WATERVILLE, Maine – The 2026 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Softball postseason awards have been released. Major awards include Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Senior Scholar Athlete, and Coaching Staff of the Year. First Team and Second Team All-Conference selections were also revealed, as voted on by the conference’s head coaches.
Husson University headlines the major awards, claiming four of the five 2026 softball honors as junior
Camryn King (Corinna, Maine) was named North Atlantic Conference Player of the Year,
Ana Lang (Searsport, Maine) earned Pitcher of the Year,
Sophia Lynch (Ellsworth, Maine) claimed Rookie of the Year honors, and senior
Morgan Tainter (Gilman, Conn.) was selected as the 2026 NAC Softball Senior Scholar Athlete. Rounding out the major awards was the coaching staff from
Thomas College, led by Jennifer Plourde, which earned Coaching Staff of the Year recognition.
Each season, the NAC names a Sportsmanship Team, with one honoree per institution nominated by their head coach. This recognition is awarded to individuals who demonstrate exceptional sportsmanship and positively impact the culture of track & field with integrity beyond the sport’s requirements. The nine NAC Sportsmanship Team honorees are listed below.
Player of the Year – Camryn King, Husson University
King has put together one of the most well-rounded seasons in Husson University softball history, showcasing a dynamic combination of power and speed while excelling defensively in center field. During the regular season, King led the Eagles with a .445 batting average, ranking third in the NAC, while also posting a team-best .551 on-base percentage, .736 slugging percentage, and 1.287 OPS. She totaled 13 doubles, a co-conference-high five triples, and three home runs, while driving in 33 runs and scoring a conference-best 47 runs.
King also set the Husson single-season record for stolen bases, going 47-for-50 on stolen-base attempts, while adding 22 walks and five hit-by-pitches. She earned NAC Player of the Week honors twice during the season.
In conference play alone, King led the NAC in batting average (.596), on-base percentage (.661), OPS (1.704), runs scored (27), RBIs (24), and stolen bases (30), while tying for first in triples (3). She also ranked second in conference play in hits (28) and slugging percentage (1.043).
Defensively, King posted a .957 fielding percentage, committing just two errors across 39 games. She recorded 47 total chances, including 44 putouts and one assist in center field.
During the 2026 NAC Softball Tournament, King went 5-for-9 at the plate with five runs scored, three RBIs, one home run, one walk, and two stolen bases in as many attempts. In the championship game, she also established a new Husson single-season record for runs scored with 50. King currently ranks tied for eighth nationally in NCAA Division III in stolen bases.
Pitcher of the Year – Ana Lang, Husson University
Lang has put together one of the most dominant pitching seasons in both the nation and Husson University softball history. She earned her second NAC Pitcher of the Year honor after previously being named Co-Pitcher of the Year and Rookie of the Year in 2024.
In the regular season, Lang made 27 appearances and 21 starts during her junior campaign, posting a 0.63 ERA that ranked third nationally entering the final week of the season. Over 133.1 innings pitched, she struck out a Division III-leading 234 batters while recording 16 complete games and seven shutouts. Heading into the postseason, Lang owned a 20-3 record and a 0.71 WHIP, while opponents hit just .139 against her and managed only 13 extra-base hits all season.
The junior right-hander also totaled four saves and recorded 11 games with 10 or more strikeouts, including four outings with at least 13 strikeouts. She set a career high with 17 strikeouts on April 25 against SUNY Cobleskill. Lang earned NAC Pitcher of the Week honors five times and MCBSA Pitcher of the Week recognition four times this season, in addition to being selected as the Division III Wilson/NFCA National Pitcher of the Week once. During the regular season, Lang established Husson single-season and career records for saves.
During the NAC Softball Championship, Lang surpassed the program’s single-season records for both wins (21) and strikeouts (259). She was named Tournament MVP after totaling 25 strikeouts while facing 62 batters and allowing just four hits, three walks, and three earned runs across her appearances.
Entering the NCAA Regional Tournament, Lang owns a 0.74 ERA, ranking third in NCAA Division III. She also ranks second nationally in hits allowed per seven innings (3.24), first in strikeouts, and among the nation’s top five in WHIP.
Rookie of the Year – Sophia Lynch, Husson University
Lynch emerged as a key contributor after taking over as the primary second baseman for Husson University. A two-time NAC Rookie of the Week selection, Lynch posted a .379 batting average during the regular season, including an impressive .500 mark in conference play.
The freshman infielder recorded five doubles and a team second-best four home runs while driving in 16 runs and scoring 19 herself. She also compiled a .488 on-base percentage, .636 slugging percentage, and 1.124 OPS. At the plate, Lynch demonstrated strong discipline, drawing 14 walks compared to just seven strikeouts, while also converting 8-of-11 stolen-base attempts.
