RUSTON, La. – With the recent success that the Louisiana Tech Lady Techster softball program has had it is no surprise that the all-decade team voted on by fans is loaded with players from the past five years.

Prior to a virus-shortened 2020 season, LA Tech softball had recorded five straight years of 30-plus wins, including three Conference USA championships and a pair of trips to the NCAA Regional.

Fans recognized the recent success and rewarded many of the student-athletes who played a huge role in it. More than 1,400 ballots were cast for the all-decade team.

Pitcher Krystal De La Cruz (1000 votes/70.2 percent), outfielder Morgan Turkoly (994/69.8%), outfielder Jazlyn Crowder (991/69.6%), catcher Marilyn Rizzato (899/63.1%), utility Anna Cross (895/62.9%), utility Pauline Tufi (851/59.8%), shortstop Katie Smith (789/55.4%), outfielder Kristen Miles (769/54.0%), pitcher Preslee Gallaway (704/49.4%), and utility Kimmie Atienza (659/46.3%) all earned a spot on the team comprised of players who starred on the diamond in a Lady Techster uniform between 2011 and 2020.

De La Cruz (2017-19, Eagle Pass, Texas) spent the final three years of her career in Ruston after transferring from Texas A&M International. She was a two-time first team all-league pitcher and was named the 2017 Conference USA Newcomer of the Year. While also earning all-Mideast Region honors twice, she was the winning pitcher in both the 2017 and the 2019 Conference USA Tournament championship games. She is only Tech pitcher to earn first team all-league in two separate seasons.

Turkoly (2016-19, Sanger, Texas) ended her career as one of the most highly-decorated players to ever play in Ruston. The 2018 Conference USA Player of the Year is the only player in program history to earn all-conference honors all four years while also earning all-region and all-state honors all four seasons. She ranks No. 2 in program history in batting average, hits, total bases, and slugging percentage and is No. 1 in runs, walks and on-base percentage.

Crowder (2017-19, Kennedale, Texas) came to Ruston as a sophomore and turned into one of the most dangerous hitters in Tech history. The two-time all-league honoree saved her top season for the last as she earned both the C-USA Player of the Year award and the C-USA Tournament MVP award in 2019. She ranks in the top 10 in program history in batting average, hits, doubles, triples, home runs, total bases, runs, RBI, slugging percentage and on-base percentage.

Rizzato (2017-20, Forney, Texas) started all four years for Tech, and quickly became one of the top defensive catchers in the country. She earned all-Conference USA honors three years (league didn't announce an all-league team in 2020) and was named to the C-USA all-tournament team in 2019 and the C-USA all-freshman team in 2017. She threw out 34 base stealers in her career while recording more than 40 extra base hits and 84 RBI.

Cross (2013-16, Cross Roads, Texas) was one of the most versatile players during the decade, playing short stop, third base, outfield and pitcher in her four years. She earned the WAC Freshman of the Year honor in 2013 and was all-league in both the WAC and Conference USA. She ranks in the top 10 in program history in doubles, home runs, total bases, runs, RBI and stolen bases.

Tufi (2014-17, Anchorage, Alaska) became one of the most feared hitters for opposing pitchers in her career. After being named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team as a rookie, she continued to power her way into the Tech record books. Her solo home run in the top of the seventh inning lifted Tech to a 1-0 win over FIU in the 2017 C-USA title game, earning her the Conference USA Tournament MVP honor. She ranks in Top 10 in home runs, total bases, walks, RBI and slugging percentage.

Despite never being named all-league, the LA Tech voters knew the value of shortstop Katie Smith, a four-year starter and three-year team captain during her career. Smith (2015-18, Bossier City, La.) made a name for herself with her smooth fielding ability, recording more than 750 outs from the shortstop positon in her career. At the plate, she ended her career with 90 runs, 85 RBI and 49 stolen bases, including 30 her senior season when she was caught stealing just one time in 31 attempts.

Miles (2013-16, Plano, Texas) earned her spot on the team after a four-year career that saw her bat at the top of the Techster lineup while patrolling the outfield. The 2013 all-WAC and all-state honoree, is just one of three players in program history that batted at least .315 while scoring at least 125 runs (Turkoly, Amberly Waits). She ended her career with 159 hits, 132 runs scored and 43 stolen bases.

Gallaway (2016-19, Pilot Point, Texas) was recruited as a position player but turned herself into one of the top pitchers in program history. She became the first Tech pitcher to ever earn league pitcher of the year honors, named the 2018 C-USA Pitcher of the Year. The three-time all-league arm also earned all-Mideast Region honors as a junior. She ranks Top 10 in program history in wins, strikeouts and innings pitched and is the all-time leader in saves (15).

Atienza (2017-19, Texarkana, Texas) emerged as one of the most productive leadoff hitters in Tech history. After earning a spot in the starting lineup midway through her sophomore year, she earned all-state honors twice and was named to the All-Mideast Region team in 2019 as well as the Conference USA all-tournament team. She ended her career batting .319 (top 10) with eight home runs, 38 RBI, 99 runs and 47 stolen bases.