Fresh off a win at its own McMinnville Regional, Linfield placed six players on the 2023 NCAA Division III All-Region X Team, released Friday by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
A total of 373 student-athletes representing 174 institutions were selected to the Division III All-Region teams. Ranked No. 4 in the latest NFCA Top 25, the Wildcats' six honorees were tied for the second-most nationally.
Spearheading the top-ranked team in Region X are four First Team picks in graduate student left fielder
Katie Phillips, senior pitcher
Tayah Kelley, sophomore first baseman
Kaili Saathoff and sophomore center fielder
Claire Seats. Freshman third baseman
Cydney Hess landed on the Second Team while graduate student right fielder
Baily Paul earned Third Team honors.
Linfield racked up six all-region players for the third time in four seasons. Phillips, Kelley and Paul all earned their third all-region selections. The duo of Phillips and Kelley was named First Team All-Region for the second straight year.
The two-time defending Northwest Conference Player of the Year, Phillips is batting .395 with 70 hits, including 20 doubles, six triples and four home runs. She has scored 53 times and driven in a team-leading 65 RBI. The Tustin, California, product holds school records in games played (204), games started (204), at-bats (713), doubles (66) and triples (14).
Kelley repeated as the NWC Pitcher of the Year after another banner season in the circle. The Myrtle Creek native became Linfield's all-time leader in strikeouts with 637 and counting. She's 31-1 with two saves, 24 complete games, nine shutouts, 232 Ks and a 1.53 ERA. Her 31 victories lead Division III.
The NWC batting champion, Saathoff is hitting .457 with a .526 on-base percentage. She ranks among the nation's leaders with 74 hits and 63 runs to go with 37 RBI. Seats is the second Wildcat batting above .400 with a .418 average and a .636 slugging percentage. She has 69 hits and leads the team with seven homers. Seats is second to Phillips with 63 RBI.
Hess saw action at both corner infield positions but emerged as Linfield's everyday starter at the hot corner. The newcomer has started in 47 games, tallying 57 hits, including 17 doubles. Paul has 55 runs and 35 walks as the leadoff batter, posting a .472 on-base percentage to go with 31 stolen bases on 33 attempts.
The NWC regular-season and tournament champion, Linfield (44-4, 27-1 NWC) swept Redlands in their best-of-five regional tournament. The 'Cats will be back at Del Smith Stadium on May 26-27 to host Bethel in the NCAA Division III Super Regionals.
