Harre, Jones earn NFCA All-Region honors
05/19/2016 | 12:00:00 | Softball
NFCA Release | Complete All-Region Teams (PDF)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Southern Illinois softball players Shaye Harre and Brianna Jones were named to the 2016 National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region teams, the organization announced on Thursday. Harre was a first-team selection and Jones was a third-team selection in the Mideast Region.
Shaye Harre became SIU's first first-team All-Region selection since Mallory Duran earned the honor in 2011. Harre ranks in the top-50 nationally in on-base percentage, slugging percentage and walks drawn. She led the Missouri Valley Conference in on-base percentage at .517 and ranked among the top-10 in the league in batting average, slugging percentage, runs scored, RBIs, doubles, home runs, total bases, and walks drawn. She was named first-team All-MVC and first-team Academic All-District after the season.
Brianna Jones earned third-team All-Region honors after an outstanding freshman year that has earned her a top-10 finalist spot for NFCA's National Freshman of the Year. Among all players, Jones ranks fifth nationally in shutouts and 16th in victories--both of which lead all freshmen nationally. She was named first-team All-MVC after the season and is SIU's first freshman to earn All-Region honors since Taylor Orsburn in 2011.
Southern Illinois players have now earned 26 All-Region honors in 17 seasons under head coach Kerri Blaylock. Before Harre and Jones earned the honor this season, Southern's most recent All-Region honoree was Jayna Spivey in 2014.
Harre and Wichita State's Cacy Williams were the only two players from the MVC to earn first-team honors. SIU, Wichita State, Illinois State, Bradley and Drake all had two players selected to this year's All-Region teams.
The awards honor softball student-athletes from the Association's 10 regions with first, second team and selections. NFCA member coaches from each respective region voted on the teams, and all the honorees now become eligible for selection to the 2016 NFCA Division I All-American squads. The 2016 NFCA Division I All-America teams will be announced at approximately 5 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 1, via NFCA.org.
