Eight Softball Players Named NFCA All-Midwest Region

ST. LOUIS - Eight St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) softball players have been named to the NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) All-Midwest Region. Fontbonne University's Marissa Simon and Blackburn College's Grace Young were both first team selections. Fontbonne's Rachel McCarthy, Cara Hargate and Amanda Beaver were all named to the second team, while Blackburn's Bryana Garcia, Fontbonne's Amy Simon and Webster University's Chelsea Schaffer were all third team, at-large selections.

Marissa Simon, a shortstop, was named first team All-SLIAC and 2011 SLIAC Newcomer of the Year. She led the Griffins in batting average (.419), runs scored (35), hits (52), triples (5), total bases (81), sacrifice flies (3), stolen bases (28), total plate appearances (140) and at-bats (124).

Young, an outfielder, earned SLIAC Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive season and was a first team All-SLIAC selection. She led Blackburn in five categories, including runs scored (50), home runs (13), total bases (100), walks (18) and stolen bases (25).

McCarthy, a pitcher, posted a 2.13 earned run average in 22 appearances on the mound this season. In 108.2 innings of work she struck out a total of 107 batters and posted a 12-2 overall record, including seven complete games, one shutout and two saves. She was also a first team All-SLIAC honoree.

Hargate, a second baseman, hit .354 at the plate this season with 29 hits, 24 RBI, eight doubles, a .512 slugging percentage and 16 stolen bases. She was a honorable mention All-SLIAC selection and recorded a .929 fielding percentage with 44 putouts and 21 assists.

Beaver, who was an at-large selection on the second team, was also named first team All-SLIAC at first base this season. She finished the season with a .379 batting average, 36 hits, 26 RBI, eight doubles, eight home runs and a team-high .716 slugging percentage. Beaver also recorded a .995 fielding percentage with 210 putouts and six assists.

Garcia, a shortstop, also earned second team All-SLIAC honors. She led the Beavers with a total of 52 hits this season, while also posting a .400 batting average, 24 RBI, 13 doubles, two home runs and 20 stolen bases.

Amy Simon, a third baseman, was named first team All-SLIAC this season. She had a .318 batting average with 34 hits, 33 RBI, 10 doubles, five home runs, 17 stolen bases and a .551 slugging percentage.

Schaeffer, an outfielder, was also a first team All-SLIAC selection. She led the Gorloks in 10 categories, including batting average (.433), slugging percentage (.733), on-base percentage (.528), runs scored (43), hits (52), triples (6), total bases (88), walks (20), hit by pitch (4) and total plate appearances (144).