NORTON, Mass. – Wheaton College (Mass.) softball players Amber Arcand (Millville, Mass.), Taylor Barry (Hadley, Mass.), Peyton Blankenheim-Brown (Rio Linda, Calif.), Sofia De La Rosa (Middle Village, N.Y.) and Ella Molinari (Grafton, Mass.) were named to the 2026 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Softball Team, it was announced by the CSC.
The 2026 Academic All-District® Softball teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes softball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
To be eligible for consideration of this honor, nominated student-athletes must have at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and be at least a sophomore academically and athletically. Eligible nominees must compete in 90 percent of the institution's games played or must start in at least 66 percent of the institution's games. For pitchers, a student-athlete must have made at least 17 appearances or pitched 35 innings.
The five Wheaton softball honorees are the first to earn Academic All-District designation since Emily Berardi '15 and Emma Hart '16 were named in 2015.
All five honorees were also named to the New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference Academic All-Conference team earlier this year.
Arcand made the transition from pitcher to right fielder and earned Second Team All-Conference honors. The senior Business and Management major started all 37 games, while batting .302 (19-63) in 20 conference games.
Blankenheim-Brown culminated a dual-threat career with Second Team All-Region accolades. The senior Business and Management major contributed as a pitcher and at first base, while posting a 1.30 earned run average to go with a .299 (32-107) batting average and 26 runs batted in. Caron started 10 of 11 games that she appeared in for Wheaton. The senior Business and Management major scored four runs and knocked in a pair of runs as an infielder.
Barry was among the Lyons' most steady players, batting .298 (25-84) for the season. The junior Criminal Justice major started 27 of 30 games and maintained a stellar .385 on-base percentage.
De La Rosa was outstanding in the circle for Wheaton, earning Third Team All-Region and Second Team All-Conference honors. The junior Business and Management major ranked fourth in the NEWMAC with 111 strikeouts, while placing 41st in the nation with a 4.44 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Molinari was named the NEWMAC Player of the Year and tabbed Third Team All-Region for the Lyons. The junior Biology Pre-Health major batted .440 (48-109) for the season and owned a .504 on-base percentage, including an eye-popping .586 in 19 conference contests.
The Lyons finished the season with a 21-16 overall record, including 11-9 in NEWMAC play. Wheaton earned the number six seed in the NEWMAC Championship Tournament, before bowing to United States Coast Guard Academy in the opening round.
