Brockport, N.Y. — The
Empire 8 Conference announced its 2026 Softball All-Conference selections on May 12, recognizing the conference's top performers following the regular season. The Golden Eagles earned four All-Conference honors, highlighted by freshman Liana DeValder being named Empire 8 Rookie of the Year.
The Golden Eagles placed one student-athlete on the First Team, two on the Second Team, one on the Third Team, and one on the Tomorrow's Leaders Team, underscoring the depth and continued rise of the Brockport softball program. All statistics reflect the 2026 season.
Liana DeValder — Rookie of the Year, First Team All-Conference
DeValder delivered an outstanding debut campaign, appearing in 22 games with 15 starts in the circle. The freshman posted an 11-7 record while leading the team with a 2.37 earned run average and 13 complete games. She surpassed the 100-strikeout mark, recording 119 strikeouts across 109.1 innings pitched.
Her postseason performance secured a selection to the Empire 8 Softball All-Tournament Team after a victory over Elmira College in which she struck out a career-high 12 batters. DeValder also contributed offensively, batting .315 with 28 hits and 26 RBIs.
Caitlyn Dailey — Second Team All-Conference, Tomorrow's Leaders Team
Dailey started all 36 games for the Golden Eagles and led Brockport's regular starters with a .325 batting average. She totaled 37 hits, 27 RBIs, seven doubles, and 10 runs scored during a consistent offensive season.
Defensively, Dailey recorded 69 assists and helped turn four double plays. In addition to her on-field accomplishments, she was selected to the Tomorrow's Leaders Team in recognition of her leadership, academic excellence, and character within the program.
Natalie Faas — Second Team All-Conference
Faas provided a major offensive spark throughout her junior season, leading the team with a .448 batting average and a .538 on-base percentage. In 23 appearances, she collected 30 hits, scored 17 runs, and drove in seven runs.
A dynamic presence on the basepaths, Faas successfully stole five bases in seven attempts. Defensively, she posted a .938 fielding percentage in the outfield while contributing 29 putouts.
Julia Hill — Third Team All-Conference
Hill reached the 100-career-hit milestone during an impressive graduate season in which she led the program with four home runs and 28 RBIs. She batted .314 with 33 hits, including seven doubles and one triple, while pacing the team with 29 runs scored.
Hill also showcased her versatility and athleticism by going a perfect 6-for-6 on stolen base attempts. Starting 32 games, she split time between the infield and outfield while serving as a key contributor in the Brockport lineup.
The Golden Eagles concluded the 2026 campaign with an 18-19 overall record and a 13-9 mark in Empire 8 play, securing the program's first playoff win since 2015 and the squad's first home postseason victory since 2013. Under the leadership of head coach Mary Karen Wheat, the Golden Eagles have enjoyed an increase in wins in each of the last three seasons (8-14-18), including the most single-season wins since 2017 (18).