LOUISVILLE, KY – Alfred University had three softball players earn National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region III honors on Friday.
 
The Saxons had Kendall Steward (Kennedy, NY/Randolph), Samantha Vidal (Lake Worth, FL/Forest Hill) and Paris Guzman (Santa Fe Springs, CA/Santa Fe) all earn recognition from the NFCA. Steward earned All-Region III First Team as a Utility/Pitcher. Vidal was named to the Second Team as an Outfielder and Guzman was tabbed as a Third Team Catcher.
 
Steward was an all-around threat to opponents whether it was pitching, hitting, playing third base or playing second base. She batted a .449 with 62 hits, 17 doubles, 10 home runs and three triples while driving in 46 runs and scoring 44 herself. Steward tacked on nine stolen bases. Inside of the circle, Steward went 13-7 with one save and retired batters 84 times in 114.2 innings pitched. She did not commit a single error while in the circle and totaled 21 putouts and 39 assists with only two errors while playing another field position. Steward was named the 2026 Empire 8 Softball Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player, named to All-Empire 8 First Team, the All-Tournament Team, was named a Co-Pitcher of the Week and a three-time Saxon of the Week.
 
Vidal has had a strong season thus far, in particular, when it comes to her base running. In just her junior season, Vidal already is No. 2 all-time in stolen bases with 126, posting 49 for the year, just three shy of tying the school record of 52 held by Ashley Lugo '23 (Lugo has 164 career stolen bases for the school record). Vidal is batting .397 with 58 hits, five doubles and three triples while also recording two inside-the-park home runs. She has reached home plate 48 times this season and has driven in an additional 17 runs. Defensively, Vidal has 88 putouts and three assists. She was named the Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year, selected to the All-Empire 8 First Team, earned Empire 8 Co-Player of the Week once and was named to the All-Tournament Team.
 
Guzman was the top catcher in the conference with a dangerous arm, throwing out players attempting to steal bases 14 times. She totaled 163 putouts with 32 assists. Guzman batted a .312 with 29 hits, seven doubles and three home runs while adding 20 RBI and 17 runs. She had three stolen bases. Guzman earned All-Empire 8 First Team honors.