BATON ROUGE—McNeese softball continued to garner postseason honors as the Cowgirls placed five on the 2021 Louisiana Sports Writers Association (LSWA) All-Louisiana Softball Team, the organization announced Tuesday. The team was selected by a panel of media and sports information directors based on statistics and performances through the teams' conference tournaments.
 
Named to the first team was pitcher Whitney Tate and designated player Kaylee Lopez. Pitcher Jenna Edwards, catcher Chloe Gomez, and third baseman Haylee Brinlee were named to the third team.
 
The native of Columbia, Tate played a major part in the Cowgirls success this season, posting a 13-7 overall record with a 2.07 ERA through the Southland Conference Tournament. The SLC Tournament MVP was a second team all-SLC selection who posted a 2-0 record with one save at the SLC Tournament, allowing nine hits and only two walks in 14 innings. The freshman picked up her wins against Stephen F. Austin, the no. 1 seed and Central Arkansas, the no. 2 seed then followed that with a save in the championship game against Central Arkansas. Through that week, Tate appeared in 26 games with 19 starts, three saves, four shutouts in 135.0 innings. She allowed 134 hits, struck out 52 with 17 walks.
 
Lopez, a native of Indian Bayou, led the Cowgirls at the plate with a .388 batting average, .475 slugging percent along with 54 hits, 12 doubles and 19 RBI through the SLC Tournament. The All-SLC second team selection was named to the SLC All-Tournament team where she continued her hitting streak to 15 games.
 
Edwards, the graduate from Winchester, Kentucky also played a huge part in the Cowgirls success in the circle in her only season with the Cowgirls. Edwards, the SLC Newcomer of the Year was 9-2 with a 1.90 ERA through the SLC Tournament. She appeared in 30 games and led the staff with 73 strikeouts.
 
Gomez, a true freshman from Spring, Texas was a third team All-SLC pick. Gomez played in 48 games and was third on the team with 20 RBI with a .274 batting average through the SLC Tournament. Gomez also had 20 doubles and scored 20 runs.
 
Brinlee, the Rosepine native was rock solid at third base all season. The All-SLC first team and SLC All-Tournament selection led the Cowgirls with 44 RBI through the SLC Tournament. Brinlee was also second on the team in home runs, slugging percent, and walks while tying for second in doubles.
 

