Eight Southland Softball Players Named 2019 NFCA All-Region
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced its 2019 Division I All-Region teams and eight Southland student-athletes from six member institutions garnered the All-Region accolades. Nicholls and Southeastern Louisiana lead the way with two selections apiece, while Central Arkansas, McNeese, Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin each have one honoree.
Nicholls earned a pair of honorees on the South Region squads in catcher Kali Clement and pitcher Megan Landry. Clement was named a second-team selection after leading the Colonels with a .369 batting average this season. The senior catcher has accounted for 22 RBI, nine doubles, two triples a six home runs for the season. Landry locked up a third-team position in the circle after leading Nicholls to a berth in the 2019 Southland Tournament title game. In addition to a 1.62 ERA, Landry has delivered a 27-12 record for Nicholls with 27 complete games and 10 shutouts. The senior righty turned 183 strikeouts in 250 innings pitched. Nicholls closed out the 2019 season with a 34-22 overall record and a 21-6 mark in Southland Conference play.
Southeastern Louisiana catcher Ella Manzer and second baseman Jaquelyn Ramon claimed third-team honors in the South Region after helping the Lady Lions to a 34-23 overall mark and 17-10 conference record. Ramon closed out her season as the 2019 NCAA Division I leader in stolen bases per game with a 1.15 average. The senior second baseman tabbed a .447 on-base percentage and a team-leading 51 runs. Manzer played and started in 55 contests for Southeastern Louisiana, registering 17 extra-base hits on the season. The Lady Lions' catcher also collected 82 bases and 31 RBI throughout the SLU's season.
Central Arkansas' Libby Morris claimed second-team honors in the South Region at second base. Morris boosted the Bears to a Southland Tournament appearance with 31 runs on 56 hits and a team-leading 46 RBI. The senior recorded a .361 clip from the batter's box along with 10 home runs and a .639 slugging percentage. UCA concluded its 2019 campaign with a 26-28 overall record and a 12-15 conference mark.
McNeese's Justyce McClain earned first-team honors as an outfielder for the South Region squad after leading the Cowgirls to a 19-8 record in Southland Conference play. McClain has accrued 39 runs on 81 hits and a team-best .405 batting average. Her 30 stolen bases rank second among the McNeese roster. McClain and the Cowgirls accepted an invitation to the National Invitational Softball Championship (NISC) and opens play at the Stephen F. Austin Regional against Middle Tennessee on Thursday.
In the Central Region, Stephen F. Austin's Margarita Corona earned second-team honors at first base after pushing her Ladyjacks squad to an 18-9 Southland Conference record. Corona currently leads SFA with a .388 batting average and 12 home runs heading into the Ladyjacks' regional game against UT-Arlington in the 2019 NISC. Corona has compiled a Southland-best .673 slugging percentage and a .495 on-base percentage in 2019. The Ladyjacks will host the Mavericks tonight at 6 p.m. in the opening round of the NISC.
Reigning Southland Conference Pitcher and Player of the Year Lindsey McLeod, from Sam Houston State, joins Corona in the Central Region with a third-team nod. McLeod has delivered 11 shutouts this season while striking out 259 through 36 appearances. The senior pitcher holds a 21-8 record with a 1.48 ERA and four saves over 184.2 inning pitched. McLeod has limited her opposition to a .163 batting and played a key role in Sam Houston State's 2019 regular-season and tournament championships. After earning the Southland's automatic bid to the 2019 NCAA Softball Championship, the Bearkats will take the field Friday at 6 p.m. against No. 6 Texas on Red & Charline McCombs Field in the Austin, Texas Regional.