CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Parkland College Athletics and Cobras Softball are proud to announce that freshman pitcher Karley Yergler and sophomore first basemen Jaidi Davis have been selected to the 2023 NJCAA DII All-American Second Team. The two also earned All-Region 24 and All-Conference First Team selections following impressive performances throughout the season in which the Cobras went 52-12, including a perfect 20-0 record in conference play and the program's third straight conference championship, and a 5th place finish at the NJCAA DII Softball World Series, the team's best finish since 2012.
 
"Karley and Jaidi's selection to the NJCAA All-American Teams is no surprise to us," Parkland College Co-Head Coach Dan Paulson revealed. "They both are extremely deserving, and it shows the work they put in paid off.
 
"Jaidi led the team in just about every offensive category and was also the overall team leader, while Karley led the country in strikeouts, was second in wins, and led the team in home runs as well."
 
Karley Yergler, a freshman pitcher from Mahomet, Illinois, appeared in 50 games this season, pitching in 40 and starting 34. Yergler posted a record of 28-9 in the circle, converting 2-2 save opportunities and boasting an ERA of 1.61 (12th in the country), a BAA of .178 (22nd), and a K/7 of 10.31 (8th). The freshman's 301 strikeouts led the nation, while her nine shutouts and 204.1 innings pitched ranked 2nd, and her 22 complete games ranked 5th. At the plate, the Mahomet-Seymour High School alum recorded a slash line of .330/.373/.631, recording 34 hits, ten doubles, seven home runs, including two at the Softball World Series, and 26 RBI in 103 at bats. Yergler, a science major at Parkland College, is the daughter of Becky Yergler and Paul Yergler.
 
Jaidi Davis, a sophomore first baseman from Effingham, Illinois, appeared in 61 games in her second year with the Cobras, producing a team-best slash line of .419/.481/.644. in 160 at bats. Primarily used as a pitcher in her first season, the Effingham High School alum led the team with 67 hits in 2023, 90th most in the nation, including 19 doubles (37th), four triples (56th), and three home runs for a total of 26 extra-base hits (93rd). Davis proved to be a fast learner at the plate, tallying a career-high three hits in a 6-0 win at Gordon State College on March 11th and a career-high four RBI in an 8-0 victory over Suffolk Community College on March 17th.
 
"We appreciate the opportunity we had to coach Jaidi these past two years and look forward to another year with Karley," Paulson finished.