Raiders, Owls Earn NFCA Regional Honors
Four Tech standouts earned Region IV honors, while SOU’s coaching staff and four Raiders were also recognized after strong 2026 softball seasons.
SOU softball head coach Jessica Pistole and her staff were named the NFCA NAIA Region III Staff of the Year after leading the Raiders to a 45-15 season and their eighth World Series berth in nine years. Photo by SOU Sports Information.
SOUTHERN OREGON – Southern Oregon University and Oregon Tech softball both added postseason recognition this week, with eight regional players and SOU’s coaching staff earning honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
The NFCA announced its NAIA all-region selections, recognizing student-athletes from six regions. NFCA-member head coaches nominate and vote for the honorees in their respective regions.
For Southern Oregon, the honors followed another national-level season. The Raiders finished 45-15, reached the NAIA Softball World Series for the eighth time in nine years, won the Cascade Conference Tournament championship and spent part of the season ranked No. 1 in the NAIA.
SOU’s staff was named the NAIA Region III Staff of the Year. The group is led by 11th-year head coach Jessica Pistole and includes assistants Cheyenne Bricker, Harlee Crown, Bill Rowe, Hannah Clavelle and Kim Budd. The same staff was voted the top staff in the nation in 2025.
Four Raiders were also named to the Region III all-region teams. Sophomore pitcher Ayla Davies, senior second baseman Vanessa Lang and redshirt-freshman right fielder Kalea Thomas were selected to the first team. Junior first baseman and pitcher Lexi Ramirez earned second-team honors.
SOU pitcher Ayla Davies earned NFCA All-Region III first-team honors after finishing her sophomore season with a 27-9 record, 1.96 ERA and 192 strikeouts. Photo by SOU Sports Information.
Davies, a 2025 All-American, went 27-9 with a 1.96 ERA in her second season. She threw 28 complete games, worked 224 2/3 innings and finished with 192 strikeouts.
Lang hit .379, scored a team-high 52 runs, added 16 extra-base hits and drove in 38 runs in her second and final season with SOU.
Thomas closed the spring as one of the Raiders’ hottest hitters, finishing with a .413 batting average after ending the season on an 18-game hitting streak. She had 85 hits, scored 50 runs, drove in 24 and stole 27 bases.
Ramirez made an impact both in the circle and at the plate in her first season with the Raiders. As a pitcher, she went 12-5 with a 2.71 ERA over 118 2/3 innings. Offensively, she hit .336 with 14 extra-base hits and 34 RBIs. She also earned a Cascade Conference Gold Glove award.
Oregon Tech catcher Sawyer Stenson celebrates after reaching base during the 2026 season. Stenson earned NFCA All-Region IV second-team honors after hitting .363 with four home runs, 14 doubles and 33 RBIs. Photo by OIT Sports Information.
Oregon Tech also placed four players on the NFCA All-Region IV teams.
Junior pitcher Kristine Schmidt and senior second baseman Nita Cook were named to the first team. Senior catcher Sawyer Stenson and senior third baseman Addison Kachnik earned second-team honors.
Schmidt was named Cascade Conference Newcomer of the Year after going 19-4 with a 1.66 ERA. She led Oregon Tech with six shutouts, three saves and 159 strikeouts.
Cook earned all-region recognition for the third straight season after leading the Owls with a .438 batting average and 27 stolen bases. She finished her Oregon Tech career ranked among the top five in program history in eight statistical categories.
Stenson had a breakout senior season, hitting .363 with four home runs, 14 doubles and 33 RBIs.
Kachnik capped her four-year Oregon Tech career with one of her strongest seasons, hitting .394 with eight home runs, 15 doubles and a team-best 53 RBIs.
All honorees move forward for consideration for the NFCA NAIA All-America teams, which are scheduled to be announced June 4.
Cover image: Oregon Tech pitcher Kristine Schmidt delivers during the 2026 season. Schmidt earned NFCA All-Region IV first-team honors after going 19-4 with a 1.66 ERA, six shutouts, three saves and 159 strikeouts. Photo by OIT Sports Information.
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