Erin Coffel, Kayla Kowalik named 2023 All-SEC First Team

Kentucky Softball players Erin Coffel and Kayla Kowalik were named to the 2023 All-Southeastern Conference First Team, the league office announced Friday morning. In addition to being named All-SEC, Kowalik was voted to the SEC All-Defensive Team.

The awards were voted on by the 13 head coaches in the league with the 21 highest vote getters being named First Team All-SEC, and the next 21 highest vote getters being placed on the All-SEC Second Team. The defensive team was comprised of the top single vote getter for each defensive position across the league. Only conference stats are considered when voting for the awards.

With Kowalik being placed on the All-SEC Team, she earns the distinction of being named All-SEC by the league coaches in every year that she was eligible. She hit .450 this season with 44 runs scored, 77 hits, 10 doubles, three triples and a home run. She caught in all but three games this year with only one error to her name and three passed balls, marking herself as one of the best catchers in the nation.

Coffel hit .427 with 56 runs scored in the 2023 season, as she has 50 total hits with 27 of those 50 connections coming as extra-base hits. On the year, she also led the NCAA with 62 total walks and was a perfect 2-for-2 in swiping bases with 51 runs batted in.

Florida’s Skylar Wallace was the SEC Player of the Year. Tennessee’s Karlyn Pickens won freshman of the year and Karen Weekly nabbed coach of the year. Auburn’s Maddie Penta was the SEC Pitcher of the Year.

The 2023 NCAA Softball Selection show will take place Sunday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

2023 First Team All-SEC

• Montana Fouts, Alabama
• Ashley Prange, Alabama
• Chenise Delce, Arkansas
• Maddie Penta, Auburn
• Charla Echols, Florida
• Skylar Wallace, Florida
• Jayda Kearney, Georgia
• Sydney Kuma, Georgia
• Sara Mosley, Georgia
• Shelby Walters, Georgia
• Erin Coffel, Kentucky
• Kayla Kowalik, Kentucky
• Ali Kilponen, LSU
• Ali Newland, LSU
• Donnie Gobourne, South Carolina
• McKenna Gibson, Tennessee
• Kiki Milloy, Tennessee
• Zaida Puni, Tennessee
• Ashley Rogers, Tennessee
• Julia Cottrill, Texas A&M
• Rylen Wiggins, Texas A&M

2023 Second Team All-SEC

• Jenna Johnson, Alabama
• Larissa Preuitt, Alabama
• Hannah Camenzind, Arkansas
• Kristina Foreman, Arkansas
• Cylie Halverson, Arkansas
• Rylin Hedgecock, Arkansas
• Reagan Johnson, Arkansas
• Denver Bryant, Auburn
• Nelia Peralta, Auburn
• Kendra Falby, Florida
• Reagan Walsh, Florida
• Jaiden Fields, Georgia
• Madison Kerpics, Georgia
• Sydney Berzon, LSU
• Ciara Briggs, LSU
• Taylor Pleasants, LSU
• McKenzie Redoutey, LSU
• Alex Honnold, Missouri
• Jenna Laird, Missouri
• Karlyn Pickens, Tennessee
• Koko Wooley, Texas A&M

SEC All-Defensive Team

• P – Maddie Penta, Auburn
• C – Kayla Kowalik, Kentucky
• 1B – Raeleen Gutierrez, LSU
• 2B – Sydney Kuma, Georgia
• 3B – Charla Echols, Florida
• SS – Taylor Pleasants, LSU
• LF – Tate Whitley, Ole Miss
• CF – Ciera Briggs, LSU
• RF – McKenzie Redoutey, LSU

(UK Athletics)