Pella, Iowa -- 4/6/25-_Central College Softball vs Wis.-Platteville. Photo by Dan L. Vander Beek

Five Central College softball players were named to the Academic All-District teams Tuesday, selected by College Sports Communicators.

Right fielder Mariah Parton, catcher Rylee Dunkin, third baseman Hannah Higgins, second baseman Larissa Miller and center fielder Carley Underwood were honored. To be eligible for consideration, a student-athlete must play in 90% of a team’s contests at the varsity level or start in 66% of the games while achieving a 3.50 or better cumulative grade point average (4.00 scale).

Parton and Dunkin are among the players advancing to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members, and the Academic All-American honorees will be announced on June 17th. Parton is a kinesiology major with a 3.61 GPA. She was second on the team with a .386 batting average, while leading the team with five triples. Dunkin is an elementary education major with a 3.96 GPA. She had a team-high 30 steals to go with her .367 batting average. Higgins is an environmental & sustainability studies and biology double major with a 3.83 GPA. She’s Central’s only repeat selection for this honor, and finished the season with 31 RBI and a .347 batting average. Miller is undeclared with a 3.78 GPA. She had a .284 batting average and scored 32 runs with 11 stolen bases. Underwood is a communication studies major with a 3.65 GPA. She hit .164 while scoring 21 runs and stealing 12 bags.

Central posted a 26-13 record while making a record 33rd NCAA Division III Championships appearance.