New Braunfels, Texas – Makayla Menchue and
Avery Holland headline this year’s awards as the 2026 ASC Softball Player and Pitcher of the Year, announced Tuesday following a vote by the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors.
Menchue started all 40 games for the Tigers this season, playing a key role in leading East Texas Baptist to both the regular-season and conference tournament championships. Offensively, she ranked first in home runs (7) putouts (308) while posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. Menchue is second in RBI (34), second in OPS (1.037), and second in walks (22). She also ranked fourth in double plays turned and led the conference in total chances (309), while finishing among the conference leaders in several additional statistical categories.
Holland earns Pitcher of the Year honors after a standout junior campaign for the Tigers, finishing the season with an 18-1 record. Holland collected four ASC Pitcher of the Week awards while leading the conference in ERA, innings pitched, strikeouts, and wins. She also tossed five shutouts and held opposing hitters to a .200 batting average.
Madelynn Denn was named the ASC Newcomer of the Year after joining the Cru this season. Denn led the team in OPS (1.250) and on-base percentage (.500), while also ranking among the conference’s top five in ERA and saves.
Kinzley Cantu earned Freshman of the Year honors after a breakout season that helped lead the Cowgirls to the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament. Cantu paced the conference in batting average (.475), slugging percentage (.633), doubles (12), and hits (57), while ranking second in runs scored with 38. She also added 15 stolen bases, seventh-most in the conference.
Ava Jolley of Mary Hardin-Baylor was named the 2026 ASC Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year. Head coach Melissa Mojica had this to say about Jolley’s leadership and character, “Ava has consistently demonstrated what it truly means to be a great competitor. Win or lose, she showed humility. Her positive attitude and encouragement uplifted teammates and set a powerful example for others to follow.”
Janae Shirley, Bill Galloway (Associate Head Coach), Maranda Westbrook (Assistant Coach), Guy Shirley (Assistant Coach), and Maddie Melton (Assistant Coach) have been named the 2026 ASC Coaching Staff of the Year after leading East Texas Baptist to a 37-4 overall record and an 11-1 mark in conference play. The Tigers have received national recognition throughout the season, currently ranking first in Region X, fifth nationally in NPI, and sixth in the NFCA Poll. ETBU also placed 11 student-athletes on this year’s all-conference team, with all 11 earning first-team honors.
Individual Awards
Player of the Year: Makayla Menchue, East Texas Baptist
Pitcher of the Year: Avery Holland, East Texas Baptist
Newcomer of the Year: Madelyn Denn, Mary Hardin-Baylor
Freshman of the Year: Kinzley Cantu, Hardin-Simmons
Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year: Ava Jolley, Mary Hardin-Baylor
Coaching Staff of the Year: East Texas Baptist – Janae Shirley, Bill Galloway (Associate Head Coach), Maranda Westbrook (Assistant Coach), Guy Shirley (Assistant Coach), Maddie Melton (Assistant Coach)
First Team
| Piper Morton |
Jr. |
C |
East Texas Baptist |
| Makayla Menchue |
Jr. |
1B |
East Texas Baptist |
| Jordan Iverson |
Sr. |
2B |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
| Emma Boren |
Fr. |
SS |
East Texas Baptist |
| Mallory Pyle 4 |
Sr. |
3B |
East Texas Baptist |
| Kinzley Cantu |
Fr. |
OF |
Hardin-Simmons |
| Ryan Stratman |
Fr. |
OF |
East Texas Baptist |
| Izabella Morales 2 |
Jr. |
OF |
East Texas Baptist |
| Ava Rodriguez 3 |
Jr. |
DP |
East Texas Baptist |
| Siannah Nava |
Fr. |
UT |
Howard Payne |
| Avery Holland 3 |
Jr. |
P |
East Texas Baptist |
| McKenzie Jones |
Jr. |
P |
East Texas Baptist |
| Alexis Kemp |
Fr. |
P |
East Texas Baptist |
| Aleyna St. Jean |
So. |
At-Large (2B) |
East Texas Baptist |
| Alyana Salazar 2 |
So. |
At-Large (INF) |
Howard Payne |
| Madelyn Denn |
So. |
At-Large (P) |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Second Team
| Erin Love |
Sr. |
C |
Hardin-Simmons |
| Ella Salinas 2 |
Sr. |
1B |
Hardin-Simmons |
| Grace Thompson 2 |
Sr. |
2B |
Hardin-Simmons |
| Jazlynn Cantu 3 |
Sr. |
SS |
Hardin-Simmons |
| Bralyn Belk |
Sr. |
3B |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
| Emily Jacobs 3 |
Jr. |
OF |
Hardin-Simmons |
| Ava Perlinger |
Fr. |
OF |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
| Shorey Nguyen 3 |
Jr. |
OF |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
| Ryleigh Mills |
Sr. |
DP |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
| Bailey Miller |
So. |
UT |
Hardin-Simmons |
| Gabby Montanez 2 |
So. |
P |
Hardin-Simmons |
| Akaysia Grogan 2 |
Sr. |
P |
Hardin-Simmons |
| Chloe Booth |
Jr. |
P |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
| Madi Hubbard 3 |
Sr. |
At-Large (3B) |
Hardin-Simmons |
| Alyssa Lusk |
Fr. |
At-Large (OF) |
Hardin-Simmons |
| Katherine Neal |
Fr. |
At-Large (P) |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
2 Two-time All-Conference
3 Three-time All-Conference
4 Four-time All-Conference