FRISCO, Texas--  For the second straight year, McNeese picked up three of the top six Southland Conference softball superlative honors and four other Cowgirls were named to the 2025 All-Southland Conference Softball Team, the league announced Wednesday.

Kassidy Chance was named Freshman of the Year, Maddie Taylor was named Pitcher of the Year, and James Landreneau was named Coach of the Year, the same three honors McNeese won last year. 

In 2024, Alexis Dibbley was the named Freshman of the Year, Shaelyn Sanders was named Pitcher of the Year, and Landreneau was named Coach of the Year.

Chance, a native of Mansfield, Texas is only the third McNeese player to be named the SLC Freshman of the Year.  Chance led McNeese with a .400 batting average and 17 stolen bases, tied for a team high with 23 walks, was second on the team with 64 hits and 45 runs scored.  In conference games, Chance ranked third in runs scored and posted a .398 batting average with 35 hits, eight doubles, 11 RBI and seven stolen bases.  Chance was also named to the first team as a utility player.

Taylor a freshman from Sterlington, Louisiana, is the fifth McNeese player earn SLC Pitcher of the Year honors.  Taylor, who posted a 16-7 overall record and led the conference in victories with 11, posting an 11-1 SLC record as a rookie.  She ranked third in the SLC with a 2.30 ERA while leading the Cowgirls' pitching staff with 55 strikeouts and 118.0 innings pitched.  Taylor was also named to the first team and the All-Defensive Team.

For the second straight year, Landreneau is the SLC Coach of the Year.  Now in his ninth season as head coach of the Cowgirls, it's his fourth overall SLC Coach of the Year honor. 

This season, he led McNeese to a Southland Conference history making fourth straight regular season title with a 24-3 conference record.  The 2025 Cowgirls won eight of their nine conference series, six of which were series sweeps.  Early in the season, Landreneau picked up his 300^th career win and became McNeese's All-Time winningest coach. He is the fifth overall SLC softball head coach and is the only active SLC coach to win the honor at least three times.

Other Cowgirls named to the first team were catcher Sarah Allen (Catcher) and Samantha Mundine (Outfield).  Reese Reyna (Shortstop) and Nyjah Fontenot (Outfield) were named to the second team.  Reyna joined Taylor on the All-Defensive Team.
Allen, a freshman from Montgomery, Texas hit .452 in conference games along with 19 hits including five doubles, one triple, 12 RBI and scored eight runs.

Mundine, the sophomore from Luling, Texas hits .394 with 28 hits, six doubles, four triples, one homerun, and 14 RBI in conference games.

Reyna, a senior from Santa Fe, Texas batted .333 with 24 hits, four homeruns, four doubles, 16 RBI, six stolen bases, and a .949 fielding percent in conference games.

Fontenot, the Lake Charles native, produced a .472 batting average with 42 hits, eight doubles, three triples, two homeruns, 27 RBI, scored 32 runs, and stole 10 0f 12 bases in conference games. 

SUPERLATIVES
Player of the Year – Victoria Altamirano, UIW
Newcomer of the Year – Macie LaRue, Southeastern
Freshman of the Year – Kassidy Chance, McNeese
Hitter of the Year – Victoria Altamirano, UIW
Pitcher of the Year – Maddie Taylor, McNeese
Coach of the Year – James Landreneau, McNeese
 
First Team
C – Sarah Allen, McNeese
1B – Victoria Altamirano, UIW
2B – Claire Sisco, Nicholls
3B – Maria Detillier, Southeastern
SS – Chloe Magee, Southeastern
OF – Shenita Tucker, Southeastern
OF – Samantha Mundine, McNeese
OF – AB Garcia, HCU
DP – Veronica Harrison, Lamar
UTL – Kassidy Chance, McNeese
P – Macie LaRue, Southeastern
P – Maddie Taylor, McNeese
 
Second Team
C – Adelynn Becerra, SFA
1B – Tatum Wright, East Texas A&M
2B – Ellie Vance, SFA
3B – Haylie Savage, HCU
SS – Reese Reyna, McNeese
OF – Reagan Heflin, Nicholls
OF – Maddie Cason, East Texas A&M
OF – Nyjah Fontenot, McNeese
DP – Kyi'Marri Ester, SFA
UTL – Molly VandenBout, Nicholls
P – Larissa Jacquez, UIW
P – Britney Lewinski, Southeastern
 
All-Defensive Team
C – Jaisy Caceres, UIW
1B – Cala Wilson, Lamar
2B – Claire Sisco, Nicholls
3B – Trinity Brandon, Lamar
SS – Reese Reyna, McNeese
LF – Maddy Bailey, HCU
CF – Sophia Livers, Northwestern State
RF – Reagan Heflin, Nicholls
P – Maddie Taylor, McNeese