The 2017 season for the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns softball team saw some big things from two players in Aleah Craighton and DJ Sanders.
After the kind of performance they’ve had all season, it should come as no surprise that both were named to the 2017 NFCA Division I All-America First Team. Sanders led in every major statistical category and also had a great season defensively.
When it comes to Craighton, who was named to the second team in 2016, had her third straight season of double digit home runs and 40-plus RBI.
This is the seventh straight season that the Cajuns had multiple All-American selections and the first time having two first team recipients since 1995.
Below is the list of All-Americans as chosen by the National Fast Pitch Association with players from Louisiana schools in BOLD.
First Team
Pos. Player School
Pitcher Kelly Barnhill University of Florida
Pitcher Sara Groenewegen University of Minnesota
Pitcher Danielle O’Toole University of Arizona
Catcher Kendyl Lindaman University of Minnesota
First Base Jessie Harper University of Arizona
Second Base Hannah Flippen University of Utah
Third Base Jessie Warren Florida State University
Shortstop DJ Sanders Louisiana
Outfield Bailey Landry LSU
Outfield Aleah Craighton Louisiana
Outfield Amanda Lorenz University of Florida
Utility/Pitcher Megan Good James Madison University
DP or Utility/Non-Pitcher Sahvanna Jaquish LSU
At Large/Shortstop Meghan Gregg University of Tennessee
At Large/Pitcher Jessica Burroughs Florida State University
At Large/Pitcher Alexis Osorio University of Alabama
At Large Delanie Gourley University of Florida
At Large Nikki Udria University of Oregon
Second Team
Pitcher Megan Betsa University of Michigan
Pitcher Megan Kleist University of Oregon
Pitcher Randi Rupp Texas State University
Catcher Jenavee Peres San Diego State University
First Base Shay Knighten University of Oklahoma
Second Base Caleigh Clifton University of Oklahoma
Third Base Katiyana Mauga University of Arizona
Shortstop Morgan Zerkle Marshall University
Outfield Lea Foerster Michigan State University
Outfield Morgan Klaevemann Florida State University
Outfield Kelly Christner University of Michigan
Utility/Pitcher Sierra Hyland California Polytechnic State
DP or Utility/Non-Pitcher Kendra Lynch University of North Carolina
At Large/Utility/Pitcher Rachel Garcia UCLA
At Large/Pitcher Paige Parker University of Oklahoma
At Large/Shortstop Mo Mercado University of Arizona
At Large/Third Base Lindsey Cargill Baylor University
At Large/Pitcher Emily Watson University of Tulsa
Third Team
Pitcher Allie Walljasper LSU
Pitcher Kaylee Carlson Auburn University
Pitcher McKenna Bull Brigham Young University
Pitcher Jordan Dixon Marshall University
Catcher Chloe Miller University of Wisconsin
First Base Alex Powers Florida State University
Second Base Faith Canfield University of Michigan
Third Base Riley Sartain Texas A&M
Shortstop Lilli Piper Ohio State
Outfield Cortni Emanuel University of Georgia
Outfield Nicole Evans University of Illinois, Champaign
Outfield Danica Mercado University of Oregon
Utility/Pitcher Sydney O’Hara Syracuse University
DP or Utility/Non-Pitcher Vanessa Shippy Oklahoma State University
At Large/Shortstop Emily Lochten Florida Atlantic University
At Large/First Base Kayli Kvistad University of Florida
At Large/Shortstop Katie Reed University of Kentucky
At Large/First Base Jessica Twaddle Murray State University
At Large/Shortstop Ali Aguilar University of Washington
-Clint Domingue