SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – North Dakota State infielder Rylee Henderson and South Dakota pitcher McKenna Young claimed the latest Kwik Star Summit League Softball Peak Performer and Pitcher of the Week honors, League officials announced Monday. The honors for the sophomore duo are the first of their respective careers.
 
Henderson batted .818 as NDSU posted a 3-1 record in four games against East Texas A&M and Prairie View A&M this past weekend. The NDSU sophomore went 9-for-11, including the first two three-hit games of her career.

In the Bison's 11-0 win over East Texas A&M, Henderson cleared the bases with a three-run double in the first and added an RBI single in the fourth. She finished 3-for-3 in that contest with a career-high four RBI and the Jurupa Valley, Calif., native put together another 3-for-3 effort the next time out in a 5-3 win over Prairie View A&M. She closed the weekend with her third multi-hit effort as NDSU capped its weekend with an 11-3 win over the Panthers.

In USD's four-game weekend stint against those same teams that NDSU faced, Young appeared in the circle three times, logging a 1.69 ERA while striking out 27 in 16 innings of work. The sophomore recorded double-digit strikeouts in complete-game victories over both East Texas A&M and Prairie View A&M. She racked up a career-high 14 in her opening outing of the weekend, a 4-1 victory over the Lions, and added 11 in a win over the Panthers where she allowed only one run and four hits.
 
Young closed out her weekend by tossing two innings of scoreless relief in an 8-4 win over East Texas A&M. 

PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Rylee Henderson, North Dakota State
So. | Infield | Jurupa Valley, Calif.

• Batted .818 over four starts in a 3-1 weekend for the Bison
• Recorded the first two three-hit games of her career and had a career-high four RBI in NDSU's second game vs. East Texas A&M
• Three multi-hit games on the weekend were one shy of her total of four from last season
• This is Henderson's first career weekly accolade.

Also nominated: Castillo Derika (Kansas City), Camryn Lasota (North Dakota), Sammy Schmidt (Omaha), Delaney White (South Dakota), and Brooke Dumont (South Dakota State).
 
PEAK PITCHER OF THE WEEK
McKenna Young, South Dakota
So. | Pitcher | Brodhead, Wis.

• Recorded 27 strikeouts over 16 innings of work while posting a 1.69 ERA in three appearances
• Posted back-to-back complete games with double-digit strikeouts, including a career-high 14 in win over East Texas A&M
• Added two twins to improve to 4-0 on the season with a 0.76 ERA in eight outings 
• This is Young's first career weekly accolade.

Also nominated: Unity Nelson (North Dakota), Kaitlyn Dunford (North Dakota State), Alexis Wiggins (Omaha), and Tayler Baker (South Dakota State).

2025 Softball Peak Performers of the Week
February 10
Peak Performer: Ava Rongisch, Omaha
Peak Pitcher: Makaela Carr, North Dakota
 
February 17
Peak Performer: Sammy Schmidt, Omaha
Peak Pitcher: Maddia Groff, Omaha
 
February 24
Peak Performer: Rylee Henderson, North Dakota State
Peak Pitcher: McKenna Young, South Dakota
 
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