In NAC play, Lynch ranked third in batting average (.500), first in slugging percentage (1.077), second in OPS (1.629) and home runs (4), and fifth in on-base percentage (.552).
During the postseason, Lynch went 4-for-10 at the plate with two runs scored, one RBI, and one double.
Senior Scholar Athlete – Morgan Tainter, Husson University
Morgan Tainter has distinguished herself as one of the premier student-athletes at Husson University, exemplifying excellence in the classroom, on the field, and within the community. A Criminal Justice major pursuing both her bachelor’s degree and a master’s in Criminal Justice Administration, Tainter has achieved an outstanding 3.87 GPA while consistently earning recognition on the President’s List and as a member of the Alpha Phi Sigma National Honor Society.
A leader for the Husson softball program, Tainter has made a lasting impact as a team captain during the 2025–26 season, while also serving as the team’s representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Her commitment to academic and athletic excellence is further reflected in her multiple selections to the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) All-Academic Team from 2022–2025, as well as being honored with the 2026 Softball Eagle Award. Beyond athletics and academics, Tainter has demonstrated a strong dedication to her field of study through her involvement in Husson’s Cold Case Initiative. Selected to collaborate with the Maine State Police and the Maine Attorney General’s Office, she worked alongside a small group of students to review cold cases, analyze evidence, and contribute to investigative strategies. This experience highlights her professionalism, attention to detail, and ability to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings.
Tainter has also developed valuable leadership and communication skills through her professional experiences, including her ongoing role as a senior staff member at The Catching Camp and her work as a front-of-house manager. In these positions, she has demonstrated a strong ability to mentor others, manage responsibilities, and create positive environments for both customers and young athletes. On the field, Tainter has been a part of three NAC titles and three NCAA regional appearances, while helping the Eagles make the NCAA Regional title game in 2024.
She has compiled a .344 career batting average across 84 games played, including 69 starts. Tainter has recorded 13 doubles, two triples, and six home runs while driving in 66 runs and scoring 46 times, in addition to drawing 13 walks.
With the Eagles set to host NCAA Regionals this week, Tainter will continue to add to her career totals as Husson University begins its NCAA postseason run.
Coaching Staff of the Year – Thomas College
The 2026 NAC Softball Coaching Staff of the Year honors go to Thomas College, led by fourth-year head coach Jennifer Plourde. She is joined by assistant coaches Kirsten Pelletier, Gavin Kane, and Bailey Dunphy. Plourde and her staff guided the Terriers to yet another NAC Tournament appearance, reaching the postseason in each of her four seasons at the helm of the program. Thomas finished the year with a 21-20 overall record, including a 12-4 mark in conference play. The Terriers secured the No. 2 seed in the 2026 NAC Tournament and finished as tournament runner-up.
Major Awards
Player of the Year: Camyrn King, Husson University
Pitcher of the Year: Ana Lang, Husson University
Rookie of the Year: Sophia Lynch, Husson University
Senior Scholar Athlete: Morgan Tainter, Husson University
Coaching Staff of the Year: Thomas College
First Team All-Conference
C – Morgan Tainter, Husson University
1B – Gracelyn Walsh, UMaine-Presque Isle
2B – Sophia Lynch, Husson University
3B – Maddie Pike, UMaine-Farmington
SS – Lydia Rice, Husson University
OF – Camryn King, Husson University
OF – Aliyah Neeser, SUNY Cobleskill
OF – Avery Prievo, SUNY Cobleskill
OF – Jessica Dow, UMaine-Farmington
UTL/P – Megan Oberholzer, Thomas College
DP or UT/Non-P – Kristie Zator, VTSU Johnson
DP or UT/Non-P – Sammy Fausti, SUNY Cobleskill
P – Ana Lang, Husson University
P – Lillian Noyes, Thomas College
P – Sierra Yates, Husson University
Second Team All-Conference
Jetta Shook, Husson University
Gabriella Wendelken, SUNY Cobleskill
Allie Casavant, Husson University
Leah St. John, Lesley University
Angelina Dickel, SUNY Delhi
Adrienne Neff, SUNY Delhi
Zoe Stewart, UMaine-Presque Isle
Emma DeBoer, UMaine-Farmington
Abby Farone, Thomas College
Kylie Rattigan, SUNY Cobleskill
Morgan Curtis, Husson University
Stephanie Huckabee, SUNY Delhi
Maddy Morris, Thomas College
Sportsmanship Team
Samantha Bargren, SUNY Cobleskill
Alyssa Gerrish, VTSU Lyndon
Keira Greene, UMaine-Presque Isle
Jazmin Johnson, Husson University
Lauren Martin, Lesley University
Samantha Martin, SUNY Delhi
Emily Rock, Thomas College
Nikki Sweet, VTSU Johnson
Angelina Ventullo, UMaine-Farmington