FRISCO, Texas- McNeese senior pitcher
Whitney Tate has been named the 2023 Southland Conference Softball Student-Athlete of the Year, the league announced today in conjunction of the all-academic teams. Tate is the first McNeese softball Student-Athlete of the Year recipient since Erika Piancastelli garnered the award in both 2016 and 2017.
Tate posted a 3.90 GPA in biology (Pre-Med) is also one of six Cowgirls named to the all-academic team. The Columbia, La. native helped McNeese to its second straight regional championship game and a school record 47 wins , while being named first team All-SLC selection and was named to the SLC all-tournament team along the way.
Tate led McNeese in ERA (1.26), innings pitched (166.1), and shutouts (9). She was second on the team in wins (18) and strikeouts (81) while tossing three-one hitters.
Other Cowgirls joining Tate on the team are
Chloe Gomez,
Alayis Seneca, and
Ashley Vallejo on the first team.
Kaylee Lopez and
Shaelyn Sanders were named to the second team.
Seven members of the Southland All-Conference Team were automatic qualifiers to the all-academic first team.
The All-Academic teams are voted on by head coaches, sports information directors and academic/compliance staff members from each Southland Conference institution. Student-athletes must possess a 3.0 cumulative GPA, have completed one full academic year at the nominating institution to qualify for All-Academic selection, and have competed in at least 50 percent of their team's contests on the season, excluding pitchers.
FIRST TEAM
?
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
Pos. |
Hometown |
GPA |
Major |
| Sam Bean |
Lamar |
Sr. |
3B |
Rockwall, Texas |
4.00 |
Exercise Science |
| Makenzie Chaffin |
Northwestern State |
Sr. |
DP |
Bossier City, La. |
4.00 |
Biology |
| AB Garcia * |
HCU |
R-Fr. |
OF |
Cypress, Texas |
3.20 |
Accounting |
| Chloe Gomez * |
McNeese |
Jr. |
DP |
Spring, Texas |
3.27 |
Health & Human Performance |
| Melise Gossen |
Nicholls |
Sr. |
UT |
Rayne, La. |
3.71 |
Interdisciplinary Studies |
| Lexi Johnson * |
Southeastern |
Jr. |
1B |
Reserve, La. |
3.31 |
General Studies |
| Alexa Poche' * |
Nicholls |
Jr. |
OF |
New Orleans, La. |
3.90 |
Psychology |
| Haylie Savage * |
HCU |
So. |
3B |
Angleton, Texas |
3.56 |
Kinesiology-Wellness Management |
| Alayis Seneca * |
McNeese |
Sr. |
OF |
The Woodlands, Texas |
4.00 |
Double Masters
(Health & Human Performance /
Exercise Physiology & Health Promotion) |
| Whitney Tate *^ |
McNeese |
Sr. |
P |
Columbia, La. |
3.90 |
Biology Pre-Med |
| Gabriella Torres |
A&M-Corpus Christi |
Sr. |
C |
San Antonio, Texas |
3.69 |
Biomedical Sciences |
| Ashley Vallejo |
McNeese |
Jr. |
P |
New Waverly, Texas |
3.47 |
Marketing |
SECOND TEAM
?
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
Pos. |
Hometown |
GPA |
Major |
| MC Comeaux |
Southeastern |
Jr. |
P |
Port Allen, La. |
3.45 |
Health Sciences |
| Maggie Darr |
Northwestern State |
R-So. |
P |
Missouri City, Texas |
3.76 |
Health & Exercise Science |
| Avery Drake |
HCU |
Sr. |
OF |
Belton, Texas |
3.19 |
Kinesiology |
| Keely Dubois |
Northwestern State |
Sr. |
SS |
Robeline, La. |
3.55 |
Human Health & Performance |
| Katy Janes |
HCU |
Sr. |
P |
Huffman, Texas |
3.95 |
Allied Health |
| Kaylee Lopez |
McNeese |
Sr. |
UT |
Indian Bayou, La. |
3.62 |
Early Childhood Education |
| Ryleigh Mata |
UIW |
Jr. |
2B |
Santa Fe, Texas |
4.00 |
Psychology |
| Bailie Ragsdale |
Northwestern State |
So. |
2B |
Lone Oak, Texas |
3.63 |
Health & Exercise Science |
| Madison Rayner |
Southeastern |
Sr. |
2B |
Stringer, Miss. |
3.47 |
General Studies |
| Jasie Roberts |
HCU |
Sr. |
C/OF |
Pasadena, Texas |
3.97 |
Biochemistry/Molecular Biology |
| Shaelyn Sanders |
McNeese |
Jr. |
P |
Splendora, Texas |
3.55 |
General Behavioral Science |
| Avery Ziegler |
A&M-Commerce |
Gr. |
3B |
Southlake, Texas |
3.95 |
Business Administration |
* - Automatic Selection (First Team All-Conference)
^ - Student-Athlete of the Year
