LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Freshman Nicole Newman (Madison, Wis.) and senior Rebekah Schmidt (Cottage Grove, Minn.) of the Drake University softball team garnered National Fastpitch Coaches Association Midwest All-Region accolades, the association announced on Thursday, May 14.
Newman, who was named to the NFCA Midwest All-Region Second Team, was dominant in the circle in her debut season, going 13-5 with a Missouri Valley Conference-low 1.94 earned run average while striking out 175 batters. She held opponents to a league-low .188 batting average while her strikeout total ranked third in the conference. In a win over Creighton on May 6, Newman finished with a career-high 17 strikeouts, including striking out the first 11 batters of the game. She posted these outstanding numbers in just 133.1 innings of work, which didn't rank in the top-10 in innings pitched in the MVC. The Madison, Wis., native was named the MVC Freshman of the Year along with being named to the All-MVC First Team.
Schmidt was selected to the NFCA Midwest All-Region Third Team after an outstanding final season. She went 19-14 in the circle with a 2.48 ERA while striking out a league-best 198 batters on her way to being tabbed the MVC Pitcher of the Year and to the All-MVC First Team. Schmidt held opponents to just a .236 batting average, which along with her ERA, ranked behind only Newman in the MVC. Schmidt ended her Drake career ranked in the top-five of several all-time statistical categories, including appearances (164, 1st), career wins (56, T-3rd), innings pitched (719.0, 3rd) and strikeouts (644, 5th). The Cottage Grove, Minn., native also had a strong year at the plate finishing with a .310 batting average, seven home runs, 12 doubles and 30 runs batted in.
The all-region teams honor softball student-athletes from the Association's 10 regions with first, second and third teams selected for each region. The all-region teams are voted on by NFCA member coaches from each respective region, and all the honorees now become eligible for selection to one of three 2015 NFCA Division I All-American teams.
