NEW ORLEANS – The App State Softball duo of
Makayla McClain and
Grace Barrett were named to the 15-player Preseason All-Sun Belt team, the league announced on Wednesday. This marks the first time that two App State players have received Preseason All-Sun Belt recognition.
Makayla McClain | Infielder | Liberty, N.C.
Named to the All-Sun Belt first team in 2025, McClain returns for her second season in the High Country after posting one of the best seasons in program history. McClain batted .381, with a team-best 61 hits, while also swatting 14 home runs and driving in 50 RBIs. She finished in the top 10 in the Sun Belt in batting average (10th), OPS (fifth), runs (second), hits (ninth), home runs (seventh), RBIs (eighth), total bases (sixth), slugging percentage (fifth) and on-base percentage (fifth).
McClain was named the Sun Belt Player of the Week a program record three times in 2025. She set the single-season runs record with a lead-off homer on April 27 at Southern Miss and recorded the first cycle in program history on May 3 against Coastal Carolina. McClain was subsequently named the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) National Player of the Week, becoming the first National Player of the Week in program history.
Grace Barrett | Infielder | Milton, Ga.
Barrett, who was also named to the All-Sun Belt first team in 2025, returns for her third year at App State after tallying a career-best five home runs and 34 RBIs. In her sophomore season. She batted .313 in 2025, which was tied for the second-best on the team, and was one of four Mountaineers to slug at least 10 doubles last season. Barrett tallied 17 multi-hit games and nine multi-RBI games.
The Milton, Ga., native enters the 2026 season with back-to-back 50-hit seasons. Against conference opponents, Barrett finished with the second-best batting average at .316 and drove home the second-most runs on the team with 18. She recorded her 100th career hit in her home state of Georgia on April 19 with a home run, and appeared in her 100th career game on May 3 against Coastal Carolina.
App State is set to open the 2026 season at the UNCW Tournament beginning Friday, Feb. 6. The Mountaineers will face Kennesaw State and UNCW twice and George Washington in a single game across the three-day event.
2026 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Awards
Preseason Player of the Year
Aiyana Coleman, Texas State
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Madison Azua, Texas State
Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
Madison Azua, Texas State
Alana Barnard, Georgia Southern
Megan Kelnar, Texas State
Aiyana Coleman, Texas State
Georgia Hood, Coastal Carolina
Morgan Brown, ULM
Makayla McClain, App State
Olivia Branstetter, South Alabama
Cali Legzdin, James Madison
Grace Barrett, App State
Meagan Brown, ULM
Hannah Christian, Southern Miss
Diamond Leslie, Marshall
Brooklin Lippert, ULM
Payton List, James Madison
