GREENVILLE, S.C. – Prior to the start of the 2025 Conference Carolinas Softball Championship, the league announced their all-conference awards on Thursday.

The all-conference awards were voted on by the Conference Carolinas softball head coaches.

Paige Strickland of Francis Marion University was named player of the year as the outfielder has anchored the Patriot lineup all season. She ranks fifth in the league with a .446 batting average with 15 doubles, six triples and 13 home runs. She ranks in the league’s top five in hits, doubles, triples, home runs and runs batted in. She leads Conference Carolinas with those six triples and 69 runs batted in.

For the second straight year, Francis Marion’s Alyssa Poston was tabbed pitcher of the year. The junior leads the league with an ERA of 1.51, the only pitcher in Conference Carolinas with an ERA below 2.00. She is also the only pitcher with more than 20 wins as she is 24-1 on the season with seven shutouts and one save. Her 162 strikeouts rank second on the league while she leads the conference with an opponents batting average of .192.

Alona Hanna of UNC Pembroke was name freshman of the year after hitting .377 in her first year on campus. She recorded 55 hits, including 10 doubles, five triples and five home runs. She ranks in the league’s top 20 in all of those categories, including sixth with 40 runs scored.

Francis Marion head coach Stacey Vallee was named coach of the year for the second time in as many years. She has guided the Patriots to a 43-3 record as they have been ranked in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll all season. The Patriots are currently ranked second in the NFCA poll and won the Conference Carolinas East Division as they own a 23-1 league mark. Francis Marion has won their last 22 games and the Patriots had a 17-game winning streak earlier this season.

2025 Softball All-Conference Carolinas Selections
Player of the Year
Paige Strickland, Francis Marion

Pitcher of the Year
Alyssa Poston, Francis Marion

Freshman of the Year
Alona Hanna, UNC Pembroke

Coach of the Year
Stacey Vallee, Francis Marion

First Team
1B – Rachel Jardim, King
2B – Alyssa Smothers, Mount Olive
3B – Gabby Burroughs, Erskine
SS – Madalyn White, Francis Marion
DP – Sydney Watson, Converse
UTL – Karley Green, North Greenville
C – Giana Winge, King
C – Maddie Stone, North Greenville
OF – Emily Konz, Francis Marion
OF – Paige Strickland, Francis Marion
OF – Avery Fielden, Young Harris
P – Alyssa Poston, Francis Marion
P – Jenna Walling, Francis Marion
P – Summer Bullard, UNC Pembroke
P – Linda Hodge, Mount Olive

Second Team
1B – Casey Laing, Belmont Abbey
2B – Rylie Webster, Francis Marion
3B – Shelby Duncan, Young Harris
SS – Emily Blackwell, North Greenville
DP – Tori Ryan, King
UTL – Ali Bunch, Barton
C – Rylee Konowalchuk, Lees-McRae
C – Chloe Locklear, UNC Pembroke
OF – Taylor Beurrier, Lees-McRae
OF – Samantha Taylor, Mount Olive
OF – Katie Ryan, King
P – Kylie Rast, North Greenville
P – Kylee Horsley, King
P –  Riley Lingerfelt, Converse
P – Grace Young, Young Harris

All-Defensive Team
1B – Gracie Hughes, Young Harris
2B – Rylie Webster, Francis Marion
3B – McKenzie Millard, Mount Olive
SS – Emily Blackwell, North Greenville
UTL – Laci Best, Mount Olive
C – Chloe Locklear, UNC Pembroke
LF – Samantha Taylor, Mount Olive
CF – Makenzie Cyzick, Barton
RF – Ciara Passmore, Emmanuel
P – Jenna Walling, Francis Marion