The Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) announced the 2021 All-Conference Softball Team, with the University of Redlands collecting the SCIAC Athlete, Newcomer, Pitcher, and Coaching Staff of the Year in a stellar showing.  In addition, the Bulldogs landed four more individuals among the 14-woman team, which enhances Redlands' accolades of the already impressive season.

First-year Collette Allen (Sierra Madre, CA) was named the SCIAC Athlete and Newcomer of the Year to make quite a statement in her opening season with the Maroon and Gray.  She led the conference with 35 RBI, four home runs, two triples, and five sacrifice flies.  Allen ranked second in the SCIAC with an overall slugging percentage of .763.  She owned a batting average of .407 off 24 hits while scoring 17 runs in her collegiate debut.  Defensively, she stepped up with 36 putouts and 31 assists as the team's second baseman.

After earning a conference-leading six wins and four complete games, senior Danielle Stallings (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) became the SCIAC Pitcher of the Year in her first campaign with the Bulldogs.  While making 13 appearances to account for 49.2 innings pitched, she tallied the second-best ERA among the SCIAC hurlers with a mark of 1.97.  She also fanned 18 batters and held opponents to a .292 batting average. 

In addition to Allen and Stallings, the Bulldogs gained four student-athletes among the All-Conference Team, including sophomore infielder Madison Alves (Kingsburg, CA), first-year catcher Rylie Barber (San Ramon, CA), senior outfielder Tsianina Flores (Corona, CA), and junior infielder Natalie Horton (Palmdale, CA).

While playing third base, Alves impressed in her second season with the Bulldogs.  She ranked first in the conference with two triples to go along with her three doubles and one home run for a batting average of .310.  She produced 13 RBI and collected 10 walks.  At the hot corner, she owned a .971 fielding percentage with 20 putouts and 46 assists. 

In her rookie season, Barber stepped up both as the Bulldogs' catcher and as an offensive threat at the plate.  She tallied a .357 batting average off 15 hits, including three doubles, to go along with seven RBI. Defensively, she recorded a perfect fielding percentage with 17 putouts and one assist. 

Flores patrolled the Bulldogs' outfield in her second season with the Maroon and Gray.  She totaled 18 hits, including four doubles, for a batting average of .310.  Her patience at the plate led to nine walks for the third-most in the SCIAC.  Furthermore, she contributed nine RBI, 11 runs scored, and 11 putouts.

Following her SCIAC Tournament MVP honor, Horton garners a spot among the All-Conference Team as an energetic leader and competitor.  She earned a batting average of .358 off 19 hits, including one home run, one triple, and two doubles.  Her speed allowed her to steal 12 bases and score 22 runs to rank first in the SCIAC in both categories.  Horton also provided key plays defensively, primarily at shortstop, with 23 putouts and 34 assists. 

Finally, Head Coach Jose Ortega, along with assistant coaches Chelsea Rex and Sarah Parten, earned the distinction of SCIAC Coaching Staff of the Year.  In his third season with the Bulldogs, Ortega guided the team to a 14-5 overall record and an 11-1 mark in SCIAC en route to winning the SCIAC Postseason Tournament championship.  With the title, Redlands returns to the NCAA Championships after a seven-year hiatus and faces Birmingham-Southern College (AL) on Friday, May 21, at 2 p.m. PDT.

For a complete list of the All-SCIAC recipients, please visit the organization's website.