After capturing its fourth consecutive Northwest Conference regular season championship and seventh straight NWC Tournament championship, Linfield softball was well represented on the 2025 All-NWC Softball teams in a release Friday afternoon. 11 Wildcats earned postseason recognition, including senior outfielder Claire Seats and sophomore pitcher Tyler McNeley, who were voted NWC Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively. 11 ties the 2019 team for the most in the season since 2013 when 12 players were selected.
 
Linfield landed eight players on the All-NWC First Team, two on the Second Team, and one more on the Honorable Mention list. The honors come as a result of a dominant 40-5 season, during which the Wildcats went 25-3 in NWC play and outscored their opponents 422-129.
 
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
McNeley not only secured her second career All-NWC First Team selection but also won the conference's Pitcher of the Year award. The sophomore played lights out in her first season as Linfield's go-to starter with 160 innings pitched and 27 wins. She amassed 167 strikeouts with a 2.40 ERA and put up 10 shutouts, third most nationally. In the Northwest Conference Tournament, McNeley held George Fox and Lewis & Clark scoreless while allowing just eight hits across both games as the Wildcats secured their seventh straight NWC Tournament crown.
 
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Claire Seats nailed 20 home runs in 2025, third most in the country on her way to securing the NWC Player of the Year Award and her third straight All-NWC First Team selection. After batting in seven runs in the NWC Tournament and four in the NCAA Regional round, Seats now sits with 260 career RBI, surpassing Staci Doucette's record set in 2012 of 259. The senior ranks among the nation's leaders in nearly every offensive category and tops the leaderboards in total bases (152) and RBI (76). In the NWC Tournament, she put together four hits, seven RBI and two homers.
 
FIRST TEAM
Senior second baseman Brynn Nelson came back for an encore to her 2024 NWC Player of the Year award, batting .447 across 152 at-bats, racking up 68 hits with eight doubles and eight home runs. She drove in 52 runs and posted a .656 slugging percentage while also scoring 33 times. Nelson reached base at a .500 clip and struck out only once all season, showcasing the threat she can be at the plate. On defense, she recorded 77 assists and helped turn nine double plays, finishing with a .975 fielding percentage.
 
A senior third baseman from Redlands, California, Jacey Leyvas batted .448 in 134 at-bats and contributed 60 hits, including 16 home runs and 10 doubles. She drove in 57 runs and compiled a .881 slugging percentage and a .500 on-base percentage. Leyvas also brought strong defense, finishing with a .951 fielding percentage and 68 assists. This marks her second straight First Team selection.
 
Junior shortstop Cydney Hess delivered a dynamic two-way season for the Wildcats. At the plate, she hit .419 with 54 hits, 15 home runs, and 55 RBI, ranking second on the team in both homers and RBI. Her .829 slugging percentage and .493 on-base percentage were among the best in the league. In the field, Hess contributed 51 assists and helped turn four double plays. While she committed 13 errors, her range and ability to make difficult plays were key to Linfield's infield strength. She received Second Team honors in 2023 before cracking the First Team in 2024.
 
Sophomore Meara Sain made a significant impact after returning from an injury-riddled freshman year. She batted .431 with 59 hits in 137 at-bats and drove in 30 runs while scoring 44 times. Sain hit 14 doubles and four home runs, boasting a .620 slugging percentage. On the basepaths, she was a perfect 9-for-9 in stolen base attempts. Sain also played error-free defense in the outfield, finishing with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
 
Junior designated player Ashlyn Aven was one of Linfield's top run producers, batting .393 with 57 hits, including 12 home runs and 11 doubles. She drove in 32 runs and scored 29 times, posting a .745 slugging percentage. Aven reached base at a .433 clip and struck out only eight times in 145 at-bats. She makes the First Team jump after being selected to the Honorable Mention list a season ago.
 
Senior first baseman Kaili Saathoff provided key production and veteran leadership. She batted .380 with 57 hits and 57 runs, including seven doubles, one triple, and five home runs. Saathoff drove in 41 runs and stole 15 bases in 18 attempts, showing off her athleticism. Defensively, she was one of the most reliable infielders in the conference, recording 240 putouts and finishing with a .968 fielding percentage.
 
SECOND TEAM
Graduate student Tyler Warden was a valuable No. 2 starter for the Wildcats. She appeared in 18 games, compiling an 11-3 record with a 3.11 ERA in 81 innings. Warden struck out 31 batters while walking only 21. She allowed 101 hits but limited opponents to a .305 batting average.
 
Senior catcher Ashley Sutton brought both stability and production behind the plate. Offensively, she hit .330 with 38 hits in 115 at-bats, including six doubles and eight home runs. She drove in 32 runs and posted a .591 slugging percentage. Sutton also managed the pitching staff with precision and allowed just one passed ball all season. She caught six runners stealing and recorded a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
 
HONORABLE MENTION
Senior outfielder Tiani Wayton added speed and energy to the Wildcats' lineup. She batted .347 with 35 hits and 37 runs scored. Wayton was effective in stealing bases, securing 10 bases in 12 attempts. Defensively, she was perfect in the field, recording 64 putouts with a 1.000 fielding percentage.
 
With 11 All-NWC selections, Linfield's roster depth and balance stood out once again as key ingredients in a championship formula. As the Wildcats now shift their focus to the NCAA playoffs, they'll lean on these proven stars to continue their postseason push to Bloomington, Illinois.