Six WAC Softball Players Earn NFCA All-Region Honors
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Six WAC softball players earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region honors on Friday. NM State's Matalasi Faapito led the way as she garnered first team honors. Seattle U's Carley Nance was named to the second team while fellow Redhawks Bailey Thompson and Ally Choate earned third team honors. NM State's Nikki Butler and California Baptist's Kerisa Viramontes also joined Thompson and Choate on the third team.
Faapito, a first team All-WAC selection, led the Aggies in batting average (.399), on-base percentage (.473) and slugging percentage (.791) while also pacing her squad in wins in the circle (13). Faapito finished the year with 14 doubles, 16 home runs and 37 RBIs to go along with two stolen bases in her redshirt freshman season.
Nance, a second team All-WAC honoree and the WAC Tournament MVP, has a 10-6 record with a WAC-best 2.81 earned run average. Entering tonight's NCAA Regional, she has posted one shutout and struck out 63 batters over 92.1 innings. She also recorded five doubles and five home runs this season.
Thompson, a first team All-WAC selection and one-time WAC Hitter of the Week, has a batting average of .329 as she has 14 doubles, nine home runs and 45 RBIs on the year. She was also named to the WAC All-Tournament team as she helped lead the Redhawks to a WAC Tournament title.
Choate, a first team All-WAC selection and one-time WAC Hitter of the Week, led the Redhawks in batting average (.368) and on-base percentage (.434). She currently has four doubles, two triples, one home run and 10 RBIs.
Butler, a first team All-WAC honoree and the 2021 WAC Player of the Year, hit .355 with three doubles, 14 home runs and 45 RBIs. Butler was also twice named WAC Hitter of the Week.
Viramontes, a first team All-WAC selection and the 2021 WAC Pitcher of the Year, finished the year with 16 wins and a 3.27 ERA to lead the Lancers. Viramontes garnered two WAC Pitcher of the Week awards as she struck out 153 batters across 190.1 innings.
A total of 380 players representing 154 different institutions comprise this season's regional teams. The all-region teams were voted on by NFCA member coaches from each respective region.