SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.V.- The River States Conference announced the 2025 River States Conference softball All-Conference selections and awards winners Thursday night, following the first day of competition at the 2025 RSC Softball Tournament at The Rock Sports Complex in South Charleston, West Virginia. The league unveiled its All-Conference teams, and awarded the league's four major awards for Player, Pitcher, Newcomer, and Coach of the Year. Each All-Conference selection and award winner is selected via a vote of the league's coaches.

The top two seeds in the conference tournament led the way on the All-Conference teams, with both Rio Grande and IU Southeast placing nine players on the All-Conference teams. Rio Grande led all schools with six first teamers, while IU Southeast followed with five. St. Mary-of-the-Woods added eight selections, while both Oakland City and Shawnee State saw seven players honored  The All-Conference teams, consisting of 20 first team selections, 16 second team selections, and 15 third team selections, were rounded out by six from IU Columbus, four players from WVU Tech, and one player, a second teamer, from Midway.

Both the Player and the Pitcher of the Year awards were given to the ace of the Rio Grande RedStorm, Madi Ogden. Ogden has been arguably the most dominant pitcher in the nation, as the senior currently leads all NAIA pitchers in earned run average (0.73) and strikeouts (240), all while posting a record of 20-5. Ogden is not just a pitcher, as the Williamsburg, Ohio native has been a key part of the RedStorm lineup as well. She enters the conference tournament hitting .314, driving in 32 runs and scoring 30 more for the regular season champions.

After arriving from Huntington University in January, Nigella Reck became a breakout player for Rio Grande, and was honored with Newcomer of the Year recognition. The two-sport athlete is hitting .306 for the RedStorm, driving in 32 runs and scoring 28 as an everyday starter for the RedStorm. Reck was one of the hardest players in the league to strike out, as the X native was set down on strikes just five times in her 175 plate appearances during the regular season.

After leading the RedStorm to a 27-5 conference record and the regular season title, Rio Grande head coach Chris Hammond was honored as the 2025 RSC Softball Coach of the Year. The RedStorm enter the conference tournament with an overall record of 41-9, and are currently ranked 25th in the nation in the final NAIA Coaches' Poll. Hammond is in his tenth season as the leader of the RedStorm softball program.

The 2025 River States Conference softball tournament began Thursday in South Charleston, West Virginia. The tournament is scheduled to continue through Saturday afternoon, with the winner of the tournament earning the league's automatic bid to the NAIA Opening Round later in May. 

RIVER STATES CONFERENCE ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

FIRST TEAM
P: Madi Ogden, Rio Grande
P: Madison Shipley, Oakland City
P: Emma Davis, IU Southeast
C: Sierra Dunnagan, Shawnee State
C: Lillian Mackey, IU Southeast
IF: Gabby Adams, Rio Grande
IF: Mackenzie Hale, Shawnee State
IF: Kaitlyn Leister, IU Southeast
IF: Nigella Reck, Rio Grande    
IF: Hannah Wissel, Oakland City
OF: Kayla Sedgwick, Rio Grande    
OF: Maddie Engler, Rio Grande
OF: Jenna Christopher, Shawnee State
OF: Sofia Guy, IU Southeast
DP: Megan Bazler, Rio Grande
UTIL: Cameryn Davidson, Shawnee State
AL: Hallie McCracken, Oakland City
AL: Josie Lemmons, IU Southeast
AL: Jaidyn Fuller, St. Mary-of-the-Woods
AL: Kinsly Heichelbech, Oakland City

SECOND TEAM
P: Paige McDaniel, Oakland City    
P: Hannah Nunemaker, IU Southeast
P: Emma Wargel, Shawnee State
C: Natalie Bates, Rio Grande
C: Mikayla Mills, St. Mary-of-the-Woods
IF: Emily Moore, Shawnee State
IF: McKenzie Walters, IU Southeast
IF: Isabel Johnson, IU Columbus
IF: Olivia Barnett, WVU Tech
IF: Jaleigh Crawford, St. Mary-of-the-Woods
OF: Ryann Berger, Midway
OF: Kasey Wood, Oakland City
OF: Taylor York, IU Columbus
OF: Brynlea Bennett, IU Southeast
DP: Genavie Espinoza, Shawnee State
UTIL: Hannah Taylor, IU Columbus

THIRD TEAM
P: Hannah Beers, Rio Grande
P: Meg McCallum, Rio Grande
P: Erica Henry, IU Columbus
C: Macy Wilkens, WVU Tech
C: Gracie Holok, IU Columbus
IF: Katherine Hibbitt, Oakland City
IF: Alaina Winzeler, IU Southeast
IF: Hannah Boardman, St. Mary-of-the-Woods
IF: Hailea Skeens, WVU Tech
OF: Kaylee Waddell, WVU Tech
OF: Kyar McVey, St. Mary-of-the-Woods
OF: Alyse Rollings, St. Mary-of-the-Woods
OF: Abbi Henderson, St. Mary-of-the-Woods
DP: Mallory Shelton, IU Columbus
UTIL: Emily Singleton, St. Mary-of-the-Woods

Player of the Year: Madi Ogden, Rio Grande
Pitcher of the Year: Madi Ogden, Rio Grande
Newcomer of the Year: Nigella Reck, Rio Grande
Coach of the Year: Chris Hammond, Rio Grande