Georgia Gwinnett College pitcher Tatum Helsom has garnered the 2026 Continental Athletic Conference Softball Freshman of the Year award to headline all-conference honors announced as the postseason tournament begins Wednesday on campus.

Meanwhile, Kat Ihlenburg received the Coach of the Year award and seven Grizzlies earned all-league honors.

First-team selections included senior pitcher Kailyn Berry, senior infielders Savannah Jenkins and Sara Roussel, and sophomore outfielder Casey Beaver.

Joining Helsom on the honorable mention squad were junior infielder Morgan McQuagge and freshman designated player Molly Kemp.

Helsom won 10 games, with five shutouts, and had two saves in 31 appearances during her inaugural season with the Grizzlies. She leads the team with 83 strikeouts.

Berry stands 13-5 inside the pitching circle with a 2.20 earned run average. The right-hander tossed five shutouts and 14 complete games among her 20 starts.

Jenkins leads the Grizzlies with four home runs, 44 runs batted in and 14 doubles. She is hitting at a .376 clip in 45 games. Jenkins has posted a .584 slugging percentage on the season.

Roussel has scored 32 runs and has a .382 batting average behind 52 hits. She has successfully stole 17 bases and has a .453 on-base percentage.

Beaver leads GGC with a .415 average, 41 runs scored, three triples, and 36 steals. She has started all 48 games this spring.

Ihlenburg has led GGC (26-22) to the top seed in this week's CAC Softball Championship and the team has received votes in each national NAIA poll this season. She recorded her 500th coaching victory during the 2026 season.

The five-team 2026 CAC Softball Championship is scheduled to begin Wednesday at the Grizzly Softball Complex in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
 
Georgia Gwinnett College 2026 Continental Athletic Conference Softball All-Conference Team Selections

Freshman of the Year: Tatum Helsom
Coach of the Year: Kat Ihlenburg

First Team
Pitcher – Kailyn Berry
Infielder – Savannah Jenkins
Infielder – Sara Roussel
Outfielder – Casey Beaver

Honorable Mention Team
Pitcher – Tatum Helsom
Infielder – Morgan McQuagge
Designated Player – Molly Kemp

Champion of Character Team
Bailey Bowen