STARKVILLE, Miss. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced the three winners of the 2011 NJCAA Division I Regional Coaching Staff of the Year award on Thursday. 



Head Coach Stacy Iveson and assistants Lisa Parks, JR Barringer and Joe Cappelli won the west region award after guiding the Roughriders to their second national championship in three years and a 67-4 overall record.

Yavapai clinched its fourth straight trip to the national tournament this season by winning the Region I title from the elimination bracket and winning three games in one day.

Taking home the honors in south region this year was the third-place finisher from the national tournament, Tallahassee. Head coach Patti Townsend, along with assistants Jennifer McKibben and Jennifer Whitley and graduate assistant Shea Lodes lead the Eagles to 41-22 record.

Despite finishing second in this year’s Region 8 tournament behind Miami Dade, the Eagles advanced to the national tournament where they eventually beat Miami Dade en route to their best finish in program history.

Rounding out the three winners this season is another final four team from this year’s tournament, Blinn. Led by head coach Rick Church and assistants Jami Ingram and Haley Long, the Buccaneers finished the 2011 campaign at 55-8.

Blinn was able to make its third consecutive national tournament appearance this season by winning the Region 14 title, also for the third consecutive season.

All three coaching staffs are now eligible for National Coaching Staff of the Year, which will be announced by the Association on June 16.