The WAC's career home run leader, Hoku Nohara, recently signed a contract to play professional softball with the Akron Racers of the National Professional Fastpitch (NPF) League.
Nohara, who led the nation with 24 home runs in 2011, becomes the first Aggie to play professional softball in the NPF. Nohara is the most recent WAC player to join the league, most recently following in the footsteps of Amberly Waits (Louisiana Tech, 2010) and Kate Robinson (Hawai'i, 2008).
In 2011, Nohara set NM State single-season (24) and career (64) marks for home runs. She also led the nation with a 1.007 slugging percentage.
Nohara holds multiple career records at NM State, including slugging percentage (.738), home runs (64), RBI (209), walks (138) and total bases (450).
A two-time Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-Region honoree, Nohara earned first team recognition for the second straight season. Earlier this year, she earned her third all-WAC selection as a first team member. In 2010, she received second team honors after being recognized on the first team as a sophomore.
Nohara begins her professional career with exhibition play this week leading up to the season opener against the NPF Diamonds on Thursday, June 9.