By Brad Welborn, Northwestern State Assistant Sports Information Director; featured photo by Chris Reich, NSU Photographic Services
NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State had one of the best defensive teams in the Southland Conference during the 2025 softball season. On Wednesday, its center fielder received league-wide recognition.
Sophomore Sophia Livers, a former Benton star, was chosen as the best defensive center fielder this past season and named to the SLC All-Defensive Team at the position, as part of the annual all-conference award selections.
Livers was perfect for the Demons in center during conference play, literally.
Of the 57 total chances she had during her 25 games roaming the outfield against SLC opponents, she converted on all 57 of them. It was the most putouts by an outfielder in the conference without an error this year.
She was one of nine total players in the league that did not commit an error this season, including two of her teammates, fellow outfielder Bailie Ragsdale and first baseman Brynn Daniel.
Livers helped lead the Demons to a .971 team fielding percentage, second highest in the league this year, with just 21 total errors, tied for the second fewest in the league. It was the highest team fielding percentage in conference since 2021.
For the overall season, Livers left her mark on the record book by recording the most putouts in a season by an outfielder in program history with 110. She is just the second player to record more than 100 in a season.
There were only five games this year in which she did not record at least one putout. She recorded four or more in a game 12 different times including five in NSU’s shutout win at #20 Mississippi State and her season high of seven came against McNeese on March 14.
2025 Southland All-Defensive Team
C – Jaisy Caceres, UIW
1B – Cala Wilson, Lamar
2B – Claire Sisco, Nicholls
3B – Trinity Brandon, Lamar
SS – Reese Reyna, McNeese
LF – Maddy Bailey, HCU
CF – Sophia Livers, Northwestern State
RF – Reagan Heflin, Nicholls
P – Maddie Taylor, McNeese