LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Thirteen players from six schools have garnered 2026 NFCA National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III All-America recognition, the Association revealed on Tuesday afternoon.
National champion North Dakota State College of Science boasted a division-best four All-Americans. Rowan College South Jersey Gloucester followed with three honorees. National runner-up Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute and Joliet Junior College each had two All-Americans, with Brookdale Community College and Patrick & Henry Community College earning one recognition.
2026 NFCA NJCAA DIII All-Americans
Half of the All-America quartet for the Wildcats are returning All-Americans, second baseman Rayelle Cooley (.403, 49 RBI, 28 BB, 20 2B, 4 3B, 49 R, 22 SB) and outfielder Blyth Proulx (.448, .969 SLG, .534 OBP, 9 2B,13 HR, 51 RBI, 32 R), who was second in DIII in long balls. The NJCAA DIII Pitcher of the Tournament Ella Stewart (20-5, 2.28 ERA, 3 SV, 188 K, 17 BB, 0.95 WHIP, .216 opp. BA) and outfielder Izzi Parsons (.372, 71 H, 65 R, 64 SB) make up the other half of the quartet, which keyed North Dakota SCS to its second straight title and third in the last four seasons. Stewart ranked third in victories, while Parsons ran away with the stolen base title.
Two-time All-American Emily Childs (25-4, 1.91 ERA, 168 K, .123 WHIP, .181 opp. BA), who led NJCAA DIII in victories and ERA, along with third baseman Jillian Logeren (.480, .550 OBP, .732 SLG, 49 RBI, 61 R, 11 2B, 7 3B) and shortstop Angelina Lindner (.487, .563 OBP, .900 SLG, 60 RBI, 21 2B, 7 3B, 9 HR) make up the RCSJ trio, which keyed the Roadrunners to a seventh-place finish at the NJCAA DIII World Series.
CCC&TI pitcher Sadi Messer (18-3, 2.35 ERA, 178 K, 1.32 WHIP) and Joan Joyce Utility/Pitcher Zoe Cheek (.446, .557 OBP, 13 2B, 58 R, 22-5, 2.13 ERA, 1.01 WHIP), the Most Outstanding Pitcher of the Tournament, were pivotal in the Cobra’s runner-up finish. The Utility/Pitcher award honors the late Joan Joyce, an NFCA Hall of Famer, unparalleled two-way player, and pioneer of women’s sports.
The All-America tandem of catcher Lea Herkel (.439, 41 RBI, 54 R, 18 2B) and outfielder Taylor Wells (.406, .717 SLG, 12 2B, 9 HR, 46 RBI, 40 R) were instrumental in Joliet reaching the quarterfinals of the NJCAA DIII World Series.
Brookdale first baseman Sophia Lasater (.530, 59 RBI, 63 R, 27 SB, 23 2B, 12 3B, .940 SLG, .612 OBP, 31 BB), who tops NJCAA DII in doubles and triples, and Patrick & Henry Designated Player or Utility/Non-Pitcher McKenzie Cobb (.422, .492 OBP, 32 R) round out this year’s All-Americans.
NFCA NJCAA DIII All-America athletes are nominated and voted by NFCA-member head coaches to receive this prestigious accolade.
The NFCA is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded All-America awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from podcasts to awards, to in-person events and National Convention
.
Learn more about the NFCA and consider joining our lineup of over 7,000 coaches today!
