Rochester, Minn. – Thirteen softball players coming to the Northwoods League for the summer of 2026 received all-conference honors for the 2026 collegiate season. Mia Johnson of the Wausau Ignite earned unanimous First Team NFCA Division 2 All-America Honors batting .464 with a .967 slugging percentage. Johnson also earned the Rawlings Gold Glove Award after a season where she posted a .982 fielding percentage with just three errors in 169 chances. Morgan Smith of the Wausau Ignite earned SWAC Freshman of the Year, batting .411 and knocking in 20 RBIs in her freshman campaign at Prairie View A&M. Minot Honeybee Clare Rettler was named the CCIW Player of the Year and NFCA 1st Team All Region Honors with a .614 batting average, an on-base percentage of .654 ,and a slugging percentage of .800.
A full list of honorees is below.
All-Conference Recognition:
- Brynn Daniel, Northwestern State University, Wausau Ignite (Southland 1st Team)
- Morgan Smith, Prairie View A&M, Wausau Ignite (SWAC Freshman of the Year and SWAC 2nd Team)
- Mia Johnson, University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Wausau Ignite (GLIAC 1st Team and NFCA 1st Team All Region, NFCA All American)
- Clare Rettler, Carthage, Minot Honeybees (CCIW Player of the Year and NFCA 1st Team All Region)
- Sara Simon, West Liberty, Minot Honeybees (MEC 2nd Team)
- Alexis Duke, Augustana (IL), Mankato Habaneros (CCIW 1st Team)
- Sailor Hall, Pittsburgh State, Mankato Habaneros (MIAA 2nd Team)
- Tele Jennings, University of Arizona, Madison Night Mares (Big 12 2nd Team)
- Trinity Kennemer, Metropolitan State University, Madison Night Mares (Honorable Mention)
- Grace Frechette, St. Cloud State University, La Crosse Steam (NSIC 2st Team)
- Avary Makarewicz, UT Martin, La Crosse Steam (Ohio Valley Conference, 2nd Team)
- Jackie Larsen, Bemidji State, La Crosse Steam (NSIC 2nd Team)
- Makenna Alexander, North Dakota State University, Grand Forks Spitfires (Summit League Honorable Mention)
Madison Night Mares Gretta Grassel and Leila Ammon were part of the Mississippi State team that took MSU to its first Women’s College World Series. Paytn Monticelli also of the Madison Night Mares and LSU Tigers made it to the NCAA Super Regionals after advancing out of the Baton Rouge Regional. Monticelli was 9-3 on the season with a 2.82 ERA in 22 appearances.
Northwoods League Softball action began June 9 and is available to stream on Flo College and Flo Softball.
###
Leveraging the 32-year success of the Northwoods League, the first for-profit Summer Collegiate Baseball League, Northwoods League Softball (NWLS) is the first for-profit Women’s Summer Collegiate Softball League that began play in the Upper Midwest in the summer of 2024. The purpose of the League is to develop players for their college, Olympic and future professional play. Teams are promoted similar to minor league baseball teams, playing games in front of fans in a fun, friendly, family-oriented environment.
The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Now in its’ 33rd season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history with 26 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires, and front office staff, nearly 2400 NWL alums have been drafted and 425 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and two-time World Series Champion Max Scherzer (TOR), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford and World Series Champion and Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (BAL) and 2023 World Series Champion, MLB All-Star, MLB Gold Glove, two-time Silver Slugger winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (NYM). League games are viewable live on FloSports.tv.