Softball repeats as SC ESPY Team of the Year
INDIANOLA, Iowa – From conference tournament champions to College World Series semifinalists, Simpson softball put together one of the most accomplished seasons in program history, earning 2025-26 SC ESPY Team of the Year honors.
The Storm finished 41-8 overall and 13-3 in American Rivers Conference play, recording the program's most wins since 2000 and becoming just the fourth team in school history to reach the 40-win mark. Simpson captured the first American Rivers Conference Tournament championship in program history before winning both the Indianola Regional and Winona Super Regional to advance to the NCAA Women's College World Series.
Simpson's NCAA postseason run was defined by dramatic comebacks and clutch performances. The Storm opened regional play with a shutout win before erasing a five-run deficit with an 11-run seventh inning against Saint Benedict to reach the regional final. Simpson then claimed the regional championship with another comeback victory over the Bennies to advance to the program's first super regional appearance, where the Storm swept Saint Mary's on the road.
At the College World Series, Simpson opened with a 4-3 win over Mount Union, dropped a game to defending national champion Trine, and kept its run alive with a walk-off elimination win over Linfield before falling in the national semifinals to eventual champion Redlands. The Storm finished the season ranked No. 3 nationally.
The Storm's success was matched by a long list of individual honors and records. Ashlyn Steen earned NFCA Second Team All-America recognition and was named the A-R-C Position Player of the Year. Five players received NFCA All-Region honors, including first team selections Marina Cronin and Steen, while eight Storm players earned all-conference recognition.
Simpson was recognized as the NFCA Region IX Coaching Staff of the Year under head coach Brent Matthias, and the Storm also excelled in the classroom. Megan Heidelbauer and Steen were named College Sports Communicators Academic All-Americans, five student-athletes earned Academic All-District honors, and 24 Storm players were selected to the A-R-C All-Academic Team.
As a team, Simpson set new single-season program records for hits, at-bats, runs scored, doubles, triples, and RBIs. Individually, Steen set single-season program records for hits, runs scored, and stolen bases, Heidelbauer established a new RBI mark, and Cronin set a new standard in saves.
Heidelbauer and Steen also climbed the career record lists, with Heidelbauer becoming the program's all-time RBI leader and Steen finishing atop multiple offensive categories, including batting average, hits, runs scored, triples, and total bases.
2025-26 SC ESPYS
Blake Perrin - Male Record-Breaking Performer of the Year
Jenna Thornburg, Emma Cooper, Molly Moore, Aubrey McDaniel (4x100 relay) - Female Record-Breaking Performers of the Year
Noah Noland - Male Newcomer of the Year
Abby Bell - Female Newcomer of the Year
Nathan Roling - Coach of the Year
Softball - Team of the Year
