LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Fifty-four student-athletes from 43 different institutions have been voted to one of three 2022 NFCA Division II All-America teams, the Association announced on Wednesday afternoon.
Augustana, a Central Region finalist, captured four All-America honors, two on the first team. UT Tyler was one of eight programs with two honorees and joined the Vikings as the only programs with multiple first teamers.
Also taking home two All-America plaudits are Adelphi, Cal State San Marcos, Grand Valley State, Lubbock Christian, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Indianapolis and Washburn. GVSU and Washburn each had one student-athlete on the first team.
2022 NFCA DII All-America Videos (First Team | Second Team | Third Team)
UT Tyler’s Ashley Perez, along with Augustana hurler Ashley Mickschl earned the rare distinction of being four-time NFCA All-Americans. Perez, who earned second-team honors last year, was also a two-time Division III first-team catcher, prior to UT Tyler’s transition. Mickschl, a third-teamer, is the 20th all-time in Division II.
Along with Mickschl and Perez, there are 14 returning All-Americans across the three teams, including three-time honoree Teala Howard of West Florida, a third-team selection at third base.
Along with her fourth All-America nod, Perez is taking home her third Diamond Sports/NFCA Catcher of the Year award, earning two of those at Division III (2018, 2019). She is the fifth three-time honoree – Chelsea Bramlett (DI - Mississippi State), Jaci Smith (NAIA – Oklahoma City University), Stacey Nuveman Deniz (DI – UCLA) and Kristen Rivera (DI - Washington) - amongst four-year colleges dating back to the inception of the award in 1997.
Leading UT Tyler to national championship appearance in their first official season of Division II eligibility, Perez, a Top 25 finalist for Schutt Sports/NFCA Player of the Year, is the Patriots’ offensive catalyst with a .444 batting average, 18 doubles, 10 home runs, .728 slugging percentage and 75 hits.
Madison Melvin, a second-team All-America outfielder from West Chester University, is the New Balance/NFCA Golden Shoe Award winner. She leads NCAA Division II with 56 stolen bases in 60 attempts and is the only student-athlete averaging over one steal per game. Melvin becomes the first student-athlete to represent West Chester and the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference with this honor. Additionally, Melvin topped the Golden Rams with a .453 batting average, 77 hits, 60 runs scored and a .486 on-base percentage.
California State University San Marcos, Drury University, King University, Lindenwood University, Seton Hill, Southern Connecticut State University and Washburn were recognized with their first-ever NFCA All-American, while two more – McKendree University and Upper Iowa University - captured their first at NCAA Division II.
Seven All-Americans hailing from Adelphi, Auburn University at Montgomery, Rogers State University, Seton Hill University and UT Tyler will play at the 2022 NCAA Division II Championships in Denver (May 26-31) have student-athletes earn All-America status.
Diamond Catcher Archives | Golden Shoe Archives
The NFCA All-America teams are voted on by the Association’s All-America Committees. In Division II, the committee is comprised of one member head coach from each of the NCAA’s eight regions. All student-athletes who were nominated by a member head coach and voted to the first- and second-team All-Region teams were eligible for All-America consideration.
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.
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