CHARLOTTE, NC - The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) announces its 2023 Softball All-Conference teams and superlatives as voted by the CIAA Softball Coaches Association and Sports Information Directors Association. This year's team is led by CIAA Player of the Year Lindsey George of Bowie State University and CIAA Pitcher of the Year Jaelyn Jackson from Claflin University. The 2022-23 All-CIAA Softball Team was determined by the conference’s head coaches and Sports Information Directors.
Sophomore Lindsey George has been the top player for Bowie State this season, in the circle and hitting. The two-way player has an ERA of 3.86 (8th in CIAA) and a 10-5 overall record. Her 10 wins are the most in the CIAA. She has appeared in 23 games and started 17 in the circle for BSU. George has combined for 90 strikeouts (2nd in CIAA), 18 batters struck out looking (2nd in CIAA) and one shutout victory in 102.0 innings of work (CIAA-high). In the CIAA, George is third for runs scored (35), fifth in runs batted in (29), fourth in hits (40), fourth in home runs (6), seventh in "at-bats" (109). George is the teams best hitter, averaging .381 with 29 RBI.
Senior Jaelyn Jackson had a batting average of .402 which included 43 hits, nine doubles, eight triples and one homerun. Jackson also accounted for 34 RBI, 10 stolen bases and 49 runs. In terms of pitching, Jackson had an ERA of 2.41, recorded a record of 14 wins and just five losses, striking out 158 along the way. Jackson was a 2023 CIAA Pre-Season Designated Player, 2023 two-time Pitcher of the Week and also was named to the 2022 All-CIAA First Team as a Designated Player.
Winston-Salem State's Aniyah Jackson claimed the 2023 CIAA Rookie of the Year honors. The West End, NC native batted .325 with six doubles, two triples, and five home runs along with 26 RBIs. She is currently tied for fifth in CIAA in home runs. She has 13 stolen bases this season. Jackson also has 52 putouts so far this season. Aniyah earned CIAA Rookie of the Week honors, for week six after she went 3-for-3 with one triple and five RBIs. In game two, she went 1-for-4 with a triple, RBI and three runs scored against St. Augustine’s.
Coach Tiffany Massey has had a great first season as interim coach already surpassing the record from the previous season. They currently sit at 18-10 and 11-3 CIAA. She has coached multiple CIAA weekly honors, including the week eight Rookie of the Week, week five Offensive Player and Pitcher of the Week, and the week four Defensive Player of the Week. Her defense is currently second in fielding. She has also coached the leader in triples, slugging percentage, and on-base + slugging percentage. She also has coached the second-leader in the CIAA in doubles.
Winston-Salem State led the conference with nine All-CIAA selections followed by Bowie State and Claflin with eight as well as Virginia State, Lincoln (Pa.), Elizabeth City State with three each and Shaw with one.
For more information about the CIAA, visit www.theciaa.com or follow the conference on social media via Facebook (The CIAA), Twitter (@CIAAForLife), and Instagram (@CIAASports).
2023 ALL-CIAA SOFTBALL FIRST TEAM
Pitcher Lindsey George, Bowie State
Catcher Taisha Bratton, Winston-Salem State
First Base Brittany Brewer, Bowie State
Second Base Aniyah Jackson, Winston-Salem State
Third Base Alycia Cunningham, Winston-Salem State
Shortstop Sikia Kornegay, Elizabeth City State
Outfield Jayla Hill, Bowie State
Outfield Regina Dedecker, Shaw
Outfield Karma Fields, Elizabeth City State
Designated Player Akirra Pullen, Bowie State
Utility Player Jaelyn Jackson, Claflin
2023 ALL-CIAA SOFTBALL SECOND TEAM
Pitcher Kara Green, Virginia State
Catcher Zecariya Fenwick, Claflin
First Base Tia Brown, Lincoln (Pa.)
Second Base Zeta Brown, Elizabeth City State
Third Base Kayla Evans, Bowie State
Shortstop Aseyah Alexander, Bowie State
Outfield Brenay Howard, Claflin
Outfield Trinity Mizzelle, Bowie State
Outfield Aliya Rose, Lincoln (Pa.)
Designated Player Malia Simmons, Winston-Salem State
Utility Player Sierra Crocker, Winston-Salem State
2023 CIAA ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Alicia Carrington, Winston-Salem State
Zecariya Fenwick, Claflin
Aniyah Jackson, Winston-Salem State
Kourtney White, Claflin
Cydney Cooper, Claflin
Skye Corum, Virginia State
Chloe Foster, Lincoln (Pa.)
Me'Auhre Lewis, Claflin
Kyla Graves, Virginia State
Player of the Year – Lindsey George, Bowie State
Pitcher of the Year – Jaelyn Jackson, Claflin
Rookie of the Year – Aniyah Jackson, Winston-Salem State
Coach of the Year – Tiffany Massey, Winston-Salem State