Greenville, S.C. | Young Harris College standouts Gracie Hughes (1B/P) and Shelby Duncan (3B) have been named to the 2025 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Softball Team, recognizing their excellence both on the field and in the classroom. 

The CSC Academic All-District program honors the nation's top student-athletes across four divisions for their combined academic and athletic achievements. Hughes and Duncan were among the 32 student-athletes from Conference Carolinas selected for this honor. 

Hughes, a junior pitcher and first baseman from Woodstock, Georgia, earned a spot on the Conference Carolinas All-Defensive Team following a career-best season. She tallied 344 putouts, nine assists, and just one error defensively, while posting a .388 batting average with 14 home runs and 59 RBIs across 44 games. Hughes also notched a .784 slugging percentage and contributed in the circle with three wins and two saves over 13 appearances. Off the field, she excelled academically with a 3.98 GPA. 

Duncan, a junior third baseman, started all 45 games this season and was named to the All-Conference Second Team. She finished the regular season with a career-high .421 batting average, collecting 64 hits—including 13 doubles, three triples, and four home runs—while driving in 21 runs and stealing 15 bases. Duncan also posted a .625 slugging percentage and maintained a 3.58 GPA in the classroom. 

Both student-athletes will now advance to the CSC Academic All-America ballot. National Academic All-America® honorees will be announced on June 17.