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Washington Evening Journal
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Washington’s Leighton Salazar named SEC softball Player of the Year
Demons name eight to all-conference, Fairfield seven, Mt. Pleasant four
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The Southeast Conference season has nearly wrapped up, with just one team left standing as the 2025 State Softball Tournament in Fort Dodge approaches. This team, the Washington Demons, are the reigning SEC champions and will begin postseason play on Tuesday.
Washington enjoyed another dominant year in the SEC, finishing with an impressive 14-1 conference record — undefeated at home (7-0) and strong on the road (7-1).
It’s no surprise the Demons lead the area with eight players earning SEC All-Conference honors.
Junior Leighton Salazar was named SEC Player of the Year. She joins teammates Bella Salazar, Ella Greiner, Colbie Greiner, and Alyvia Anderson on the All-Conference First Team.
Close behind Washington, the Fairfield Trojans finished with an 11-4 conference record, going 6-2 at home and 5-2 away.
Fairfield placed seven players on the All-Conference list, including first team selections Lilly Bergren, Olivia Hollander, and Leah Helmick.
Burlington finished third in the conference at 8-7, followed by Fort Madison at 7-8, and Mt. Pleasant in fifth place with a 3-12 record.
The Panthers struggled at home, going winless (0-7), but found some success on the road with all three of their conference wins coming away. Four Panthers earned spots on the 2025 SEC All-Conference teams, with Saige Burchett and Keagyn Coleman earning Second Team honors.
Below is the full list of this year’s SEC All-Conference selections.
SEC All-Conference First Team
Burlington
- Ava Brandenburg, Grade 9
- Keirah Wiseman, Grade 12
Fairfield
- Lilly Bergren, Grade 12
- Olivia Hollander, Grade 12
- Leah Helmick, Grade 10
Fort Madison
- Brylie Lorence, Grade 12
Keokuk
- Ada Wood, Grade 12
- Kylie Sisk, Grade 11
Washington
- Leighton Salazar, Grade 11
- Isabella Salazar, Grade 12
- Ella Greiner, Grade 12
- Colbie Greiner, Grade 10
- Alyvia Anderson, Grade 12
SEC Player of the Year: Leighton Salazar, Washington
SEC All-Conference Second Team
Burlington
- Bricelyn Patton, Grade 9
Fairfield
- Faith Jones, Grade 11
- Laney Norris, Grade 12
Fort Madison
- Kylie Lumino, Grade 10
- Laci Gathers, Grade 12
- Jordyn Marshall, Grade 9
Keokuk
- Gracie Thompson, Grade 12
Mount Pleasant
- Saige Burchett, Grade 11
- Keagyn Coleman, Grade 10
Washington
- Halle Cuddeback, Grade 12
SEC All-Conference Honorable Mention
Burlington
- Sophie Brown, Grade 12
- Lilly Hand, Grade 11
Fairfield
- Haylee Eklund, Grade 9
- Emma Septer, Grade 11
Fort Madison
- Lucia Darnell, Grade 8
- Emma Snaadt, Grade 10
Keokuk
- Suzie Whittaker, Grade 12
- Kenadi Ames, Grade 11
Mount Pleasant
- Parker Coleman, Grade 8
- Izzy Sloat, Grade 9
Washington
- Makenzie Messer, Grade 9
- Natalie Hartman, Grade 9
SEC Academic All-Conference
Sophie Brown — Burlington
Keirah Wiseman — Burlington
Emmelia Miller — Fairfield
Caroline Van Pelt — Fairfield
Maddy Martin — Fairfield
Faith Jones — Fairfield
Emma Septer — Fairfield
Lilly Bergren — Fairfield
Laney Norris — Fairfield
Olivia Hollander — Fairfield
Kaitlyn Sissel — Ft. Madison
Olivia Buckner — Ft. Madison
Ava Taylor — Ft. Madison
Taylor Huffman — Ft. Madison
Laci Gathers — Ft. Madison
Brylie Lorence — Ft. Madison
Bella Crew — Keokuk
Kylie Sisk — Keokuk
Destiny Tedrow — Keokuk
Gracie Thompson — Keokuk
Suzie Whitaker — Keokuk
Saige Burchett — Mount Pleasant
Leighton Salazar — Washington
Alyvia Anderson — Washington
Halle Cuddeback — Washington
Ella Greiner — Washington
Isabella Salazar — Washington
