LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association has announced 381 student-athletes from 152 programs have received 2022 NFCA Division I All-Region accolades.
The awards honor softball student-athletes from the Association’s 10 regions with first, second and third-team selections. NFCA member head coaches from each respective region nominated student-athletes and voted for the teams. All awarded student-athletes now become eligible for the 2022 NFCA Division I All-America squads.
Arkansas (South), Boston University (Northeast), Oklahoma (Central) and Virginia Tech (Mid-Atlantic) paced the way with all eight of their nominations receiving All-Region recognition. The Sooners, No. 1 in the USA Today/NFCA DI Top 25 Coaches Poll, also led the charge with seven first-team honorees. The No. 3 Hokies and No. 4 Razorbacks followed with six first teamers apiece, while the Terriers had five.
Nebraska (Midwest) took home seven plaudits, two on the first team. Arizona (West), Boise State (Pacific), Florida State (Southeast), James Madison (Northeast), LSU (South), Northwestern (Great Lakes), Notre Dame (Mid-Atlantic), Oklahoma State (Midwest) and UCLA (West) each had six representatives. From the above-mentioned teams, the Seminoles, Bruins and Northwestern Wildcats earned four first-team nods.
Miami University (Ohio) led the Mideast Region with five total All-Region accolades (one first team), while Marshall landed all four of its Mideast honorees on the first team. In the West, Pac-12 champ Arizona State captured four first-teamers and five honorees overall, while Oregon State led the Pacific Region with three first-team selections (four overall).
The Southeastern Conference’s 50 selections led the way, followed by the Pac-12 with 39. The Big Ten (38), Atlantic Coast Conference (33) and Big 12 (25) rounded out the top five leagues. The Colonial Athletic Association (16), Conference USA (15), Sun Belt (14), Mountain West (12), Missouri Valley (12) and Patriot League (12) posted double-figure honorees.
Conference players and pitchers of the year from member institutions (must be nominated by member head coach and receive votes) are added to the third team if they were not already voted to an All-Region squad. Additionally, in some instances, limited regional nominations prevented a position from being filled.
The 2022 NFCA Division I All-America teams, voted on by the NFCA DI All-American Committee, will be announced on Wednesday, June 1.
The NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded All-Region and All-America awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from podcasts to a comprehensive drills database, to in-person events and a National Convention.
Learn more about the NFCA and consider joining nearly 6,000 coaches today.
