4 Linfield athletes make NFCA All-American team

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Four Linfield softball players were honored by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association during the NCAA Division III All-America awards at the pre-tournament banquet on Wednesday.

This is an annual event that takes place prior to the start of the NCAA Championship Finals. Over 600 student-athletes were nominated with only 60 receiving national honors. The Wildcats were one of only two schools that saw four players make it on the list.

For the 2025 season, Linfield’s Claire Seats, Brynn Nelson, Jacey Leyvas and Ashlyn Aven were each named among the best Division III softball players.
 
For the senior outfielder Seats, this is her third career NFCA All-America distinction and second first-team selection. The slugger became the third Linfield player in history to record at least 20 home runs in a single season. After leading the team to a 43-5 season, the Seattle, Wash. native became both Linfield’s and the Division III’s all-time leader in RBIs.

In addition, she set a single-season record for doubles with 24, drove in 77 runs, and hit .469 with a slugging percentage of .994. She’s a major reason why the Wildcats are one of the nation’s highest-scoring offenses.
 
Another senior Nelson picked up her second All-American selection, making the second team this season after being named to the first team last year. She started in all 48 games for the Wildcats where she hit .423, with nine home runs and 54 RBIs.
 
Redlands, Cali. native Leyvas drove in 55 runs, drew 17 walks, hit 15 home runs, and batted .424. This is the first time the third baseman has been recognized by the NFCA, making second-team All-America.

Another second-team NFCA All-America member for Linfield was Aven, who recorded 11 doubles, two triples, and 13 home runs in 47 games.