Five athletes from the Drake softball team earned spots on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team, honoring their performance both on the field and in academics. The honorees include Tatum Aragon, Frankie Rita, Jayme Scheck, Ashlynn Sheets, and Natalee Watts, all recognized for their exceptional contributions in the Missouri Valley Conference. Aragon led the Bulldogs in hitting and runs batted in, while Rita excelled defensively as a utility player. Sheets and Scheck served as key pitchers for the team, demonstrating both athletic skill and academic excellence. Watts made notable contributions as an outfielder, also achieving a solid GPA.

By the Numbers
  • Tatum Aragon recorded a .293 batting average with 32 RBIs and 44 hits.
  • Frankie Rita scored 31 runs with a .284 batting average and a .942 fielding percentage.
  • Jayme Scheck held a 4.61 ERA with 41 strikeouts over 74.1 innings pitched.
  • Natalie Watts achieved a .281 batting average with 7 home runs and a .957 fielding percentage.
State of Play
  • The 2026 Academic All-District Softball Team has been announced, featuring student-athletes excelling athletically and academically.
  • All five honorees from Drake are also recipients of Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete Team selections.
What's Next

These student-athletes will continue their academic pursuits while preparing for potential postseason play, and may aim for further accolades in both athletics and academics as they advance in their careers.

Bottom Line

The recognition of these five players underscores the importance of balancing academic success with athletic performance, highlighting Drake's commitment to cultivating well-rounded student-athletes.