2021 Southland Preseason All-Conference Softball Teams Announced
FRISCO, Texas – The Southland Conference announced the 2021 preseason all-conference softball squads Thursday morning. Among the rosters, 10 schools were represented with 12 student-athletes earning automatic selections ahead of the season. Northwestern State and Stephen F. Austin lead the way on the preseason rosters with five selections apiece. The Southland Preseason All-Conference teams are presented by
Hercules Tires.
The Lady Demons enter the 2021 season with a trio of first-team honorees in Cayla Jones, Elise Vincent and E.C. Delafield. Alexis Perry and Hayley Barbazon round out the five Northwestern State honorees ahead of a much-anticipated season for the Lady Demons. NSU closed out its 2019 campaign with a 15-12 record in Southland play, cementing the No. 6 seed in the Southland Tournament. The Lady Demons are slated for a 21-game non-conference schedule before opening conference play Friday, March 12, with a doubleheader on the road against Nicholls.
Stephen F. Austin joins NSU at the top of the all-conference rosters with five selections of its own, headlined by automatic selections Kassidy Wilbur, Shaylon Govan and Bryana Novegil. Alex Hedspeth and Bailey Richards round out the Ladyjacks’ preseason honorees as SFA prepares for a non-conference schedule filled with four tournaments. Head coach Nicole Dickson and her squad will begin conference play at home against Nicholls Friday, March 19, at 3 p.m.
Central Arkansas and McNeese tabbed four selections each on the preseason roster, followed by Southeastern Louisiana’s three honorees. Abilene Christian and Sam Houston came in next with a pair of preseason student-athletes, while Houston Baptist, Nicholls and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi round out the rosters with one honoree apiece.
The 2021 Southland season gets underway Thursday, Feb. 11, with three schools in action. McNeese heads to Baton Rouge, La., for a matchup against LSU. Southeastern Louisiana hosts South Dakota, while Abilene Christian is at home against UTEP. Eight more schools open their seasons over the following two days.
The preseason all-conference teams are voted upon by the league’s head coaches. Returning preseason all-conference players from the 2020 season are automatically named to the 2021 Preseason All-Conference teams at their respective positions. Second team players are elevated to first teams if the slot is vacated by a non-returning player at the same position.
First Team
| Name |
School |
Pos. |
Class |
Hometown |
| Kaylyn Shepherd* |
Central Arkansas |
1B |
R-Sr. |
Mechanicsville, Va. |
| Cayla Jones* |
Northwestern State |
2B |
Jr. |
Missouri City, Texas |
| Cylla Hill* |
Central Arkansas |
3B |
R-Sr. |
Henryetta, Okla. |
| Cori McCrary* |
McNeese |
SS |
Sr. |
McCarley, Miss. |
| Ella Manzer* |
Southeastern Louisiana |
C |
Sr. |
Alexandria, La. |
| Samantha Bradley |
Abilene Christian |
DP |
R-Sr. |
Azle, Texas |
| Linsey Tomlinson* |
Abilene Christian |
OF |
R-Sr. |
Huffman, Texas |
| Kaylee Lopez* |
McNeese |
OF |
So. |
Indian Bayou, La. |
| Elise Vincent* |
Northwestern State |
OF |
Sr. |
Maurice, La. |
| Madisen Blackford* |
Southeastern Louisiana |
OF |
Sr. |
Des Moines, Iowa |
| Megan McDonald* |
Sam Houston |
OF |
Sr. |
Georgetown, Texas |
| Kayla Beaver |
Central Arkansas |
P |
R-Fr. |
Jackson, Tenn. |
| Kassidy Wilbur* |
Stephen F. Austin |
P |
Jr. |
Bridge City, Texas |
| E.C. Delafield* |
Northwestern State |
UT |
Jr. |
Stonewall, La. |
Second Team
| Name |
School |
Pos. |
Class |
Hometown |
| Shaylon Govan |
Stephen F. Austin |
1B |
So. |
Katy, Texas |
| Brooke Malia* |
Sam Houston |
2B |
Sr. |
Houston, Texas |
| Bryana Novegil* |
Stephen F. Austin |
2B |
Sr. |
Houston, Texas |
| Caitlin Garcia* |
Nicholls |
3B |
Jr. |
Spring, Texas |
| Alex Hedspeth |
Stephen F. Austin |
SS |
Jr. |
Lockhart, Texas |
| Alexis Perry |
Northwestern State |
C |
So. |
Wylie, Texas |
| Bailey Richards |
Stephen F. Austin |
C |
Gr. |
Des Moines, Iowa |
| Caitlyn Brockway |
Houston Baptist |
DP |
So. |
Tomball, Texas |
| Reagan Sperling |
Central Arkansas |
OF |
R-Jr. |
Sherwood, Ark. |
| Alayis Seneca |
McNeese |
OF |
So. |
The Woodlands, Texas |
| Hayley Barbazon |
Northwestern State |
OF |
Sr. |
Belle Chasse, La. |
| Saleen Flores |
McNeese |
P |
So. |
Beeville, Texas |
| MC Comeaux |
Southeastern Louisiana |
P |
Fr. |
Port Allen, La. |
| Sammi Thomas* |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
UT |
So. |
Buford, Ga. |
*2020 Preseason All-Conference Selection