MARSHALL, Texas – In recognition of their roles in Linfield University's extraordinary softball season together with individiual achievements, Wildcat all-stars Tayah Kelley, Katie Phillips, Claire Seats and Kaili Saathoff have been named to the 2023 Division III All-America team as selected by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
 
The four Wildcats were present on Wednesday to see their names announced at the NCAA Division III Championship banquet where the NFCA revealed its 2023 All-America teams for the first time.
 
Kelley, a second team All-American as a junior in 2022, was a unanimous first team All-America selection. The two-time Northwest Conference Pitcher of the Year is in the midst of the finest single season by a Linfield pitcher in program history. Thus far this spring, she's broken the Linfield single season record for wins, now 31 and counting, and surpassed Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame great Brittany Miller for most career strikeouts, now at 650. Her 80 career wins stand one short of equaling the Linfield program record of 81 wins held by Shelby Saylors.
 
Phillips, playing her fifth season in a Wildcats uniform, was a repeat NFCA All-America first team selection. The Tustin, California, native captained Linfield to 46 wins as well at the Northwest Conference regular-season and tournament championships, and the McMinnville Regional and McMinnville Super Regional championships. Statistically, she established new Linfield career records for doubles (66), triples (14), at-bats (718), games started (206) and games played (206), and stands second all-time in career hits (280).
 
Seats, a second-year Wildcat from Bellevue, Washington, was chosen as a second team NFCA All-American. She started all 50 games in center field and was spotless defensively, holding 1.000 fielding percentage on her way to first team all-Northwest Conference and first team all-West Region citations. Her .404 batting average ranks second on the roster, trailing only Phillips. Her seven home runs lead the team this spring, her 63 RBIs stand second, and her 69 hits rank third.
 
Saathoff, a sophomore first baseman from Philomath, Oregon, also received second team All-America recognition. She led the Northwest Conference with a .455 batting average while contributing 76 hits, 11 doubles, 37 RBIs and 23 stolen bases. In her initial season as a fulltime starter, Saathoff was named to the all-Northwest Conference first team and was tabbed as a first team all-West Region infielder. In addition, she was named the recipient of the prestigious Elite 90 Award, honoring the top student-athlete in Division III softball.

Five of the eight teams which advanced to the NCAA Division III Championship had players earn All-America acclaim, including Linfield, which tied Super Regional team Tufts for the most by any institution, with four selections. Berry (three players), Salisbury and Trine (two each), and Rowan (one) are the other finalists with honorees.
 
The four Wildcats will lead their team Thursday in a first-round game against Coe (Iowa) at 4 p.m. CDT (2 p.m. PDT) in the NCAA Division III Softball Championship.