LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced the student-athletes chosen for this season’s quartet of NFCA NWAC special awards.
Southwestern Oregon Community College’s Deztiny Vaughan was voted the Tucci/NFCA Pitcher of the Year, while Bellevue College’s Kelci Studioso earned both Tucci/NFCA Player of the Year and New Balance/NFCA Golden Shoe honors. Walla Walla Community College’s Macie Plischke was chosen as the Diamond Sports/NFCA Catcher of the Year.
Vaughan helped lead the (48-3) Lakers to their first Northwest Athletic Conference championship in program history, pitching every inning of Southwestern Oregon’s five games at the finals, allowing just one run and earning NWAC Tournament most valuable player. For the season, she led the NWAC in five key pitching categories: Wins (25), ERA (0.77), shutouts (11), strikeouts (272) and strikeouts per game (11.56). Vaughan was a perfect 25-0 over 30 games and 26 starts, with 23 complete games, 68 hits, 23 runs, 18 earned runs and 28 walks across 272 innings. Opposing batters hit just .125 against her.
Sophomore shortstop Studioso, meanwhile, was the NWAC’s best hitter and baserunner, compiling both a league-best .558 average and 48 steals in 57 attempts. She also ranked first in the NWAC in hits (92), at-bats (165) and fewest strikeouts (two) over 190 plate appearances, which includes 19 walks. Studioso ranked second in doubles (24), runs (79) and total bases (170), while finishing fourth in triples (six) and on-base percentage (.601). She also had 14 home runs and 59 RBI over 40 games for Bellevue (41-4), which finished third in the NWAC Tournament and won the NWAC North Region title.
Plischke hit .469 with 32 runs, 61 hits, 10 doubles, 10 homers and 59 RBI this season. The sophomore slugged .777 and reached base at .524 clip. Behind the plate, she had a .993 fielding percentage, with just one error in 146 chances for Walla Walla (38-11), which finished second behind North Idaho in the NWAC’s East Region.
NFCA-member head coaches nominate and vote for NWAC All-Americans. All special awards are selected and voted on by the full NWAC head coaching membership.
The NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded coaching awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from webinars to legal counsel, to in-person events and the National Convention.
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