Softball Receives Numerous Red River All-Conference Honors

WACO, TEXAS (May 3, 2024) - The No. 1-ranked Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) softball team garnered multiple Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) All-Conference awards. Seven players and Head Coach Bruce Lenington were among the recipients. 

2024 RRAC Softball All-Conference Team

The Saints are ranked first in the NAIA with a 47-1 overall record. They finished the regular season with a perfect 24-0 mark in RRAC play. The squad boasts Pitcher of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Coach of the Year, six on the First Team, two on the Second Team and one Champions of Character representative.

Cassandra Valdez was named Pitcher of the Year and made the First Team for her pitching performances and Second Team for her play at third base. Ava Hernandez was picked as Newcomer of the Year and she also made First Team as a pitcher and Second Team for her defensive play in the outfield. Bruce Lenington earned Coach of the Year and has an overall record of 181-54 as the leader of the Saints. The other First Team members include Grace Ross, Kayla Dreese, Madison Garza and Natalie Rodriguez. Peyton Farris was voted as a Champions of Character member by the team. 

Senior Valdez leads the NAIA in wins (21), complete games (16), shutouts (9), strikeouts (213), WHIP (.57) and ERA (0.43). Valdez is a repeat First Team member and has won Pitcher of the Year for three straight seasons.

Hernandez had a memorable freshman season. She has a 1.12 ERA and 97 strikeouts. She also plays in the outfield and is batting .3654 with an on-base percentage of .398.

Ross joined the Saints this season as a catcher. She is hitting .361 at the plate and has 209 putouts defensively. 

Dreese also made the First Team in 2022. She is in her sixth season with OLLU and leads the team with a .420 batting average. She is second on the squad behind Valdez with 27 stolen bases. 

Garza is in her senior season and is batting over. 400 with a .595 slugging percentage. She was named to the Second Team for a second consecutive season.

Rodriguez transferred to OLLU from Texas A&M University-Kingsville this year. She has the most at-bats (128) on the team and has amassed 72 total bases.

Farris also joined the program this season. She is a freshman from El Paso, Texas, and attended Pebble Hills High School. She has pitched 2.1 innings and hasn't allowed a run. 

The Saints start play at the RRAC Postseason Tournament tomorrow as the No. 1 seed.