LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced its All-Region teams Thursday and seven student-athletes from The Big West earned spots on the list.
UC Santa Barbara’s Madelyn McNally is the lone representative from the conference on the All-Pacific Region First Team in the shortstop position. McNally, named to the All-Conference First Team earlier in the week, led The Big West in batting average at .405 with 21 RBI and 44 runs.
UC Davis ace Kenedi Brown was placed on the All-Pacific Region Second Team. Brown, an All-Big West First Team member, has a 1.73 ERA with 146 strikeouts in 151.1 innings of work. Fellow Aggie Anna Dethlefson, the 2023 Big West Player of the Year, made it on the All-Pacific Region Third Team. Dethlefson paces The Big West in numerous categories including slugging (.627), doubles (15) and stolen bases (40), and is second in batting average (.407), OPS (1.104), runs (43) and hits (61) from the leadoff spot. Brown and Dethlefson’s seasons aren’t over yet as UC Davis will participate in the National Softball Invitational Championship (NSIC) Tournament.
Cal State Fullerton pitcher Myka Sutherlin, The Big West Pitcher of the Year, was named as an All-West Region Second Team selection. Sutherlin leads The Big West in virtually all pitching categories, including ERA (1.30), opposing batting average (.168), innings pitched (188.1), total strikeouts (227), strikeouts looking (59) and wins (19). Cal State Fullerton will be a participant in the NCAA Softball Championship, playing its first game against Aubrun on Friday, May 19 at Clemson, S.C.
UC San Diego pitcher Jada Cecil, Hawai’i infielder Maya Nakamura and Cal Poly outfielder Jessica Clements made it on the All-West Region Third Team. Cecil sported a 1.97 ERA in 156.0 innings of work for the Tritons with 171 strikeouts. Nakamura hit .390 with five home runs, 25 RBI and 35 runs, with a walk-to-strikeout ratio of 29:8 for a .531 on-base percentage. Clements hit .374 on the season with 13 RBI, 25 runs and 11 stolen bases. All three were named All-Big West First Team earlier in the week.
In total, the NFCA selected 381 athletes from 158 programs across its 10 regions. NFCA member head coaches from each respective region voted on the teams, and all awarded student-athletes now become eligible for the 2023 NFCA Division I All-America squads. The 2022 NFCA Division I All-America teams will be announced on Wednesday, May 31.