PRESS RELEASE
LAFAYETTE – Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Softball junior pitcher Summer Ellyson was named to the 2019 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division I All-American Team, the organization announced on Wednesday, a well-deserved reward for fashioning one of the signature performances by an individual in program history.
Ellyson earned her spot in the elite group as an NFCA Third Team All-American, receiving her first career All-American accolade. She was one of only 54 total student-athletes across the entire Division I ranks (297 teams) to achieve the honor.
“Summer truly had an ‘All-American’ season, and her performance was far beyond deserving of being rewarded at the highest level,” Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Softball head coach Gerry Glasco said. “Myself, and our entire coaching staff, are elated to see her acknowledged for giving our program and University one of the most dominant seasons ever.”
The selection of Ellyson to the 2019 NFCA Division I All-American Team increases the total number of All-American selections in program history to 54.
By placing her name on the distinguished list in the program’s record book, there are now 33 different individuals who have been bestowed All-American honors in Ragin’ Cajuns Softball history. The storied program has had at least one individual named to the NFCA All-American team in 27 of the past 31 seasons (since 1989).
Ellyson was named to the NFCA All-Central Region First Team back on May 16, which made her eligible for All-American honors.
The nation’s leader in wins at all levels of collegiate softball during the 2019 season, Ellyson posted a 39-6 mark to become the first Ragin’ Cajun to reach 30 wins since 2013. The Sun Belt Conference’s Pitcher of the Year recorded the second-most wins (39) and third-most strikeouts (354) in program history.
Ellyson ranked Top 10 nationally in every major pitching category and entered the NCAA postseason as one of only five pitchers with a sub-1.00 ERA. She reached double digits in strikeouts on 13 occasions on the way to her career-best figure, and had a hand in 17 shutouts including her first career NCAA postseason blanking (vs. Ole Miss in the NCAA Oxford Regional).
A Teurlings Catholic High alum, Ellyson joins a select list of Lafayette area natives to be named an All-American, joining the likes of Alyson Habetz (1994), Karli Hubbard (2009) and Shellie Landry (2015).
During the 2019 season, the Ragin’ Cajuns (52-6, 25-0 Sun Belt) recorded the first 50-win season since 2012, boasted a Top 10 national ranking, turned in only the second undefeated conference mark in Sun Belt history, established a school-record 29-game win streak, continued the streak of consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (now 21 straight) and returned to Championship Sunday of an NCAA Regional.