NEED TO KNOW:
CCS Player and Rookie of the Year: Anslee Saunchegraw (SS)
All-CCS First Team: Mandi Peretti (OF), Anslee Saunchegraw (SS), Maddi Spieks (2B)
All-CCS Second Team: Valerie Bailey (UTIL)
All-Sportsmanship Team Representative: Rylie Erickson

ATLANTA - After a historic debut season with the Lions, Piedmont freshman shortstop Anslee Saunchegraw has been named the Collegiate Conference of the South Player and Rookie of the Year, as the league announced its softball postseason awards Thursday afternoon.

Joining Saunchegraw on the all-conference listing were three more Lions, as Mandi Peretti and Maddi Spieks each earned first team honors while Valerie Bailey was named to the second team. Senior Rylie Erickson was Piedmont's representative on the All-Sportsmanship Team.

Saunchegraw's superlative awards marks the first in each category for the program since joining the CCS. It is Piedmont's first conference 'Player of the Year' award since Rebekah Stegmayer was USA South Player of the Year in 2022.

Anslee Saunchegraw, CCS Player and Rookie of the Year, All-CCS First Team (SS)

BY THE NUMBERS:
Hits: 56 (1st in CCS; 1st on Team)
Runs: 44 (1st in CCS)
Home Runs: 10 (1st on team; 3rd in CCS)
RBI: 38 (1st on team)
Stolen Bases: 19 (2nd in CCS; 1st on team)
Total Bases: 103 (1st in CCS
In-Season National Recognition: NFCA National Player of the Week (3/10); NFCA Player of the Year Watch List
In-Season CCS Recognition: 4x CCS Rookie of the Week; 1x CCS Player of the Week
Of Note: Saunchegraw emerged as an offensive force in her first collegiate season, leading the team in batting average, runs, doubles, home runs, RBI, stolen bases, slugging percentage and OPS. Her 10 home runs tied a program record for a single season. Her 103 total bases led the team by 33 over the next highest and also topped the conference as well. She was Piedmont's first NFCA National Player of the Week honoree since 2020 and racked up four CCS Rookie of the Week nods along with a CCS Player of the Week nod.
 


 



Mandi Peretti, All-CCS First Team (OF)

BY THE NUMBERS:
Hits: 48 (3rd on team)
Runs: 31 (3rd on team)
Triples: 4 (1st on team)
RBI: 38 (1st on team)
Batting Average: .429 (3rd on team)
Total Bases: 64 (3rd on team)
In-Season CCS Recognition: 1x CCS Player of the Week
Past All-CCS Recognition: All-CCS First Team (2025)
Of Note: Peretti continued her standout work in her sophomore season, earning a second straight All-CCS First Team nod. The outfielder from Cumming, Georgia shifted over to center field for the 2026 season, playing and starting in 37-of-39 games to date. She ranks near the top of the team in numerous statistical categories, and leads the team with four triples on the season.
 

Maddi Spieks, All-CCS First Team (2B)

BY THE NUMBERS:
Hits: 55 (2nd on team; 2nd in CCS)
Runs: 41 (2nd on team)
Doubles: 9 (2nd on team)
Batting Average: .423 (3rd on team)
In-Season CCS Recognition: 1x CCS Player of the Week
Of Note: Spieks ended her standout three-year career with her best season to date, setting the table for Piedmont's offense as the leadoff hitter all season. Spieks ranked second on the team in a number of statistical categories, including hits, runs and doubles. Defensively, Spieks made the move over to second base and was rock solid, with a .955 fielding percentage
 

Valerie Bailey, All-CCS Second Team (Utility)

BY THE NUMBERS:
Hits: 39 (4th on team)
Batting Average: .361 (4th on team)
RBI: 28 (2nd on team)
In-Season CCS Recognition: 1x CCS Player of the Week
Of Note: Bailey stepped into a regular role in her sophomore season and made appearances at multiple positions, mainly first base and catcher. Wherever she played, she was a force at the plate and a run producer, ranking second on the team with 28 RBI. Her outstanding work earned her a CCS Player of the Week award during the season, while she has started and played in all 39 of the team's games so far.
 

 

2026 CCS Softball Superlative Awards

Player of the Year – Anslee Saunchegraw, Piedmont

Pitcher of the Year – Allie Roberts, Huntingdon

Rookie Player of the Year – Anslee Saunchegraw, Piedmont

Rookie Pitcher of the Year – AR Sharp, Belhaven

Coach of the Year – Kevin Griffin, Belhaven

 

 

2026 CCS Softball All-Conference Teams

First Team

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C	Elyanna Rogers	Asbury	Freshman	Dayton, Va.
1B	Kaleigh Steverson	Belhaven	Junior	Canton, Miss.
2B	Maddi Spieks	Piedmont	Junior	Monticello, Ga.
SS	Anslee Saunchegraw	Piedmont	Freshman	Covington, Ga.
3B	Maddie Grace Hubbard	Huntingdon	Senior	South Pittsburg, Tenn.
OF	Kylie Stephens	Huntingdon	Junior	Marianna, Fla.
OF	Catie Zani	Maryville	Sophomore	Kingsport, Tenn.
OF	Mandi Peretti	Piedmont	Sophomore	Cumming, Ga.
DP	Sydney Dickinson	Maryville	Sophomore	Nolensville, Tenn.
UTIL	Taylor Selby	Agnes Scott	Sophomore	Corryton, Tenn.
P	Allie Roberts	Huntingdon	Junior	Auburn, Ala.
P	Macy Funderburk	Belhaven	Junior	West Monroe, La.
At-Large	Moira Tinsley	Asbury	Sophomore	Ogden, Utah

 

Second Team

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C	Maddie Bruner	Belhaven	Junior	Brandon, La.
1B	Paige Dickinson	Maryville	Senior	Nolensville, Tenn.
2B	Jessica Harris	Maryville	Senior	Morristown, Tenn.
SS	Melissa Lopera	Belhaven	Junior	New Orleans, La.
3B	Ellie Williamson	Belhaven	Senior	Jackson, Miss.
OF	Grace Langston	Belhaven	Junior	Niceville, Fla.
OF	Emma Blankenship	Maryville	Senior	Maryville, Tenn.
OF	Reagan Bryan	Belhaven	Senior	Meridian, Miss.
DP	Maryanna Guy	Belhaven	Junior	Brandon, Miss.
UTIL	Valerie Bailey	Piedmont	Sophomore	Cleveland, Ga.
P	Addison Gaines	Huntingdon	Sophomore	Peachtree City, Ga.
P	Sydney Dickinson	Maryville	Sophomore	Nolensville, Tenn.
At-Large	Liberty Gillihan	Belhaven	Junior	McComb, Miss.

 

 

All-Sportsmanship Team

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Taylor Selby	Agnes Scott	Sophomore	Corryton, Tenn.
Katelyn Bolin	Asbury	Junior	Berea, Ky.
Maddie Bruner	Belhaven	Junior	Brandon, Miss.
Tisha Holland	Covenant	Junior	Guyton, Ga.
Aubree Flanagan	Huntingdon	Senior	Fairhope, Ala.
Kayla Helms	LaGrange	Sophomore	Dallas, Ga.
Jenna Sims	Maryville	Junior	Soddy Daisy, Tenn.
Rylie Erickson	Piedmont	Senior	Dawsonville, Ga.
Katelyn McCord	Wesleyan	Senior	Savannah, Ga.