LOUISVILLE, Ky. - After another outstanding record-breaking season, the Trine University softball team received recognition from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) as all six of their nominations were named to the All-Central Region team. Trine’s six selections were more than the rest of the MIAA conference combined (five).
After putting up record-breaking offensive numbers this season, the Thunder had four of their six honorees named to the All-Central Region First Team including MIAA Most Valuable Pitcher senior Andi Gasco (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) and her sister, sophomore outfielder Carly Searles (Levering, Mich./Petoskey), along with senior first baseman Lauren Harris (Uniontown, Ohio/Hoover) and sophomore designated player Amy Newell (Three Rivers, Mich./Three Rivers).
MIAA Most Valuable Position Player senior catcher Sarah Belote (Bronson, Mich./Bronson) was named to the second team for the second straight season and sophomore third baseman Rachel Harris (Uniontown, Ohio/Hoover), sister of Lauren, was named to the third team.
The Thunder were one of just four schools to have four players named first team all-region and one of just six schools to have all six of their nominations earn first, second, or third team honors.
It marks the third straight year and fourth time in the past five seasons that the Thunder have had multiple All-Region selections. Only one other school, John Carroll with four, had more than two players named All-Central Region.
For the third straight year, Gasco was named an NFCA First Team honoree. After being named a third team at-large selection in 2010, Gasco finished her career becoming the first Thunder player to be named a three-time NFCA All-Region First Team selection. Trine’s previous other first team selections were Kara Graham in 2009 and Mackenzie Peffley in 2001, when Trine was a member of the NAIA.
Lauren Harris was named an all-region selection for the second time in her career as she was named to the third team in 2011. Searles was also named to the third team a season ago.
The four first team selections by the Thunder marks the first time since Hope in 2005 than an MIAA school has had four players honored as All-Central Region First Team selections. It’s also the first time in a decade, Alma in 2003, that an MIAA school placed all six of their nominations on the all-region team and is just the fifth time since the NFCA began the program in 1987 (1996, Alma and Hope; 1995, Hope)
The 2013 NFCA All-Region teams featured 159 different schools placing at least one student-athlete on an NFCA All-Region team, as announced today by the Association.
A complete list of All-Region honors can be found by clicking here.