NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana softball's Madison Winston, Miya Covington and Kiera Evans received Red River Athletic Conference end-of-season awards Wednesday evening.
        Winston was voted second-team All-RRAC by the league's head coaches, Covington received honorable mention, and Evans was named to the Champions of Character Team.
        Winston, a senior outfielder from Opelousas, La., and a graduate of Westminster Christian Academy, is hitting .390 entering the Gold Nuggets' 3 p.m. Thursday game against NAIA No. 8 LSU-Shreveport in the RRAC Tournament at Pineville, La. Winston is the first XULA softball player to earn All-RRAC twice. She made the first team in 2024.
        Covington, a freshman outfielder from Fultondale, Ala., and a graduate of Gardendale High School, is hitting .340. Evans, a senior outfielder from Houma, La., and a graduate of H.L. Bourgeois High School, was nominated for the Champions of Character Team by her head coach, Kailey Anderson. Those nominees reflect the five NAIA Champions of Character attributes: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership.
        Julia Kwakernaak, who plays third base for LSU-Alexandria, was chosen Player of the Year, and Our Lady of the Lake's Ava Hernandez earned Pitcher of the Year.

Photos of Madison Winston, Miya Covington and Kiera Evans by Yamlak Tsega