The Big West was recognized with four spots on the Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region teams Thursday with three institutes from the conference being recognized for their outstanding athletes.
The all-region teams are selected by NFCA member coaches from each region, with all honorees now eligible for selection to one of three 2012 NFCA Division I All-American teams.
For the second straight year, a pair of Tigers found themselves receiving postseason honors with National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Pacific Region recognition. The dynamic duo, Nikki Armagost and Megan Hom were named to the All-Pacific Region after a stellar performance in Big West competition in their junior seasons. Accompanying Hom on the second-team recognition is UC Davis’ Justine Vela for her dominance in the circle. In the West Region, Long Beach State’s Cya Neal was award second-team honors for her stellar defense at second base.
For the first time in her career, Armagost received First-Team All-Region accolades as a first basemen for the Tiger’s. Armagost was recognized for her offensive and defensive threat as she nabbed player of the year and conference honors to her postseason awards as well. The junior led the conference all season with a .433 batting average, marking her No. 7 in the single-season Big West record book, while No. 2 in Pacific’s single-season history. Armagost is also ranked No. 16 in the country for her batting average, as well as sixth in the nation with 0.35 doubles per game. With her 18 doubles on the season, the junior is also ranked tied for seventh in the Big West for all-time single season marks for doubles. She ends her junior year with the highest league batting average, second highest on base percentage (.495), third-highest runs scored (35), second-most hits (71), second in RBI (38), first in doubles (18) and most total bases (104).
Partner Hom continued her accolades receiving her second all-region selection as well as third consecutive all-Big West first team recognition. The starting junior went into the season holding a top-10 all-time career Big West record with a .367 batting average. This season she finished second to teammate Armagost with a .409 average, contending the fifth spot in the Big West career record book. The Irvine, Calif. native made her way to her second all-time Big West career record this season with 45 runs scored. The 45 to go along with her 75 runs before the season, garners her tied for ninth in all-time Big West record books. Hom also tallied a league-high 49 runs scored this season to make the top-ten all-time Big West single season records. Hom finished the season with top offense honors in hits (76) and runs scored (49).
The Davis freshman, Vela walked received Big West Pitcher of the Year and Freshman of the year recognition to be added to the NFCA recognition Thursday. Vela put up record-breaking marks in the circle this season for the Aggies, making program and Big West history books. Vela led the league with 272 strikeouts for the season while holding her opponents to a .206 batting average. The freshman’s phenomenal numbers in the circle garner her fifth in all-time Big West single-season records as well as No. 15 in the nation for her 2012 season strikeouts.
Junior 49er, Neal was named to the All-West region for her second base performance, after grabbing a spot on the All-Big West first team this week. The starting second baseman is in her first season at Long Beach finishing the regular season with a .327 batting average and eight RBI and three stolen bases. Neal holds a .966 fielding percentage with only five errors in her 147 chances for Long Beach.
The 2012 NFCA Division I All-Region teams honor student-athletes from the Association's 10 regions. A total of 263 players representing 129 different institutions comprise this season's regional teams, including first and second teams for each region.