Youngs Repeat as NFCA All-Region Honorees

• Cassie and Jamie Young were both named All-Region by the NFCA for the second consecutive season.
• Cassie was a First Team All-Region selection.
• Jamie earned a spot on the Third Team list.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Saint Mary's softball players Cassie and Jamie Young were both named All-Region for the Central Region by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) on for the second consecutive year.

Three all-region teams were named for each of the NFCA's eight geographic regions and included 360 Division III student-athletes from across the country. Cassie Young was one of 15 student-athletes to earn All-Region First Team honors while Jamie Young was one of 15 selections for the All-Region Third Team. The Central Region is comprised of Division III schools from Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Cassie Young was one of the three outfielders listed on the first team list after posting a .448 batting average with 52 hits, 35 runs scored, 29 RBI, and a .492 on-base percentage. Her batting average ranks in the top 60 among all Division III softball players as of the May 11 statistical ranking summary. She also ranks among the national leaders in sacrifice hits per game (36th), triples (56th), sacrifice flies (73rd), on-base percentage (126th), and total hits (145th) among other statistical categories. It is the second consecutive All-Central Region First Team honor for the junior center fielder. Additionally, she is just the second softball student-athlete for the Belles to repeat as a First Team All-Region selection.

Jamie Young was one of the 15 at-large players to earn a spot on the third team. She had single-season career-highs with a .427 batting average, 61 hits, 43 runs scored, 10 doubles, 19 RBI, and a .531 slugging percentage while striking out only three times in 152 plate appearances. She ranks 27th nationally in total hits for the 2017 season and is in the top 60 among all Division III softball players in the toughest to strikeout category as of the May 11 report. Additionally, she ranks among the top 200 in all of Division III in runs per game and total bases. It is the second consecutive year the junior shortstop has earned a spot on the All-Central Region Third Team list. She is the fifth softball student-athlete to garner multiple All-Region honors in a career.

It is the fourth time since 2007 that multiple members of the Saint Mary's softball team have been recognized with All-Region accolades by the NFCA.

In total, the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association had 13 student-athletes named All-Region in 2017.

All-Region players are nominated and selected by NFCA member coaches in each of the eight Division III regions. First Team All-Region choices are eligible for selection to the NFCA All-America team, which will be announced the evening of May 24 online at NFCA.org and in person at the NCAA Division III Championship banquet in Oklahoma City.

For the full list of all of the NCAA Division III All-Region honorees, visit the NFCA release here.