First team honors were widely distributed among teams in all eight regions as the NFCA announced its 2008 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III All-Region teams Tuesday.
Montclair State led all teams with five individuals on the East Region first team, led by three-time all-region honorees Jackie Ferranti and Jennifer Jimenez at third base and shortstop, respectively. Two-time first team all region pitcher Carolyn McCrea, along with second baseman Megan Durkin, round out Montclair State's infield first team nods. Outfielder Maureen Shockley was the Red Hawks' final first team honoree. The rest of the East region first team was evenly distributed, with Ramapo, Moravian and Rowan each placing two players on the first team.
In the West region, defending national champion Linfield led all teams with four first teamers. Four time all-region first baseman Amanda Attleberger received an at-large nod, while pitcher Brittany Miller and outfielder Stephanie Rice both received their third all-region honors. Second baseman Jenny Marshall was a second-time honoree. University of Redlands and Mary Hardin-Baylor both placed two individuals on the West first team.
In all six other regions, no team placed more than three on the first team squad. Ohio Northern led the Central region with three first team honorees, including shortstop Liz Decima and outfielders Mandi Fought and Tina Mangola.
Wisconsin-Eau Claire was another team with multiple first team nods, placing four athletes on the Great Lakes region first team squad. Second baseman Casey Leisgang received her fourth all-region honor, and designated player Kristi Doucette and pitcher Jenny Ross were the other Blugolds with first team nods.
Cortland State and Ithaca shared top honors in the Northeast, with both receiving three first team honors. Cortland was led by pitcher Katie Finch, outfielder Annemarie Nelson and designated player Emily Ringen, while the Bombers placed shortstop Erica Cutspec, outfielder Chelsey Feldman and pitcher Carly Myers (at-large) on the first team.
In the Midwest, Saint Thomas and Wartburg also had three first team honorees. Maria Bye received her fourth all-region nod for the Tommies at utility, while second baseman Kaity Wightman and outfielder Alison Wright were second-time honorees. Wartburg was led by pitcher Angela Hartwig, first baseman Ashley Rogers and third baseman Ashley Steines, another four-time all-region honoree.
The Atlantic region was even more widely distributed, with four teams receiving two first team nods, including Louisiana College, Salisbury, Shenandoah and Bridgewater. In the New England region, Wellesley and Eastern Connecticut also had two first team honorees, with the remainder spread among 11 different teams.
