LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The National Fastpitch Coaches Association has announced that 172 student-athletes from 71 programs have received 2016 NFCA NAIA All-Region accolades.
The awards honor softball student-athletes from the Association's six regions with first and second team recognition. NFCA member coaches from each respective region voted on the teams, and all the honorees now become eligible for selection to the 2016 NFCA NAIA All-American squads.
The 2016 NFCA NAIA All-America teams will be announced on Thursday, June 2, via NFCA.org.
Two Bruins earned First Team All-Central Region and two others earned second team honors. Junior right-handed pitcher Kelli Fisher and junior outfielder Kaitlyn Goney were chosen to the first team. Freshman utility player Emily Miller and sophomore outfielder Sarah Zeleny were each named to the second team.
Fisher was named an All-Region selection for the third time in her career. This season Fisher served as the Bruins ace in the circle, compiling a 23-13 record to go along with a conference-best 1.16 ERA (third-best in program history) and a career-high 187 strikeouts in 229.2 innings of work. She also set a program single-season record (5) and tied a program career record (6) for saves. Additionally, she became just the sixth pitcher in program history to post a WHIP of less than 1.000, as her mark of 0.884 was the second-best in program history.
Goney earned All-Region accolades for the first time in her career. Goney had a breakout season with the bat, setting career highs in average (.301), on-base percentage (.425), slugging percentage (.344), hits (28), runs scored (22), total bases (38), and doubles (4) and tying a career-high in stolen bases (4). Goney was also a steady hand in the outfield as she committed just three errors in 45 games played.
Miller earns All-Region honors for the first time in her career. She established herself as one of the Bruins' primary offensive weapons during her debut campaign. A utility player who saw time at first, second, third, and in the outfield she produced everywhere she played. Miller led the team in batting average (.331) and runs scored (27). Miller was second in on-base percentage (.414), slugging percentage (.481), doubles (11), and hits (44). She proved to be a valuable run producer as well, driving in 23 runs and hitting three long balls.
Zeleny picked up her first career All-Region nod. After serving as a role player as a freshman, Zeleny earned the starting center field spot with exceptional defense and a terrific offensive campaign. This season she led the team with 13 stolen bases (in 13 attempts) and was second on the club with a .313 batting average as one of only three players to appear in 50 or more games. Zeleny scored a career-high 19 runs and hits a pair of doubles while committing just three errors in centerfield.
Bellevue finished the season with an overall record of 34-20 and placed second in the North Star Athletic Association's regular-season standings. With no seniors on the roster, Bellevue is expected to be heavy on returners in 2017 and will likely be counted among the favorites in the conference. The Bruins reached the bracket finals in the NSAA Tournament and received votes in the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll during the season.
