YOUNG HARRIS, GA| Young Harris College Softball student athletes Bailee Brown, Maddy Brady, Shelby Duncan, Shayla Pennington and Gracie Hughes have been named to the 2026 CSC Academic All-District Team, recognizing their success on and off the field. 

The CSC Academic All-District program honors the nation's top student athletes across four divisions for their combined academic and athletic achievements. These five Mountain Lions are among 44 student athletes from Conference Carolinas to receive this honor. 

Bailee Brown, a senior outfielder from Concord, Georgia, started all 49 games for the Mountain Lions and posted a .314 batting average. Brown was second on the team in hits with 55 while leading the team in at bats with 175. Brown anchored the YH defense in center field, recording 58 putouts and flashing a .952 fielding percentage. 

Maddy Brady, a junior outfielder from Hampton, Georgia, had a strong showing on the field this year with a .279 batting average and 31 hits. Starting 43 games on the season, Brady recorded 9 RBI and 6 stolen bases while drawing 10 walks. Brady was dominant in the outfield, posting a 1.000 fielding percentage and collecting 66 putouts. 

Shelby Duncan, a senior infielder from Concord, Georgia, earned first-team All-Conference honors while starting all 49 games at the hot corner for YH. Duncan posted a .314 batting average while recording 49 hits, 10 doubles, 5 home runs and leading the team with 14 stolen bases. Leading the team with 123 assists, Duncan was instrumental in success at the plate and in the field for the Mountain Lions. 

Shayla Pennington, a junior infielder from Haddock, Georgia, started 48 games on the year and recorded the second highest batting average on the team with a .321. In 137 at bats, Pennington recorded 44 hits, 3 doubles, 1 triple and 12 stolen bases. In the field, Pennington collected 59 assists and 108 putouts with a .944 fielding percentage. 

Gracie Hughes, a senior infielder from Woodstock, Georgia, earned first-team All-Conference honors following a stellar season. Hughes led the Mountain Lion offense in multiple categories with a .388 batting average, 57 hits, 6 home runs and 49 RBI. Hughes also recorded a .994 fielding percentage with a team leading 306 putouts at first base. 

These five student athletes will now advance to the CSC Academic All-America ballot. National Academic All-America® honorees will be announced on June 16.