The University of Maryland Eastern Shore sophomore Clarke Calvin and senior Paige Perkins were named to the 2026 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Softball Preseason All-MEAC Team.

Entering the 2026 season, Calvin was tabbed First Team at utility and Second Team at second base. In 2025, she earned All-MEAC Third Team honors and ranked ninth in the conference in walks (14). Calvin led the Hawks in batting average (.309), slugging percentage (.400), RBIs (12), doubles (8) and total bases (44).

A four-year member of the Hawks, Perkins appeared in 43 games, recording 16 hits, seven runs, four doubles and two home runs. Defensively, she threw out 10 runners attempting to steal. Perkins earned All-MEAC Second Team at catcher in 2025 for the first time in her career.

Howard graduate student Taylor Ames- Alexander was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Softball Preseason Player of the Year, while fellow Bison Julia Holt was named the Preseason Pitcher of the Year.   

Additionally, Howard was selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2026 MEAC softball regular-season title.   

Ames-Alexander, a new face to the Howard Bison but a familiar name in the MEAC, was named the 2026 MEAC Preseason Player of the Year after earning MEAC Player of the Year honors in 2025. The shortstop was a first-team All-MEAC selection last season with the South Carolina State Bulldogs, leading the conference with a .421 batting average. She posted a .711 slugging percentage and a .444 on-base percentage, collecting 51 hits in 121 at-bats. Her offensive production included 12 doubles, four triples, five home runs, 36 RBIs, and 23 runs scored. Defensively, Ames-Alexander recorded a .940 fielding percentage with 59 putouts and 82 assists, turning three double plays, and was named MEAC Player of the Week twice during the season. 

Holt garnered MEAC Preseason Pitcher of the Year honors for the second straight season following a first-team All-MEAC selection in 2025. She turned in a strong campaign last season as a pitcher, posting a 5.02 ERA across 36 appearances, including 13 starts. In 113.0 innings pitched, Holt struck out 94 batters while issuing just 32 walks. She added two complete games, including one shutout, and limited opposing hitters to a .281 batting average, helping lead the Bison to a MEAC Championship and an NCAA appearance. 

The 2026 MEAC Softball Championship will be held on the campus of Norfolk State University May 6–9. 

The predicted order of finish and the complete All-MEAC preseason teams are listed below. (as voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors) 

2025 MEAC Softball Predicted Order of Finish  
School (First-place votes), Points
Howard (12), 116 
Delaware State (2), 94 
Norfolk State, 80 
North Carolina Central, 64 
South Carolina State (1), 57 
Coppin State, 55 
Morgan State, 50 
Maryland Eastern Shore, 24 

2025 MEAC Softball Preseason All-Conference Teams  
Preseason Player of the Year: Taylor Ames-Alexander, Howard 
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Julia Holt, Howard   

First Team
Name, Pos., Year, School, Hometown  
Kristin White, P, Jr., Delaware State, Crofton, MD.   
Destiny Calloway, P, Sr., Howard, Evington, VA.  
Merci Hart, C, Jr., Howard, Los Angeles, Calif.  
Maya Johnson, 1B, Sr., Norfolk State, Salt Lake City, Utah  
Taylor Ames-Alexander, 2B, Gr., Howard, Lancaster, SC.  
Julianna Mejia, 3B, Jr., Howard, Lincoln Heights, Calif. 
Tonya Marks, SS, So., Morgan State, Whitehall, MD. 
Lauryn Jones, OF, So., Howard, Denton, Texas.   
Aniyah Haley, OF, Sr., Coppin State, Indianapolis, Ind. 
Angel Riggins, OF, Jr., Howard, San Diego, Calif.  
Clarke Calvin, UTL/DP, So., Maryland Eastern Shore, Woodbury, Minn. 
Julia Holt, RP, Sr., Howard, Tucson, AZ. 

Second Team
Name, Pos., Year, School, Hometown 
Serena Rodriguez, P, Jr., Morgan State, Simi Valley, Calif. 
Kailey Bryant, P, Jr., Norfolk State, Moyock, NC. 
Paige Perkins, C, Sr., Maryland Eastern Shore, Waterford, Conn. 
Kylie Nelson, 1B, Sr., South Carolina State, Sacramento, Calif. 
Clarke Calvin, 2B, So., Maryland Eastern Shore, Woodbury, Minn.  
Karly Cain, 3B, Sr., Delaware State, Felton, DE 
Alyssa Stanford, SS, So., South Carolina State, Ellenwood, GA. 
Giselle Ulloa, OF, Jr., Coppin State, Norco, Calif.  
Maryn Jordan, OF, Sr., Howard, San Diego, Calif. 
Jamaria Charley, OF, R-Jr., South Carolina State, St. Matthews, SC. 
Madison Morris, UTL/DP, Jr., Norfolk State, Hampton, VA. 
Simone Mack, RP, So., North Carolina Central, Cornelius, NC.