California infielder Elon Butler was named to the 2025 ACC Softball Preseason All-ACC Team, the conference office announced Thursday afternoon.
 
Butler returns for her third season in a Golden Bear uniform after a stellar sophomore campaign, in which she was named a NFCA All-American (second team) in addition to earning spots on the NFCA All-Region First Team and All-Pac-12 Second Team.
 
She led the team in home runs (17), RBIs (44), total bases (117) and slugging percentage (.760) while being third in runs (37), hits (54) and batting average (.351) in 2024.
 
Cal, which will play its inaugural season as a member of the ACC, was picked to finish sixth in the league by the conference's coaches, earning 130 points in the preseason poll. Duke was the favorite with 193 points and 11 first-place votes, followed by Florida State with 183 points and four first-place votes. Virginia Tech (165), Stanford (143) and Virginia (140) rounded out the top five.
 
Five ACC teams were ranked in ESPN.com/USA Softball Preseason Top 25, tied for the second-most of all conferences. Duke led the conference at No. 8, followed by Florida State (No. 12), Virginia Tech (No. 18), Cal (No. 21) and Stanford (No. 22).
 
2025 ACC Softball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Duke - 193 points (11 first-place votes)
2. Florida State - 183 points (4 first-place votes)
3. Virginia Tech - 165 points
4. Stanford - 143 points
5. Virginia - 140 points
6. Cal - 130 points
7. Clemson - 126 points
8. Georgia Tech - 87 points
9. North Carolina - 85 points
10. Louisville - 73 points
11. Notre Dame - 72 points
12. Boston College - 66 points
13. NC State - 65 points
14. Syracuse - 31 points
15. Pitt - 16 points
 
2025 Softball Preseason All-ACC Team
Elon Butler, California, INF
Maddie Moore, Clemson, INF
Aminah Vega, Duke, INF
Jaysoni Beachum, Florida State, INF
Jade Hylton, Virginia, INF
D'auna Jennings, Duke, OF
Jahni Kerr, Florida State, OF
Alex Coleman, North Carolina, OF
Emily Jones, Stanford, OF
Cassidy Curd, Duke, P
Eden Bigham, Virginia, P
Emma Lemley, Virginia Tech, P
Michaela Edenfield, Florida State, C
Cori McMillan, Virginia Tech, DP/UTIL
 
STAY POSTED
For complete coverage of Cal softball, please follow the Bears on X/Twitter (CalSB), Instagram (CalSB) and Facebook (Facebook.com/CalSoftball).