FRISCO, Texas – The Southland Conference announced its annual preseason All-Southland selections on Thursday. The Central Arkansas softball team had three first-team accolades and one second-team honoree. Kaylyn Shepherd, Cylla Hill, and Kayla Beaver all were selected to the first team, while Reagan Sperling earned a second-team nod.
 
Shepherd collected her third first-team preseason accolade in as many seasons at first base. In last year's shortened season, she finished third on the team with a .355 batting average. She finished tied for the team lead in home runs with four. She recorded 23 RBIs, 22 hits, 16 runs scored, five doubles, and one triple. Defensively, she led the team with 199 putouts and added four assists.
 
Hill earned her second preseason first-team selection at third base. She finished last season fifth on the team with a .342 batting average. She finished tied for the team lead with four home runs. Her six doubles led the team. She notched 25 hits, drove in 19 runs, and scored 13 runs. Defensively, Hill collected 26 assists and 22 putouts.
 
Beaver was selected to her first preseason first-team honor as a pitcher. Despite the shortened season she finished fifth in the NCAA with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 10.00 and led the Southland. She tied for 20th in the NCAA and second in the SLC with three shutouts. In her 10 appearances, she produced a 7-1 record, an ERA of 1.07, and produced a team-high 40 strikeouts.
 
Sperling tallied her first preseason accolade as she was voted to the second team as an outfielder. She finished second on the team with a .385 batting average. She posted 25 hits, 19 runs scored, 13 RBIs, four doubles, one home run and one triple. She was a perfect 8-for-8 on stolen bases. Defensively, she collected 28 putouts and three assists.
 
The Bears begin the season in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for the LSU Tiger Classic. UCA opens the tournament against Duke on Friday, Feb. 12, at 2 p.m.
 
From the Coach – Head Coach David Kuhn
"I'm very proud of these four young ladies. They are very deserving of their preseason accolades based on last season's stats, as well as previous seasons. I look forward to seeing them play together as a team."
 
First Team

Name	School	Pos.	Class	Hometown
Kaylyn Shepherd*	Central Arkansas	1B	R-Sr.	Mechanicsville, Va.
Cayla Jones*	Northwestern State	2B	Jr.	Missouri City, Texas
Cylla Hill*	Central Arkansas	3B	R-Sr.	Henryetta, Okla.
Cori McCrary*	McNeese	SS	Sr.	McCarley, Miss.
Ella Manzer*	Southeastern Louisiana	C	Sr.	Alexandria, La.
Samantha Bradley	Abilene Christian	DP	R-Sr.	Azle, Texas
Megan McDonald*	Sam Houston	OF	Sr.	Georgetown, Texas
Madisen Blackford*	Southeastern Louisiana	OF	Sr.	Des Moines, Iowa
Kaylee Lopez*	McNeese	OF	So.	Indian Bayou, La.
Elise Vincent*	Northwestern State	OF	Sr.	Maurice, La.
Linsey Tomlinson*	Abilene Christian	OF	R-Sr.	Huffman, Texas
Kassidy Wilbur*	Stephen F. Austin	P	Jr.	Bridge City, Texas
Kayla Beaver	Central Arkansas	P	R-Fr.	Jackson, Tenn.
E.C. Delafield*	Northwestern State	UT	Jr.	Stonewall, La.

 
Second Team

Name	School	Pos.	Class	Hometown
Shaylon Govan	Stephen F. Austin	1B	So.	Katy, Texas
Bryana Novegil*	Stephen F. Austin	2B	Sr.	Houston, Texas
Brooke Malia*	Sam Houston	2B	Sr.	Houston, Texas
Caitlin Garcia*	Nicholls	3B	Jr.	Spring, Texas
Alex Hedspeth	Stephen F. Austin	SS	Jr.	Lockhart, Texas
Alexis Perry	Northwestern State	C	So.	Wylie, Texas
Bailey Richards	Stephen F. Austin	C	Gr.	Des Moines, Iowa
Caitlyn Brockway	Houston Baptist	DP	So.	Tomball, Texas
Reagan Sperling	Central Arkansas	OF	R-Jr.	Sherwood, Ark.
Alayis Seneca	McNeese	OF	So.	The Woodlands, Texas
Hayley Barbazon	Northwestern State	OF	Sr.	Belle Chasse, La.
Saleen Flores	McNeese	P	So.	Beeville, Texas
MC Comeaux	Southeastern Louisiana	P	Fr.	Port Allen, La.
Sammi Thomas*	Texas A&M-Corpus Christi	UT	So.	Buford, Ga.

*- Automatic Preseason All-Conference selection
 
 
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