NORFOLK, Va. – On Thursday, January 30, four North Carolina Central players earned spots on the 2025 Preseason All-MEAC Softball Teams. The Eagles were also picked to finish fourth in the Predicted Order of Finish.
The All-MEAC teams and predicted standings were determined by votes from MEAC head softball coaches and sports information directors.
Outfielder Tyler Suttles made the first team, while pitcher Jaden Davis, first baseman Takia Nichols, and shortstop Makiya Graves all secured second-team honors. These four players helped lead the Eagles to a semifinal finish in the MEAC Tournament last season.
Davis, Nichols, and Graves earned Preseason All-MEAC recognition for the second year in a row, while Suttles was named to the team for the first time.
As a freshman, Suttles hit .308 with 36 hits, 10 RBIs, 18 runs, and a perfect 8-for-8 in stolen bases. In conference play, she ranked among the MEAC’s top 10 in five hitting categories, including third in batting average (.435) and hits (27).
Davis, a two-time all-conference pitcher, led the MEAC in strikeouts with 116 and ranked third in wins (12) and second in innings pitched (188.1). She posted a 3.16 ERA, with a 2.29 ERA in MEAC games.
Nichols, who earned all-conference honors in 2023, hit .346 that year and ranked second in slugging percentage (.596), on-base percentage (.467), and OPS (.1.063). Last season, she was eighth in on-base percentage (.438) and second in walks (25), finishing with a .282 average, 24 hits, and 8 RBIs.
Graves, who earned her second consecutive All-MEAC honor, ranked fourth in the conference in putouts (233) and second in fielding double plays (11) while hitting .287 with 37 hits, 10 RBIs, and 17 runs. In 2023, she was named Rookie of the Year after leading the MEAC in hits (62) and ranking seventh in batting average (.354).
Below are the full Preseason All-MEAC Teams and Predicted Order of Finish:
2025 MEAC Softball Predicted Order of Finish
- Howard (8 first-place votes) – 118 points
- Morgan State (7 first-place votes) – 117 points
- Coppin State (1 first-place vote) – 85 points
- N.C. Central – 72 points
- S.C. State – 52 points
- Maryland Eastern Shore – 46 points
- Delaware State – 45 points
- Norfolk State – 41 points
2025 MEAC Softball Preseason All-Conference Teams
Preseason Player of the Year: Victoria Fletcher, Morgan State
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Julia Holt, Howard
First Team
- Victoria Fletcher (P) – Morgan State
- Julia Holt (P) – Howard
- Alyssa Vasquez (C) – Howard
- Seryna Esparza (1B) – Coppin State
- Lealani Ricks (2B) – Howard
- Kenna Higa (3B) – Howard
- Sidney Fletcher (SS) – Howard
- Maryn Jordan (OF) – Howard
- Amber Rivas (OF) – Morgan State
- Tyler Suttles (OF) – N.C. Central
- Victoria Fletcher (UTL/DP) – Morgan State
Second Team
- Jaden Davis (P) – N.C. Central
- Mia Gonzales (P) – Howard
- Alison Keener (C) – Morgan State
- Takia Nichols (1B) – N.C. Central
- Clarke Calvin (2B) – Maryland Eastern Shore
- Julianna Mejia (3B) – Coppin State
- Makiya Graves (SS) – N.C. Central
- Jaycee Holt (OF) – Maryland Eastern Shore
- Brooklyn Tapusoa (OF) – Coppin State
- Merci Hart (OF) – Howard
- Ameenah Ballenger (UTL/DP) – Howard
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