Pirates Place Three On American All-Conference Teams

IRVING, Texas – East Carolina junior outfielder Kanisha Anderson has been named to the American Conference First Team while redshirt sophomore pitcher Julia Apostolakos was selected to the American Conference Second Team and freshman pitcher Sydney Rainford earned a spot on the league's All-Freshman Team as the conference announced its all-conference and major awards for the 2026 season on Tuesday.

Anderson earns the first team nod after slashing numbers of .373/.503/.437 at the plate and tallying 69 hits in 55 games played for the Pirates. Her team-high 69 hits rank second in the American and she has also achieved season career-highs in home runs with two and RBI with 16 as she earned American Conference Honorable Mention twice this year. Earlier this season, Anderson had a 19-game hitting streak from Mar. 8 to Apr. 14 and led the team with 21 multi-hit games. Her first team selection marks the second straight year that the Pirates have landed a player on the American Conference First Team and she is just the third Pirate to earn American Conference First Honors in ECU's 12 years in the league.

Apostolakos has had a stellar season in the circle after joining the Pirates in the offseason, recording a 2.94 ERA and tossing 118 strikeouts in 173.2 innings pitched and recorded 17 wins, including three shutouts and three saves. She earned American Conference Pitcher of the Week on Mar. 17 after allowing just four hits and one run in 7.2 innings while throwing five strikeouts in ECU's road series win over Florida Atlantic. The Beachwood, N.J. native earned honorable mention from the league twice this year including after throwing 20.0 innings across three appearances, striking out 15 batters and earning a complete-game victory against South Florida.

Rainford's All-Freshman Team selection marks the fifth straight season in as many years under head coach Shane Winkler that the Pirates have had a player on the first-year team. The Lake Village, Ind. native posted an ERA of 3.51 and threw 61 strikeouts in 121.2 innings for seven wins, including three shutouts and two saves. She earned American Conference Pitcher of the Week on Mar. 9 after a pair of complete-game shutouts in wins against Wichita State, allowing just four total hits, walked four, and struck out three. Rainford allowed one hit, two walks with one strikeout in the five-inning win over the Shockers on Saturday, followed by a seven-inning win on Sunday, yielding three hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

2026 American Conference Softball Regular-Season Awards

Player of the Year
Kinzey Woody, Wichita State

Pitcher of the Year
Anne Long, South Florida*

Defensive Player of the Year
Kathy Garcia-Soto, South Florida*

Freshman of the Year
Kinzey Woody, Wichita State*

Coaching Staff of the Year
Wichita State

All-Conference First Team
P – Autumn Courtney, Florida Atlantic
P – Anne Long, South Florida*
P – Ryley Nihart, Wichita State
C – Elizabeth Moffitt, North Texas
1B – Claira Skaggs, Tulsa
2B – Sabrina Wick, UTSA
SS – Alex Wilkes, South Florida*
3B – Kinzey Wood, Wichita State*
OF – Kanisha Anderson, East Carolina
OF – Kylie Hammonds, Florida Atlantic
OF – Madison Conley, North Texas
DP/U/P – Mya Clark, Memphis*
DP/U/Non-P – Ausha Moore, Wichita State

All-Conference Second Team
P – Julia Apostolakos, East Carolina
P – Arlette Hernandez, UTSA
C – Audrey Wilson, Charlotte
1B – Trinity Allen, Wichita State
2B – Kammie Smith, Wichita State
SS – Hannah Dorsett, UAB
3B – Jenna Lord, Charlotte
OF – Ashlyn Shirah, UAB
OF – Alexa Galligani, South Florida
OF – Samantha Mundine, UTSA
DP/U/Non-P – Faith Brown, Memphis

All-Freshman Team
P – Sydney Rainford, East Carolina
OF – Toryn Fulton, South Florida
P – Arlette Hernandez, UTSA
C – Brookelynn Meador, UTSA
2B – Kammie Smith, Wichita State
3B – Kinzey Woody, Wichita State*

* denotes unanimous selection

Players Mentioned

Kanisha Anderson

Julia Apostolakos

Sydney Rainford

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