SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (August 11, 2025) – The Western New England softball team has seen 11 members from the 2025 squad earn Easton/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American Scholar Athlete honors for their performance inside the classroom during the 2024-2025 academic year, as announced by the NFCA organization this past week.
These honors recognize the academic prowess of softball teams across the Association's membership categories. NCAA Division III led the way with 2,565 student-athletes earning a 3.5 grade-point average or higher for 2024-25. A student-athlete must obtain a 3.50 GPA or higher for the academic year in order to be listed as an Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete. Team GPAs and scholar-athletes are submitted by member head coaches.
The 11 members from the Western New England softball team are the second-most in program history, matching the total from the 2023 season.
Katelyn Bailey,
Ava Barnhart,
Kim Baumann,
Ava Blanchard,
Kelsey Bouchard,
Alex Ferriouolo,
Gracie Hemstock,
Evelyn Picone,
Alyssa Poisson,
Nicolina Salanto, and
Christina Salinas have all been honored for their accomplishments in the classroom. Blachard, Ferriouolo, Picone, and Poisson all earn honors for the second time in their respective careers.
The WNE softball team picked up a 26-17-1 record during the 2025 season and won its second straight conference title after a 1-0 win in eight innings over Nichols College in the Conference of New England championship game. WNE softball reached the NCAA Championships for its ninth time in program history overall.
