PHILADELPHIA – The Swarthmore College softball team had three student-athletes chosen to the Philly-SIDA Academic All-Area Team on Wednesday with
Lilly Goldberg earning Performer of the Year honors.
Goldberg was joined on the squad by
Iris Barone and
Avery McClure. All three garnered the award for the first time in their respective careers with Goldberg's selection coming in her first year of eligibility for the honor. The team is voted on by the athletic communications offices of the institutions in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.
Goldberg put together one of the most accomplished seasons in Swarthmore softball history in 2026, earning Centennial Conference Pitcher of the Year honors, All-Centennial First Team recognition, and NFCA All-America Second Team accolades. She became the first multi-time All-American in program history and just the third player in Centennial Conference history to earn multiple All-America selections, additionally collecting NFCA All-Region First Team honors.
The sophomore posted a 20-4 record with a 1.37 ERA, becoming the first pitcher in program history to reach 20 victories in a season. In 158.2 innings, she threw 18 complete games and five shutouts, striking out 104 batters against just 34 walks, while holding opponents to a .208 batting average. Nationally, she ranked among the Division III leaders in numerous categories including wins, ERA, WHIP, innings pitched, hits allowed per seven innings, complete games, and shutouts.
Barone led the Garnet with a .447 batting average and 1.104 OPS. She was an All-Region First Team and All-Centennial First Team selection. Barone produced 67 hits, eight doubles, seven triples, 20 RBI, 49 runs, and 37 stolen bases. The senior was second in the region in runs and stolen bases, tied for second in triples, third in hits, eighth in batting average, seventh in on-base percentage, and ninth in total bases. Barone also was a steady hand in center field, committing just one error all season.
McClure batted .407 with a .997 OPS and was named Third Team All-Region and First Team All-Centennial. She tallied 48 hits, including three doubles and three home runs. The senior drove in 27 runs and scored 27 times. McClure had six three-hit games and had three RBI four times.
The trio helped propel Swarthmore to a 35-10 record, setting a program single-season mark for victories. The Garnet captured their second consecutive Centennial Conference championship—with Goldberg earning Tournament MVP honors—and hosted an NCAA Regional for the first time in program history after finishing 16
th in the NCAA Power Index.
Read more: Philly-SIDA Academic All-Area Softball Team
