COLUMBUS, Miss. – A total of five members of The W softball squad have been named to the 2025 NCAA Division III Academic All-District Softball team, selected by College Sports Communicators (CSC). Honored from the Owls’ program were Emilee Slade (Hatley, Mississippi), Anna Sandlin (Sulligent, Alabama), Avery Byerley (D’Iberville, Miss.), Kaitlyn Bearley (Columbia, Illinois), and Riley Phillips (Gardendale, Ala.).
The CSC Academic All-District awards recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the diamond and in the classroom.
Slade, a graduate student (MBA) catcher, batted .294 (42-143) and started in 41 of the Owls’ 42 games in 2025. Slade scored a team-leading 30 runs and drove in 15 more. She led MUW in doubles, as well, with 11. Slade was also the most larcenous of The W players, going 12-for-13 in steal attempts.
Sandlin, a senior history major and outfielder, capped her career by batting .291 (37-127), playing (and starting) all 42 games after coming back from a horrific leg injury two years ago. Sandlin had 21 RBI and scored 25 runs. She had four doubles and two home runs.
Byerley, a senior business major and pitcher, amassed a 2.16 ERA in 71.1 innings of work. Byerley had an 8-3 record and a team-best nine complete games to her credit, including three shutouts, in 14 appearances from the circle. Opponents hit just .248 against her, and she registered 27 strikeouts.
Bearley, a senior speech pathology major and outfielder, had a breakout season in 2025 as she hit .323 (30-93). Bearley drove in 16 runs and scored 12, with five doubles. She had a .394 on-base average, to go along with seven sacrifice hits. Bearley was 8-for-11 in steal attempts, as well.
Phillips, a senior kinesiology major and shortstop, finished off her MUW career by hitting .252 (32-127). Among her hits were nine doubles and one homer. Phillips scored 25 times and collected 20 RBI. Phillips walked 16 times and was hit by a pitch a team-leading six times, helping her to a .360 on-base average. Phillips went 6-of-7 in steal tries.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