2021 ALL-LOUISIANA COLLEGIATE SOFTBALL TEAM (season statistics do not include NCAA, NAIA or NJCAA national tournament games)
First Team
Position	Name	School	Yr.	Hometown	Notes
Pitcher	Summer Ellyson	Louisiana-Lafayette	Sr.	Lafayette, La.	23-6, 2.22 ERA, Sun Belt Pitcher of Year, All-Louisiana first team three times
Pitcher	Ali Kilponen	LSU	So.	Highlands Ranch, Colo.	14-7, 1.77 ERA, NFCA All-South Region second team
Pitcher	Whitney Tate	McNeese	Fr.	Columbia, La.	13-7, 2.07 ERA, All-Southland second team, Southland tournament MVP
Catcher	Olivia Hennen	LSU-Eunice	Fr.	Choudrant, La.	.426, 11 HR, 49 RBI, NFCA All-America first team, Diamond NJCAA Division II National Catcher of the Year
First Base	Justice Milz	Louisiana-Lafayette	Sr.	Kearney, Mo.	.313, 8 HR, 34 RBI, All-Sun Belt second team
Second Base	Jade Gortarez	Louisiana-Lafayette	Sr.	Riverside, Calif.	.283, 8 HR, 35 RBI
Third Base	Amanda Doyle	LSU	Sr.	Santa Clarita, Calif.	.282, 8 HR, 33 RBI, NFCA All-South Region third team
Shortstop	Taylor Pleasants	LSU	Fr.	Houston, Texas	.314, 11 HR, 47 RBI, NFCA All-America second team, SEC Newcomer of the Year
Outfield	Aliyah Andrews	LSU	Sr.	Oldsmar, Fla.	.365, 2 HR, 19 RBI, NFCA All-America second team, All-Louisiana for the third time
Outfield	Ciara Bryan	Louisiana-Lafayette	Sr.	Covington, Ga.	.426, 5 HR, 37 RBI, 35 SB, Sun Belt Player and Newcomer of the Year
Outfield	Aeriyl Mass	Southeastern Louisiana	Jr.	Lake Charles, La.	.368, 3 HR, 30 RBI, 30 SB, All-Southland first team
Designated Player	Kaylee Lopez	McNeese	So.	Indian Bayou, La.	.388, 0 HR, 19 RBI, All-Southland second team
Utility	Uchenna Jong Loy	Bossier Parish	So.	Amsterdam, Holland	.521, 27 HR, 84 RBI, NJCAA Region XIV Player of the Year
Hitter of the Year:  Ciara Bryan, Louisiana-Lafayette
Pitcher of the Year:  Summer Ellyson, Louisiana-Lafayette
Newcomer of the Year:  Ciara Bryan, Louisiana-Lafayette
Freshman of the Year:  Taylor Pleasants, LSU
Coach of the Year:  Beth Torina, LSU
Second Team
Position	Name	School	Yr.	Hometown	Notes
Pitcher	Primrose Aholelei	Bossier Parish	Fr.	Honolulu, Hawaii	17-3, 2.55 ERA, NJCAA Region XIV East Pitcher of the Year
Pitcher	Kandra Lamb	Louisiana-Lafayette	So.	Kurrajong, Australia	16-4, 2.12 ERA, 7 shutouts, All-Sun Belt first team
Pitcher	Shelbi Sunseri	LSU	Jr.	Santa Fe, Texas	9-6, 2.10 ERA, NFCA All-South Region second team, All-SEC Defensive Team
Catcher	Samantha Eckert	Bossier Parish	Fr.	West Monroe, La.	.390, 9 HR, 37 RBI, NJCAA All-Region XIV first team
First Base	Haylee Ladner	Bossier Parish	Fr.	Buna, Texas	.383, 9 HR, 59 RBI, NJCAA All-Region XIV second team
Second Base	Cayla Jones	Northwestern State	Jr.	Missouri City, Texas	.302, 4 HR, 27 RBI, All-Southland third team
Third Base	Kaitlyn Alderink	Louisiana-Lafayette	Sr.	Keller, Texas	.352, 1 HR, 21 RBI, 17-of-17 SB, All-Sun Belt second team
Shortstop	Alissa Dalton	Louisiana-Lafayette	Sr.	Cypress, Texas	.386, 4 HR, 26 RBI, All-Sun Belt second team, All-Louisiana for third time
Outfield	Ciara Briggs	LSU	Fr.	Yorba Linda, Calif.	.329, 4 HR, 16 RBI, All-SEC Newcomer Team
Outfield	Audrey Greely	Southeastern Louisiana	Fr.	Geismar, La.	.400, 3 HR, 22 RBI, 18-of-20 SB, All-Southland second team
Outfield	Kendall Talley	Louisiana-Lafayette	So.	San Antonio, Texas	.355, 3 HR, 26 RBI, All-Sun Belt first team
Designated Player	E.C. Delafield	Northwestern State	Jr.	Stonewall, La.	.331, 2 HR, 22 RBI; 12-5 as pitcher, 2.14 ERA . . . NFCA All-South Region third team
Utility	Julie Rawls	Louisiana-Lafayette	Sr.	Hallsville, Texas	.293, 9 HR, 52 RBI, All-Sun Belt second team
Honorable Mention Pitcher:  Jenna Edwards, McNeese; Heather Zumo, Southeastern Louisiana. Catcher:  Chloe Gomez, McNeese; Lauryn McMahon, LSU-Alexandria. First Base:  Georgia Clark, LSU; Brooke Romano, Baton Rouge Community College. Second Base:  Dylan Sanay, Bossier Parish. Third Base:  Haylee Brinlee, McNeese. Shortstop:  Tuliliau Sosi, Bossier Parish. Outfield:  Kennedy Cox, Bossier Parish.