A successful season for the Blinn College softball team has led to a bevy of accolades for the Buccaneers.
On Monday, two Blinn players were named to the Region XIV all-region first-team, while two more landed on the second-team. Blinn also earned seven first- and second-team Region XIV South Zone honors.
Earning first-team all-region recognition for the Bucs were sophomore outfielder Alayna Calvillo and freshman infielder Haley Hughes, while sophomore twin sisters Ripley Welker and Peyton Welker made the second team as a second baseman and pitcher, respectively.
(Pictured: Blinn sophomore Alayna Calvillo makes contact with a pitch during a game against Kilgore on Feb. 7, 2024)
Calvillo, Ripley and Peyton Welker, and Hughes also made the South Zone first-team, while freshmen infielders Bailey Boetjer and Kayden Harms and freshman outfielder Darian Deleon made the second team.
Blinn posted a 34-20-1 record this spring and reached the Region XIV Tournament.
Calvillo, a talented center fielder, was a big part of that successful run as she finished second on the team with a .457 batting average to go with a sparkling .519 on-base percentage (OBP), 85 hits, 12 doubles, six triples, and a home run. She also drove in a team-high 50 runs and scored 52 runs with stole 16 bases.
Hughes burst onto the scene at third base this year with a robust .497 batting average and a .561 OBP – both team highs – while also leading the team with 96 hits and 13 doubles to go with six triples and a home run. She scored 71 runs, drove in 23, and stole 26 bases.
(Pictured: Blinn fresh Haley Hughes throws to first base during a game against Alvin on March 29, 2024)
Ripley Welker took a major step forward in her second season with the Bucs, hitting .392 with a .461 OBP, 67 hits, eight doubles, two triples, and a team-leading seven homers. She also finished with 45 RBIs and 41 runs scored.
Peyton Welker was the ace of Blinn’s pitching staff this spring, improving on a solid freshman campaign with an 18-8 record in 28 starts. She also had one save across 161 innings of work and struck out 144 hitters against 86 walks while posting a 3.44 earned run average.
Boetjer, a first baseman, hit .347 this season with a .430 OBP. She added 10 doubles and a triple, 42 RBIs, and 28 runs.
Harms impressed as the Bucs’ shortstop this spring with a .312 batting average, a .372 on-base clip, 35 RBIs, and 34 runs.
Deleon was a presence as Blinn’s right fielder, finishing her first season with a .349 average and a .395 OBP. She finished with 28 RBIs and 28 runs scored.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 47 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
