2026 UCHSSOFTBALL MVP & CY YOUNG

Ashlyn Pressley (PM)

2026 MVP AWARD WINNER

PEIDMONT'S ASHLYN PRESSLEY

The 2026 UCHSSoftball.com’s MVP is Piedmont’s Ashlyn Pressley. Hit .494 with 44 hits, driving in 31 RBI, scored 16 runs, added 13 doubles and smacked 4 HR’s as as senior. Had 2+ hits in a game 14 times. Recorded 2+ RBI in 10 games. Went 2-for-3 with 3 RBI in playoff win over Freedom. Went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI in win over Sun Valley. Went 4-for-5 with 2 RBI vs. Marvin Ridge. Went 3-for-4 with a season high 5 RBI in 16-6 playoff win over Central Cabarrus. Went 2-for-3 with 3 RBI in the 12-1 playoff win over Freedom. Pressley was named 1st team All-UCHSSoftball.com, SCC Player of the Year and All SCC.

On the mound was 9-1 for the Panthers with a 3.70 ERA while striking out 59 batters while adding 1 save. Struck out 5+ batters 5 times. Held opponents to a .217 batting avg. Helped lead the Panthers to a 20-7 record and into the Elite-8 of the state playoffs. Ashlyn will continue her academic and softball careers at Coker University. Ashlyn joins former Panther greats Courtney Barrineau (’10) and Shelby Baucom (’09) to be named the UCHSSoftball.com’s MVP. Congrats Ashlyn!

#	24
Position	IF/P
Grade	Senior

Joella Thomas (W)

2026 CY YOUNG AWARD WINNER

WEDDINGTON'S JOELLA THOMAS

The 2026 Cy Young award winner is Weddington’s Joella Thomas. Ms. Thomas won the Pitching “Triple-Crown” as a senior. Leading Union Co. with 27 wins, tying the Union Co. single season record with 305 strikeouts and a 0.87 ERA. Held opposing hitters to a .154 batting average on the season. Threw a NO-HITTER with 9 K’s in win over Cuthbertson. Struck out a career high 23 batters in a 2-1 win over Ardrey Kell. Struck out 15 in back-to-back playoff wins over Lake Norman & Mooresville. Struck out 15 Panthers in 7-2 win over rival Piedmont. Threw 5 NO-HIT innings striking out 12 Mavericks in 11-0 win over rival Mavin Ridge. Struck out 10+ hitters in 16 games including 7 of the last 8 games to finish the 2026 season. Struck out 96 batters in the playoffs. Pitched 2 shoutout wins with 19 strikeouts in the NC State championship series. Hit .253 at the plate collecting 21 hits, driving in 13 runs, along with 2 doubles and smacking 3 HR’s.

Joelle was named MVP of the State Championship series. Named 1st Team All-UCHSSoftball.com, SCC Pitcher of the year and All-SCC in 2026. Ms. Thomas helped lead the Warriors to their first undefeated regular season in school history (18-0), finishing 27-0 overall, a SCC Title, a SCC tournament title and more importantly a 7A STATE TITLE. Joella is a 2-time winner (’24) of the UCHSSoftball.com’s Cy Young award and is the only Warrior to ever win the award. She will continue her academic and softball career at Lenoir Rhyne University. Congrats Joella!

#	24
Position	P/IF
Grade	Senior