IRVINE—The
Biola Eagles, who won their first full season Pacific West Conference softball championship, also won the all-conference recognition honors with two special awards and nine all-league members.
The All-PacWest teams were announced on the eve of the conference tournament, which begins on Wednesday at 2 p.m. with #4 seed
Dominican facing #1
Biola, followed by the 5 p.m. contest between #2 seed and host
Concordia and #3 seed
Azusa Pacific.
Biola’s Kristin Halte is the Coach of the Year. In just her fourth season at the helm, Halte led her team to a 37-15 overall mark and a 29-7 record in the PacWest, clinching the regular season title early and taking the conference by four games. Halte, a longtime assistant coach at Biola and also a former player for the Eagles, led the program to its most wins (37) in Biola’s NCAA era.
Biola also has the Freshman of the Year in
Kendall Nakano. The rookie first baseman hit a robust .371 with 14 doubles and 14 home runs. Her 54 RBI ranks third in the conference and her .706 slugging percentage is also third. The Norwalk, Calif. native had two of those home runs and seven runs batted in during a key April win over defending champion Concordia.
Concordia can boast of the Newcomer of the Year,
Kayla Rodgers. The graduate transfer from Grand Canyon University hit .403 with 11 doubles and seven home runs and also knocked home 36 Golden Eagle baserunners. The First Team All-PacWest outfielder also showed speed on the base paths with 19 stolen bases. The Golden Eagles have won the last five Newcomer of the Year awards, and they have captured six since the award began in 2008
Fellow PacWest newcomer is
Jessup’s Maddy Ybarra, the PacWest Player of the Year. First-year NCAA member Jessup featured the left-handed hitting infielder/outfielder that was all over the PacWest stat pages. Ybarra hit .414, had 12 home runs, 62 RBI and scored 60 runs. The runs were tops in the league and RBI second, and additionally the speedster led the PacWest in stolen bases with 45, almost double of the next closest player on the list.
Dominican’s Taylor Rodriguez is the Pitcher of the Year, stepping into the role as the Penguins ace this spring. Rodriguez put together an 18-5 record with a 1.44 ERA, giving up just 120 hits in 135.2 innings of work. She had nine complete game shutouts on the season, including five over the last month of the season. Additionally, she hit .283 at the plate with seven home runs and 28 RBI.
The Defensive Player of the Year is shared by players from two schools.
Dominican’s Tiare Guerrero led the conference in fielding percentage for a shortstop at .973 and she had 100 assists on the season. The junior also hit .331 at the plate.
Hawai`i Hilo’s Lexie Tilton covered a lot of ground in centerfield for the Vulcans and played the entire season without an error. She also had four assists and hit .331.
Ybarra, Rodgers and Rodriguez were also all First Team All-PacWest selections.
First Team catcher
Tuifao Larchelle of
Chaminade was named to an All-PacWest team for the third time, as was her Silversword teammate
Taryn Fujioka at shortstop.
Azusa Pacific’s Caitlin Decanio was selected by the coaches for the fourth time, this time at a First Team Designated Player.
| 2025 ALL-PACWEST SOFTBALL AWARDS |
| Player of the Year |
Maddy Ybarra |
Jessup |
| Pitcher of the Year |
Taylor Rodriguez |
Dominican |
| Co-Defensive Player of the Year |
Tiare Guerrero |
Dominican |
