LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Four standouts from the No. 11 Saint Mary's University softball team, Kenzie Gatz, Peyton Berg, Megan McGinnis, and Makayla Steffes, have each been named to the 2026 NFCA Division III All-Region IX First-Team, as announced by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) on Friday, May 15.

Three of the Cardinals are earning back-to-back honors for their season, that is not done yet.

Berg is picking up second NFCA All-Region honor, previously second team in the 2024 season, this season she made the jump to first team after slugging a team best .740 and breaking the program record of RBI's with 164 and counting.

The senior has played and started in all 45 games at first base where she has been a crucial piece to the Cardinals offense and defense.

Gatz, the junior, is earning back-to-back First-team All-Region honors has the Cardinals pitcher where she also is a three time pitcher of the week in the MIAC. She has 17 wins this season, pitching four shutouts and 10 complete games.

She has struck out a career best 121 batters this season and has limited her opponents to just a .220 batting average.

The dynamic pitching duo of Gatz and now Steffes makes the Cardinals such a dangerous team. 

Steffes is making her third consecutive NFCA All-Region First-Team nod after being the star that she is. This season, the junior utility player has started and played in all 45 games for the team and earned pitcher of the week honors this season, recognized by the conference.

She has 20 wins on the mound this season in her 28 appearances, recording a shutout and 10 complete games. At the plate, she leads the team in hits at 57 and leads the team in stolen bases with 31 this season. She is a threat in every aspect of the game.

Rounding out the awards is junior McGinnis who is unstoppable at second base and hard to keep her silent at the plate. She also has played in every game this season in the starting spot with a .429 batting average with 34 RBI's this season, second on the team behind Berg.

McGinnis, who earned this award last season, also was tabbed player of the week honors earlier this season and has continued to be a contender each week. She leads the team in doubles with 14 for her 126 at bats this season.

These Cardinals put in the work day and night and there is still so much ahead for themselves and the team as they gear up for a rematch against Calvin at 11:00 a.m. at the SMU Softball Field tomorrow for the NCAA Regional Championship.