After securing a spot in the NCAA Super Regionals, Linfield softball added another highlight to its 2025 campaign as six Wildcats earned selections to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III Region X All-Region Teams, in a release by the NFCA.
 
Brynn Nelson, Jacey Leyvas, Claire Seats and Ashlyn Aven were named to the All-Region X First Team while Tyler McNeley and Cydney Hess were selected to the Second Team. The recognitions come on the heels of Linfield's 41-5 season that includes a Northwest Conference title and a NCAA Super Regionals berth.
 
FIRST TEAM
Senior infielder Brynn Nelson played a key role in Linfield's offensive success. She finished the season with a .443 batting average, collecting 70 hits, eight doubles and nine home runs. Nelson drove in 54 runs, compiled a .665 slugging percentage, and reached base at a .483 clip. Defensively, she posted a .976 fielding percentage and 84 putouts. This is Nelson's second straight first-team selection and wraps a historic career at Linfield after winning the NWC Player of the Year award a season ago.
 
Third basemen Jacey Leyvas made an impact as a versatile threat on both offense and defense. The sophomore hit .438 with 60 hits, including 10 doubles and 16 home runs, while tallying 57 RBI and a .861 slugging percentage. She also recorded a .951 fielding percentage to go with 29 putouts and 68 assists. Leyvas received a second-team selection a season ago.
 
Senior outfielder Claire Seats anchored the Wildcats' rotation and was selected to the first team for the third time in her career, leading the team with a .474 batting average. Offensively, she notched 75 hits, 23 doubles (most nationally), and 20 home runs (third most nationally) while driving in a team-high 76 RBI, setting the Linfield program record for career RBI at 260. She maintained a 1.000 slugging percentage and secured the NWC Player of the Year award as a cap to her legendary Linfield career.
 
Designated player Ashlyn Aven contributed both offensively and defensively. She hit .401 with 59 hits, 12 doubles, two triples and 12 home runs. Aven tallied 32 RBI and compiled a .755 slugging percentage. This selection comes on the heels of her All-NWC First Team selection and rounds out the All-Region X First Team selections for the Wildcats.
 
SECOND TEAM
Second-year pitcher Tyler McNeley and junior shortstop Cydney Hess were named to the Region X Second Team.
 
McNeley posted a 28-2 record in the circle with a 2.39 ERA across 176 innings, making 31 appearances and holding opposing batters to a .221 average. She struck out 173 batters and walked only 27. Her 10 shutouts ranked third in the country, and 28 victories put her in the top three nationally. The sophomore was named the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament after Linfield's NCAA Regional victory to advance to the NCAA Super Regionals. This is McNeley's second straight All-Region X Second Team selection.
 
Hess added power to Linfield's lineup, batting .412 with 54 hits, including eight doubles and 15 home runs. She totaled 55 RBI and registered a .817 slugging percentage. Hess also made 45 starts and contributed 54 putouts in her third season. This marks the second such honor of her career after a second-team selection in 2023.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Linfield remains in contention with a 41-5 overall record and a 25-3 mark in Northwest Conference play. The team hits .405 collectively and has 92 home runs this year, closing in on the program and NCAA DIII record of 103 homers in a single season. The pitching staff allows opponents to bat just .255. Linfield has also outscored opponents 427-132 and held a fielding percentage of .963.
 
The Wildcats now turn their attention to the NCAA Super Regionals, where they face Illinois Wesleyan in a best-of-three tournament to fight for a spot in the NCAA DIII National Championships.