC student-athlete.

Madisyn Cates | Winning a national championship.  

Erica Garcia | Winning a National Championship!! 

Deanna Hernandez | The memories made with my teammates & coaches and winning a National Championship ;). 

Cassandra Roche | Easy. Defeating Linfield in the Super-Regionals and then going on to win a National Championship with the greatest group of women. It’s what every student-athlete hopes to accomplish. 

Delani Sipila | I have way too many favorite memories, but the majority of them came from our time on the road or traveling. Getting to spend time with the girls, other than practice, is something I’ll always miss and could never forget. 


Favorite memory as a SCAC student-athlete:

Adrienne Edwards | My favorite memories as a SCAC softball player are all the friendships I have made and the time spent with my teammates.  


Upcoming |