NFCA Tabs 15 ODAC Players to All-Region Lists
FOREST, Va. --- Virginia Wesleyan College's Tori Higginbotham and Kristina Karagiorgis and Roanoke College's Leona Rainey (pictured, l-r) were announced as All-Americans by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) on Thursday night in Salem in conjunction with the NCAA Division III Softball National Championship. The trio lead a list of 15 ODAC softball players who earned All-Region honors from the NFCA.
Click HERE for a full list of 2012 NFCA All-Americans
Click HERE for a full list of 2012 NFCA All-Region honorees
Higginbotham, a sophomore outfielder from Glen Allen, Va., was named to the NFCA All-America Second Team. The 2012 ODAC Player of the Year and Marlins' centerfielder led the ODAC with 66 hits, a .465 batting average, a .537 on-base percentage, and a .761 slugging percentage. She recorded 24 extra-base hits including 13 doubles, four triples and seven homeruns. She stole 26 bases while collecting 24 RBI and an second-best 56 runs scored. In 42 total games, she hit safely 38 times and reached based on all but three occasions. Higginbotham's success carried into conference play where she hit safely in 16-of-18 games played towards a .460 batting average. Her 26 runs scored sit atop the statistical charts, and she was top five in hits (29), triples (2), homers (5), steals (11), and total bases (54).
Karagiorgis, a freshman from Ashburn, Va., adds a NFCA All-America Second Team nod to the ODAC Pitcher of the Year and ODAC Co-Rookie of the Year awards she previously earned (ROY with Roanoke hurler Kelly Higbie). Karagiorgis took to the pitcher's circle 26 times (20 starts) and went 16-4 with four saves. She posted a 1.28 earned run average, second-best in the ODAC, in 118.1 innings pitched. She went 9-1 in 10 starts against ODAC competition, picking up a save in her remaining league outing. She struck out 124 batters overall and 68 in conference play, both tops in the conference. She also recorded four shutouts with two coming in ODAC games. At the plate, Karagiorgis posted a .382 batting average with five doubles, five triples, seven homers and a league best 48 RBI. Against ODAC foes, she hit .448 with 25 runs batted in, which topped the league charts.
Rainey, a junior outfielder from Sandston, Va., earned a spot on the NFCA All-America Third Team. She aided the Maroons' efforts in reaching the NCAA Division III Softball National Championship Series, where they finished fourth overall. A three-time All-ODAC First Team honoree, Rainey finished atop the ODAC with 57 runs scored and tied for the league-lead with 41 stolen bases (with BC's Kasey Anderson). Roanoke's lead-off hitter posted a .371 batting average (56-of-151) with a .454 on-base percentage and a .609 slugging percentage. Of her 56 hits, the Maroons' centerfielder collected eight doubles, two triples and eight homers, the latter ranking third in the ODAC. She also drove in 31 runs.
Listed below is a list of the ODAC softball players that were named to the NFCA All-Atlantic Region Teams. For more information on ODAC Softball, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.
NFCA ALL-ATLANTIC REGION - ODAC PLAYERS
First Team
Tori Higginbotham, So., OF, Virginia Wesleyan
Leona Rainey, Jr., OF, Roanoke
Kristina Karagiorgis, Fr., UT, Virginia Wesleyan
Felice Lowery, Sr., C, Roanoke (at-large)
Second Team
Kelly Higbie, Fr., P, Roanoke
Kelly Keys, So., 2B, Virginia Wesleyan
Lisa Lee, Sr., 3B, Eastern Mennonite
Jaclyn Quinn, Sr., UT, Virginia Wesleyan
Laura Bauer, Sr., C, Randolph-Macon (at-large)
Courtney Allman, Jr., 2B, Eastern Mennonite (at-large)
Third Team
Heather Jenkins, Jr., P, Bridgewater (at-large)
Kasey Anderson, So., 2B, Bridgewater (at-large)
Stephanie Clark, So., SS, Roanoke (at-large)
Ashley Gardner, Jr., SS, Randolph (at-large)
Hillary Rees, Sr., SS, Bridgewater (at-large)