ODESSA, Texas (May 26, 2026) – Pitcher Jessica Cantrell and left fielder Carlee Quintero of The University of Texas Permian Basin softball team have each been named to the 2025-26 Academic All-District® Team, selected by College Sports Communicators.

Jessica Cantrell is a sophomore pitcher from Elgin, Texas, who holds a 3.74 cumulative grade point average in chemistry. Coming into the season, Cantrell was named to the LSC Preseason Players to Watch list for pitchers for the second year in a row. She would go on to be named UTPB's Edgardo Madrid & Associates Women's Student-Athlete of the Month in both February and April. Cantrell was 12-11 in 22 starts and 27 appearances in the circle this season. She started in 29 of 34 games overall, including seven starts at designated player. She finished second in the LSC with 16 complete games and threw four shutouts. She allowed a 3.41 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP, 151 hits, 95 total runs, 72 earned runs, 34 walks, 140 strikeouts, and a .259 opponents' batting average in 148.0 innings pitched. She led the Falcons in every pitching category, including ERA, WHIP, wins, starts, appearances, complete games, shutouts, innings pitched, and strikeouts. Offensively, she hit .179 with six runs, 12 hits, one double, four home runs, eight RBI's, 25 total bases, six walks, two hit by pitches, a .267 on-base percentage and a .373 slugging percentage in 67 at bats. She was also tied for first on the team in home runs. As a pitcher in the LSC, she ranked fourth in strikeouts (ninth in strikeouts looking, 21), sixth in innings pitched, 12th in wins, 14th in opposing batting average, and 15th in ERA. She pitched 10 innings in two games (2/27 vs. TAMUK & 3/39 vs. TAMIU), the most innings pitched in a single game in the LSC this season. She also led the LSC this year with 14 batters struck out in one game (3/29 vs. TAMIU), and struck out double-digit batters in four games overall. Academically, Cantrell has been named to the Dean's List and the Lone Star Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll in each of her first four semesters (Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Fall 2025, Spring 2026).

Carlee Quintero is a sophomore outfielder from San Antonio, Texas, who holds a 3.72 GPA as a management major. Quintero started in all 49 games in left field this season. She hit .320 with 24 runs, 47 hits, three doubles, one triple, nine RBI's, 52 total bases, six walks, one hit by pitch, seven stolen bases, a .351 on-base percentage and .354 slugging percentage in 147 at bats. She was one of two Falcons to play in all 49 games this season and led the team in batting average (among eligible players), runs, hits, total bases and stolen bases. She tied with just one other player for the most hits in a single game among all LSC players this season (5 hits on 3/29 at TAMIU). Academically, Cantrell has been named to the Lone Star Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll in each of her first four semesters (Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Fall 2025, Spring 2026) and is also a member of the President's Honor Roll at UTPB.

UTPB Head Softball Coach David Martinez said, "Receiving the CSC Academic Award while anchoring our softball program is a direction reflection of Jessica's and Carlee's relentless work ethic, focus and dedication both on the field and in the classroom."

The 2025-26 Academic All-District® Softball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the diamond and in the classroom. To be eligible for CSC Academic All-District, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically, hold a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher and must be a standout in competition. Eligible nominees for softball must compete in 90 percent of the institution's games played OR must start in at least 66 percent of the institution's games. For pitchers, a student-athlete must have made at least 17 appearances OR pitched 35 innings.