NEW YORK – The BIG EAST announced its 2025 softball regular season and all-conference award winners on Tuesday, ahead of the 2025 BIG EAST Championship Presented by Jeep scheduled for May 7-10 at the Villanova Softball Complex. The major award winners as well as the first and second team honorees were decided by a coaches' vote based on performance in conference this season. Butler's Cate Lehner was a unanimous choice for the All-BIG EAST First Team, and Sydney Carter joined her as a First Team selection.
 
UConn catcher Grace Jenkins headlined the awards, earning BIG EAST Player of the Year accolades. Fellow Husky Cat Petteys was named Freshman of the Year. St. John's pitcher Ana Serafinko was recognized as the BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year. Teammate London Jarrard and Creighton's Ashten Pierson garnered Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors. Led by head coach Michelle DePolo, St. John's was honored as the BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year.
 
Butler's Lehner, a junior from Indianapolis, led the BIG EAST with a .489 batting average and with 25 steals. The right fielder led the Bulldogs in conference games with 43 hits and 23 runs scored. On April 27, in the final conference game of the regular season, her 43^rd hit surpassed the previous BIG EAST mark for hits in a single season. Lehner was also a First Team selection in 2024.
 
Carter, a senior from Mason, Ohio, led the BIG EAST in fielding double plays and was fourth with 43 assists. The second baseman batted .369 in conference action with 14 RBI and three stolen bases. She scored 19 runs, and four of her 24 hits went for extra bases. Carter was also a First Team selection in 2023.
 
No. 5 seed Butler opens the BIG EAST Tournament on Wednesday with a 12 p.m. first pitch against No. 4 seed Creighton. The double-elimination tournament in Villanova, Pa., is scheduled to run through Saturday.
 
 
2025 BIG EAST Softball Awards 
 
BIG EAST Player of the Year: Grace Jenkins, Jr., C, UConn
BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year: Ana Serafinko, Jr., P, St. John's
BIG EAST Co-Defensive Players of the Year: Ashten Pierson, So., SS, Creighton & London Jarrard, Sr., SS, St. John's
BIG EAST Freshman of the Year: Cat Petteys, Fr., SS, UConn
BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year: St. John's
 
All-BIG EAST First Team^
Sydney Carter, Sr., 2B, Butler
Cate Lehner, Jr., OF, Butler*
Kaitlyn Breslin, So., OF, UConn
Rosie Garcia, Sr., 3B, UConn*
Grace Jenkins, Jr., C, UConn*
Payton Kinney, Gr., P, UConn
Cat Petteys, Fr., SS, UConn
Sydney Potter, So.,1B, Creighton
Sydra Seville, Sr., OF, Creighton
Loreley Francia, Jr., P, St. John's
Ana Serafinko, Jr., P, St. John's
Kat Gallant, Jr., P, Villanova
Maranda Runco, So., DP, Villanova
Kelsey White, Sr., UT/P, Villanova*


*Denotes a unanimous selection
^Denotes a tie in voting
 
All-BIG EAST Second Team^
Lexi Hastings, Sr., OF, UConn
Hope Jenkins, Jr., P, UConn
Kaelan Schultz, So., DP, Creighton
Lily West, Jr., C, Creighton
Baylee Cosgrove, Sr., 2B, DePaul
Victoria Grifone, Gr., P, Providence
Elisa Smith, Jr., OF, Providence
Jess Bianco, Jr., OF, St. John's
London Jarrard, Sr., SS, St. John's
Madison Konopka, Fr., 3B, St. John's
Kelsey Carr, Gr., DP, Seton Hall
Olivia Gilbert, Sr., 1B, Seton Hall
Caroline Hobbes, Jr., 2B, Seton Hall
Kyra Kreuscher, Jr., P, Seton Hall
 
^Denotes a tie in voting