The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Softball places four on NFCA All-Region Teams
05.15.2014 | Softball
Stephens, Thom and Washington garner first team honors; Davis recognized on second team.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -The University of Texas Softball team placed four players on the 2014 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Central Region Team, the organization announced Thursday.
Senior shortstop and Big 12 Player of the Year Taylor Thom, senior centerfielder Brejae Washington and sophomore Lindsey Stephens earned first-team honors, while freshman left-handed pitcher and Big 12 Freshman of the Year Tiarra Davis garnered second-team accolades.
The honor was Thom's third-straight nod and second-straight selection to the first team. Washington nabbed first-team accolades after making the second team in 2013. Stephens and Davis each claimed the first award of their respective careers.
Thom, a Cedar Park, Texas native, hit .386 with nine homers, 42 RBIs and a team-high 54 runs scored, while slugging .633 this season. Thom, a two-time Big 12 Player of the Week (April 9 and April 15) owns UT's all-time career RBIs record with 177 in her four years on the Forty Acres.
Washington, UT's career record-holder in several offensive categories, including hits (251), leads Texas with a .427 batting average. The San Bernardino, California owns the Longhorns' highest slugging percentage (.518), as she reached base in 50 of 54 contests this season, including 37-straight (from Feb. 8 – April 17). Washington matched her career-high in hits with a team-high 70 this season and has stolen 32 bases in 35 attempts, putting her six shy of tying the program record for most swipes in a single season; a record in which she already owns.
Stephens' sophomore campaign has been one of the most productive in Texas Softball history. The Beaumont, Texas native is ranked in nine offensive categories in the Big 12, including first in home runs (15) and tied for first in triples (4). Stephens reached base in 48 straight games to begin the season and holds a .753 slugging percentage. With 62 RBIs on the year, she is four away from tying Thom's 2013 mark (66) for the program record for most in a single season. Stephens is hitting .353 and leads the team with 29 extra-base hits and 125 total bases.
In her first year with the Longhorns, Davis emerged as the ace of the pitching staff early on. The rookie southpaw is 18-12 on the season with a 2.35 ERA. Davis has appeared in 41 games, including 33 starts. The Henderson, Texas native has tossed 22 complete games, including five shutouts. From March 17 to April 27, Davis started every game (17 straight), setting a Texas Softball record for consecutive starts by a pitcher. At the plate, she helped herself in numerous occasions. For the season, Davis is hitting .324 with 36 hits and 24 RBIs.
The 2014 NFCA Division I All-Region teams honor student-athletes from the 10 NFCA regions. A total of 392 players from 158 different programs have been chosen to the 2014 NFCA Division I All-Region squads.
The all-region teams were chosen by NFCA member coaches from each region, and all the honorees will now be eligible for selection to the NFCA All-America first, second or third teams.
The NFCA Division I All-America teams will be announced at approximately 4 p.m. CT on Wednesday, May 28, via NFCA.org.