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LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced 39 student-athletes have been voted to one of three 2024 NFCA High School All-America teams. 

Calallen High School (Texas) topped all programs with three All-Americans, one on each team. The trio, consisting of third baseman Alaunah Almaraz (first team), outfielder Mia Flores (second team) and pitcher Jordyn Thibodeaux (third team), keyed the Lady Cats to a 34-2 season and a second consecutive Class 4A state title. It marked the second straight All-America honor for Almaraz, who was on the second team last year.

2023-24 High School All-Americans

Five programs – Allen Park High School (Mich.), Austintown Fitch High School (Ohio), Calvary Baptist Academy (La.), Delta High School (Alaska) and Gaylord High School (Mich.) - each had two All-Americans.

Voted on by member head coaches, the awards honor softball student-athletes from around the nation. All student-athletes who earned All-Region status (2023 Summer/Fall and 2024 Spring) from the NFCA’s 10 membership regions, were on the ballot and eligible for All-America status.

NFCA High School All-Region and All-America student-athletes must be nominated by their NFCA-member head coach. All-Region is voted on by their respective region’s member head coaches.

Twelve states were represented with All-Americans. Texas and Michigan topped the charts with six honorees apiece. Louisiana and Ohio came in with five each, while Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee collected three plaudits. Alaska, California and Indiana followed with two, while Idaho and Oklahoma were each represented by one student-athlete.

Barrington High School’s (Ill.) Emma Kavanagh earned the distinction of being a four-time NFCA High School All-American. The senior catcher capped off a stellar prep career with a first-team nod after collecting second-team plaudits the last three years. As the first-team catcher, she was also recognized as the 2024 Diamond Sports/NFCA High School Catcher of the Year. Kavanagh hit .531 with 11 doubles, 20 home runs, 58 RBI and a 1.916 OPS. Defensively, she did not commit an error in 191 chances, threw out eight runners trying to steal and registered six pickoffs.

Joining Calallen’s Almaraz as repeat All-Americans are Eagle High School (Idaho) outfielder Hayleigh Oliver and Austintown Fitch pitcher Sydnie Watts on the first team with four more on the second team – utility pitcher Olivia Buettner from Billy Ryan High School (Texas), outfielder Adriana Callahan from Page High School (Tenn.), first baseman Addie Morris from Rock Bridge High School (Mo.) and pitcher Jacy Schuler from Antioch High School (Ill.). Delta catcher Nadia Chernich and Guthrie High School (Okla.) outfielder Haley Gallo earned their second All-America honors, collecting the first award in 2022.

Additionally, six student-athletes – Washington High School’s (Mo.) Taylor Brown, Gaylord’s (Mich.) Aubrey Jones, Tri-West High School’s (Ind.) Audrey Lowry, Kaplan High School’s (La.) Kennedy Marceaux, Oliver (Alaska) and Watson (Ohio) – garnered their state’s Gatorade Player of the Year accolade.

Another first-team All-American, Peyton Drummond from Floyd Central High School (Ind.) was selected as the 2024 New Balance/NFCA Golden Shoe Award recipient. The senior outfielder swiped 60 bases in 64 attempts and finished her career with 181 steals, second most in Indiana high school history. She also batted .563 with 67 hits, 50 runs scored and 34 RBI.

To be eligible for the NFCA/New Balance Golden Shoe Award, a student-athlete must have been nominated for All-Region. The winner, voted by member head coaches, came from a list of the top-five most prolific base stealers (strength of schedule and other statistical categories accounted for) amongst the All-Region nominees. 

The NFCA is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded coaches polls and All-America awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from podcasts to awards, to in-person events and National Convention

Learn more about the NFCA and consider joining our lineup of over 7,000 coaches today!

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