Five Seahawks Earn All-Region 20 Honors

10 softball players wearing white and green pose for photos. First Team Taylor Stapleford, Kylee Bergman, Second Team Taja Souza, Gabriella Smith, Honorable Mention Keira Fendt

May 21, 2026

NORTH EAST, Md. - Cecil softball claimed five of the 2026 All-Region 20 Division 2 Team selections, as announced by region officials on Wednesday afternoon.

Taylor Stapleford | First Team | Freshman | Pitcher

Stapleford earned 17 wins from the circle in 22 appearances (21 starts). The Rising Sun, Md. native tossed 225 strikeouts, the most in Region 20 and third-most among all NJCAA Division 2 programs. She tossed 12 complete games, including two no-hit performances. The right-handed pitcher threw a combined no-hitter with Taja Souza in win over Bloomfield. Stapleford dealt at least 10 strikeouts on 12 occasions and had three additional games with nine.

At the plate, Stapleford hit .333 with 17 walks and three doubles. She posted the second best on-base percentage (.488) on the team.

Stapleford won both Region 20 Player of the Month awards in 2026 and was named First Team All-NFCA East Region.

Kylee Bergman | First Team | Freshman | Infielder

Bergman led Cecil with a .447 batting average, 52 RBI, 51 hits, 19 extra-base hits, and 19 walks. Her .522 OBP and .763 slugging percentage also topped all Cecil batters. The Elkton, Md. native mashed 10 doubles and eight home runs. She turned in 17 multi-hit games, including four games with three hits and one game with four. Bergman played at second base, third base, and catcher for the Seahawks.

Taja Souza | Second Team | Freshman | Designated Player

Souza featured as a center fielder and at pitcher for Cecil. Souza served as the Seahawks' leadoff hitter, batting .381 with a team-high 11 doubles. The freshman proved to be a menace on the base paths, going a perfect 17-for-17 in stolen base opportunities. Souza led Cecil with 44 runs scored as a result.

From the circle, Souza grabbed six wins in 10 starts. She combined for a no-hitter with Taylor Stapleford in a victory against Bloomfield, and earned Cecil's only save of the season in a win over Potomac State.

Gabriella Smith | Second Team | Freshman | Catcher

Smith was a mainstay in the middle of Cecil's lineup, swatting 10 doubles and eight home runs. Her .624 slugging percentage was the second highest on the team. The freshman started the season with at least one hit in 16 of her first 17 games as a Seahawk.

Smith's .970 fielding percentange, spent between catcher and third base, was second best on the team. She caught a trio of runners stealing from behind the dish, including a key out against Potomac State in the final inning of the Region 20 championship game.

Keira Fendt | Honorable Mention | Freshman | Outfielder

Fendt patrolled the outfield for the Seahawks and was one of five players to play in all 35 games. She finished with a .340 batting average and produced 27 RBI. Fendt produced nine games with two hits or more, including a four-hit showing against Anne Arundel. The freshman ripped off a nine-game hitting streak in the middle of March.

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