ALL-OEC AWARDS - GARCIA NAMED MVP

The 2026 All-Orange Empire Conference softball awards highlighted the outright champion Saddleback Bobcats as they saw sophomore slugger Ka'ui Garcia named OEC Most Valuable Player of the Year while second year head coach Krysten Fisher and her staff earned Coaching Staff of the Year honors.

Garcia led her team to 16-5 in conference play to capture their first title since 1988. The catcher from Hawaii was tops in the OEC in hits and RBI in her second season with the Bobcats.

Ehva Cifuentes-Zombulovic was also named to the All-OEC first team while Colette Howren and Millie Maher took second team honors.

The second place Fullerton Hornets saw sophomore infielder Lisa Villanueva voted onto the All-OEC first team while Grace Workman, Zoey Bautista, Juliana Ursino, Emma Gamez & Alana Eisel made the second team.

Cypress sent three to the first team with Isabella Rodriguez, Lynsey Arostigue & Peyton Clark leading them to a third place finish.

The Orange Coast Pirates took fourth place overall but had plenty of representation in the All-OEC awards. Jaden Fraser made the first team while Kelsey McNair, Victoria Ruiz and Marissa Sardinas took second team honors. In addition, sophomore catcher Maiah Rodriguez was voted OEC Defensive Player of the Year.

Golden West College took two spots on the All-OEC teams with Angelique Perez being placed on the first team and Mya Santiago making the second team.

Despite being the sixth place team, the Santa Ana Dons saw their standout freshman Ihilani Berard take home the OEC Most Valuable Pitcher award. The freshman boasted a 3.04 ERA in conference play while earning six wins.

The Riverside City Tigers had Madyson Aguilera and Alysha Kendrick land on All-OEC first and second teams while the Santiago Canyon Hawks took one spot on with Allie Kirkpatrick making the first team. 

2026 All-Orange Empire Conference Awards & Teams

Most Valuable Player - Ka'ui Garcia, Saddleback College

Most Valuable Pitcher - Ihilani Berard, Santa Ana College

Defensive Player of the Year - Maiah Rodriguez, Orange Coast College

Coaching Staff of the Year - Saddleback College

First Team All-Orange Empire Conference

Isabella Rodriguez, Cypress College

Lynsey Arostigue, Cypress College

Peyton Clark, Cypress College

Lisa Villanueva, Fullerton College

Angelique Perez, Golden West College

Jaden Fraser, Orange Coast College

Madyson Aguilera, Riverside City College

Ka'ui Garcia, Saddleback College

Ehva Cifuentes-Zombulovic, Saddleback College

Ihilani Berard, Santa Ana College

Allie Kirkpatrick, Santiago Canyon College

Second Team All-Orange Empire Conference                                               

Grace Workman, Fullerton College

Zoey Bautista, Fullerton College

Juliana Ursino, Fullerton College

Emma Gamez, Fullerton College

Alana Eisel, Fullerton College

Mya Santiago, Golden West College

Kelsey McNair, Orange Coast College

Victoria Ruiz, Orange Coast College

Marissa Sardinas, Orange Coast College

Alysha Kendrick, Riverside City College

Colette Howren, Saddleback College

Millie Maher, Saddleback College

Story by Cammie Lewis, Santa Ana College