Alice Lloyd’s Rife Headlines 2026 CAC Softball All-Conference Team as Player of the Year; Baker, Newport and Justice also honored

Lawrenceville, GA: Alice Lloyd College (Kentucky) sophomore multipurpose player Arin Rife has been named the 2026 Continental Athletic Conference Softball Player of the Year to lead the all-conference teams, announced before Wednesday's start of the postseason championship tournament.

Other specialty award winners were Florida National University senior Brunella Beteta, as Pitcher of the Year; Carolina University (North Carolina) junior Nathaly Ochoa, as Newcomer of the Year; and Georgia Gwinnett College's Tatum Helsom, as Freshman of the Year.

GGC's Kat Ihlenburg was recognized as Coach of the Year.

Rife leads the Lady Eagles as a player and pitcher. She posted a team-high .396 batting average, four home runs and 46 runs batted in. In the pitching circle, Rife has a 15-6 record, 1.91 earned run average and 152 strikeouts.

Beteta has a 11-8 mark and 1.81 ERA across 21 appearances. She has tossed three shutouts and recorded one save. Beteta has posted 72 strikeouts this season.

Ochoa is hitting at a .483 clip and is 32-of-35 in stolen base attempts for the Bruins. She has scored 58 runs and collected three triples.

Helsom won 10 games, with five shutouts, and had two saves in 31 appearances during her inaugural season with the Grizzlies. She leads the team with 83 strikeouts.

Ihlenburg has led GGC (26-22) to the top seed in this week's CAC Softball Championship and the team has received votes in each national NAIA poll this season. She recorded her 500th coaching victory during the 2026 season.

Alice Lloyd also saw infielder Brooke Baker and outfielder Mackinzie Newport named to the First Team list. The duo helped the Lady Eagles set a school-record 34-12 mark this year. In addition, pitcher Kinna Justice, who has had an excellent season of her own on the mound, was named as the Champion of Character recipient

The five-team 2026 CAC Softball Championship tournament is scheduled to begin on Wednesday at Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

2026 Continental Athletic Conference Softball All-Conference Team

Player of the Year: Arin Rife, Alice Lloyd College

Pitcher of the Year: Brunella Beteta, Florida National University

Newcomer of the Year: Nathaly Ochoa, Carolina University

Freshman of the Year: Tatum Helsom, Georgia Gwinnett College

Coach of the Year: Kat Ihlenburg, Georgia Gwinnett College

First Team

Pitcher – Arin Rife, Alice Lloyd College

Pitcher – Brunella Beteta, Florida National University

Pitcher – Kailyn Berry, Georgia Gwinnett College

Catcher – Alyssa Julien, Florida National University

Infielder – Brooke Baker, Alice Lloyd College

Infielder – Savannah Jenkins, Georgia Gwinnett College

Infielder – Sara Roussel, Georgia Gwinnett College

Infielder – Skye Gomez, Hesston College

Infielder – Rachel Varela, Westcliff University                     

Outfielder – Mackinzie Newport, Alice Lloyd College

Outfielder – Nathaly Ochoa, Carolina University

Outfielder – Casey Beaver, Georgia Gwinnett College

Outfielder – Alyssa Patlan, Westcliff University

Designated Player – Emma-Lea Cabral, Carolina University

Utility – Gianna Hall, Florida National University

At-Large – Sophia White, Florida National University

At-Large – Abrianna Herrera, Haskell Indian Nations University

At-Large – Sara Ellerton, Westcliff University

Honorable Mention Team

Pitcher – Tatum Helsom, Georgia Gwinnett College

Catcher – Bianca Bartow, Florida National University

Catcher – Grace Greenwood, Haskell Indian Nations University

Catcher – Chloe Merjil, Hesston College

Infielder – Stacie Sanders, Carolina University

Infielder – Annissa Quinonez, Florida National University

Infielder – Morgan McQuagge, Georgia Gwinnett College

Infielder – Chasley Roberts, Haskell Indian Nations University

Infielder – Mia Manzo, Hesston College

Designated Player – Molly Kemp, Georgia Gwinnett College

Designated Player – Madison Mendez, Westcliff University

Utility – Kaleigh Laidlaw, Fisher College

Utility – Jasmyn Lara, Westcliff University

Champion of Character

Kinna Justice, Alice Lloyd College

Chloe Herbster, Carolina University

Ava Baronick, Florida National University

Bailey Bowen, Georgia Gwinnett College

Rachel Varela, Westcliff University

*Article Courtesy of the Continental Athletic Conference