| Co-Defensive Player of the Year |
Lexie Tilton |
Hawai`i Hilo |
| Newcomer of the Year |
Kayla Rodgers |
Concordia |
| Freshman of the Year |
Kendall Nakano |
Biola |
| Coach of the Year |
Kristin Halte |
Biola |
*Previous All-PacWest selection
| 2025 ALL-PACWEST SOFTBALL TEAM |
| Name |
School |
Pos. |
Class |
B/T |
Hometown/Previous School |
| FIRST TEAM |
| Tuifao Larchelle** |
Chaminade |
C |
Sr. |
R/R |
Ewa Beach, Oahu / Kapolei HS |
| Sarah Giles |
Jessup |
1B |
Sr. |
R/R |
Hayward, Calif. / College of San Mateo |
| Alexa Medley* |
Biola |
2B |
So. |
L/R |
Grants Pass, Ore./Grants Pass HS |
| Sierra Sandoval |
Azusa Pacific |
3B |
Jr. |
R/R |
San Pedro, Calif. / San Pedro HS |
| Jayda Favela* |
Hawai`i Hilo |
SS |
Jr. |
L/R |
Ewa Beach, Oahu / Campbell HS |
| Jackie Ibarra |
Biola |
OF |
So. |
L/L |
Tempe, Ariz. / Corona Del Sol HS |
| Kayla Rodgers |
Concordia |
OF |
Gr. |
L/R |
Chino, Calif. / Grand Canyon Univ. |
| Madisyn Leffle |
Jessup |
OF |
Gr. |
L/R |
Pittsburg, Calif. / Northwest Univ. |
| DJ Symons |
Biola |
P |
Jr. |
L/L |
Seattle, Wash. / Roosevelt HS |
| Taylor Rodriguez |
Dominican |
P |
Jr. |
R/R |
Livermore, Calif. / Livermore HS |
| Caitlin Decanio*** |
Azusa Pacific |
DP |
Sr. |
R/R |
Clovis, Calif. / Clovis HS |
| Maddy Ybarra |
Jessup |
UT |
Jr. |
L/R |
Roseville, Calif. / CS Dominguez Hills |
| SECOND TEAM |
| Bridgette Trujillo |
Biola |
C |
Sr. |
R/R |
Ontario, Calif. / Ontario Christian |
| Kendall Nakano |
Biola |
1B |
Fr. |
R/R |
Norwalk, Calif. / Norwalk HS |
| Sommer Quinones* |
Azusa Pacific |
2B |
Sr. |
L/R |
West Covina, Calif. / Bishop Amat |
| Kate Tobola |
Dominican |
3B |
Jr. |
R/R |
Suisun City, Calif. / Angelo Rodriguez HS |
| Taryn Hirano |
Hawai`i Pacific |
SS |
Fr. |
R/R |
Mililani, Oahu / Mililani HS |
| Jessica Im* |
Concordia |
OF |
So. |
L/R |
Antioch, Calif. / Heritage HS |
| Bella Fraser* |
Azusa Pacific |
OF |
Jr. |
R/R |
Orange, Calif./Canyon HS |
| Lexie Tilton* |
Hawai`i Hilo |
OF |
Jr. |
R/R |
Mililani, Oahu / Iolani School |
| Brianna Williams |
Vanguard |
P |
Sr. |
R/R |
Chandler, Ariz. / Chandler HS |
| Raquel Reyes |
Biola |
P |
Gr. |
R/R |
Placentia, Calif. / Columbia Univ. |
| Raquel Reyes |
Biola |
DP |
Gr. |
R/R |
Placentia, Calif. / Columbia Univ. |
| Julia Doan |
Azusa Pacific |
UT |
So. |
L/R |
San Clemente,Calif. / Cypress Col. |
| THIRD TEAM |
| Taylor Eby |
Dominican |
C |
Sr. |
L/R |
Placerville, Calif. / Holy Names U. |
| Victoria Macias |
Hawai`i Hilo |
1B |
So. |
R/R |
Riverside, Calif. / Centennial HS |
| Kennadie Tsue |
Biola |
3B |
So. |
R/R |
Pearl City, Oahu / Iolani HS |
| Emma Medina |
Menlo |
3B |
Jr. |
L/R |
Patterson, Calif. / Patterson HS |
| Taryn Fujioka** |
Chaminade |
SS |
Sr. |
L/R |
Aiea, Oahu / Pearl City HS |
| Tiare Guerrero |
Dominican |
SS |
Jr. |
L/R |
Rohnert Park, Calif. / Holy Names |
| Makayla Jordan |
Biola |
OF |
Gr. |
R/R |
Murietta, Calif. / California Baptist |
| Alexis Oshiro |
Hawai`i Pacific |
OF |
Jr. |
R/R |
Honolulu, Oahu / Kaiser HS |
| Mikala Huskey |
Biola |
OF |
So. |
L/R |
Cerritos, Calif. / Southern Utah |
| Melissa Garcia |
Dominican |
OF |
Sr. |
L/R |
San Jose, Calif. / Branham HS |
| Madison Rabe |
Hawai`i Hilo |
P |
Jr. |
R/R |
Waipio, Hawai`i / Georgian Court |
| Kacie Gossett |
Concordia |
P |
Fr. |
R/R |
Claremont, Calif. / Upland HS |
| Jayden Nishi |
Concordia |
P |
So. |
L/L |
Torrance, Calif. / South Torrance |
| Audrey Robles |
Concordia |
P |
So. |
R/R |
Yorba Linda, Calif. / Esperanza HS |