_{courtesy of www.thesunconference.com}

MIAMI, Fla. – The 2023 All- Sun Conference Softball and Superlative Award Winners were announced by the conference as voted on by the league's nine head coaches.

Coastal Georgia's Bryce Peacock was named this year's Sun Conference Player of the Year. The native of Baxley, Georgia, earned top spots in the SUN leaderboards being in No. 1 with a batting average of .473, a slugging percentage of .764, an on base percentage of .574, and ops of 1.338. She also has 29 runs scored (No. 7 in the conference) and 52 hits (No. 5 in the conference). Her earned run average is No. 4 in the SUN in 22 appearances as the junior posted four shutouts. She held opposing batters to a .207 batting average (No. 3 in the conference), striking out 122 batters.
 
Coastal Georgia's Hayley Dickerson was tabbed the Sun Conference Pitcher of the Year. The native of Rincon, Georgia notches an 19-5 record with a 1.11 ERA in the 138.1 innings of action. Her earned run average is No. 3 in the conference and No. 16 in the NAIA as the senior posted seven shutouts (No. 1 in the conference) in 17 complete games. She has held opposing batters to a .221 batting average (No. 6 in the conference) striking out 118 batters.
 
Peacock and Dickerson join fellow Mariners Mackenzie Kagee, Sarah Thinger, Aniston Johnson, Melani Jones, and Kayla Rowell as members of the league's first team.
 
Webber International's Taylor Thomas was named the Sun Conference Freshman of the Year. The first-year Warrior finishes the 2023 regular season with an earned run average of 2.19 with 118 innings played. She completed 12 games and started in 20. In the field, she totaled six putouts and 12 assists.

Jaelynn Vialpando (Thomas), Chapel Cunningham (Southeastern), Leah Gonzalez (Southeastern), Breanna Reye (Florida Memorial), Holly Campbell (Thomas), Ryanne Saluter (Ave Maria), Averie Sheppard (Thomas), Erica Stahl (Southeastern), Sophia Negron (St. Thomas), Ciara Justice (Florida Memorial), Madalyn Morton (Warner), Autumn Hunter (Southeastern), and Lizzy Small (Keiser) were also named first-team all-conference.
 
Coastal Georgia Head Coach Mike Minick was named the league's Coach of the Year, leading the Mariners to a 37-10 overall record and a 21-3 mark in league action en route to the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Sun Conference Softball Championship. Under Minick, CCGA earned the program's first NAIA Coaches' Top 25 ranking in school history and in 2019 won their first-ever Regular-Season Championship.

2023 Softball Postseason Award Winners
 
Player of the Year: Bryce Peacock (Coastal Georgia)
Pitcher of the Year: Hayley Dickerson (Coastal Georgia)
Freshman of the Year: Taylor Thomas (Webber International)
Champion of Character: Erica Stahl (Southeastern)
Coach of the Year: Mike Minick (Coastal Georgia)

2023 Sun Conference Softball All-Conference Teams
 
First Team
Catcher           Jaelynn Vialpando       Thomas                       Sr.        Albuquerque, N.M.
Catcher           MacKenzie Kagee        Coastal Georgia          So.       Jesup, Ga.
INF                   Chapel Cunningham   Southeastern              So.       Chattanooga, Tenn.
INF                   Leah Gonzalez             Southeastern              So.       St. Cloud, Fla.
INF                   Breanna Reyes              Florida Memorial        Sr.        Hollywood, Fla.
INF                   Sarah Thinger              Coastal Georgia          Jr.        Tampa, Fla.
INF                   Holly Campbell            Thomas                       Gr.       Lake Park, Ga.
INF                   Aniston Johnson         Coastal Georgia          Jr.        Alma, Ga.
INF                   Ryanne Saluter            Ave Maria       Jr.        Hughesville, Md.
OF                    Averie Sheppard         Thomas           Jr.        Chattanooga, Tenn.
OF                    Erica Stahl                   Southeastern              Sr.        Plant City, Fla.
OF                    Sophia Negron            St. Thomas                  Sr.        Orlando, Fla.
OF                    Melani Jones               Coastal Georgia          Sr.        Titusville, Fla.
OF                    Ciara Justice                Florida Memorial        So.       Winter Haven, Fla.
DP                   Kayla Rowell               Coastal Georgia          Sr.        Brunswick, Ga.
UTL                  Bryce Peacock             Coastal Georgia          Jr.        Baxley, Ga.
Pitcher            Hayley Dickerson        Coastal Georgia          Sr.        Rincon, Ga.
Pitcher            Madalyn Morton        Warner                        Sr.        Williamsburg, Va.
Pitcher            Autumn Hunter           Southeastern              Jr.        Winneconne, Wis.
Pitcher            Lizzy Small                   Keiser                          So.       Sarasota, Fla.