May 20, 2010
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Three softball players from the No. 8 Missouri Tigers were named to the 2010 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-Region team, as announced Thursday by the National Fastpitch Coaches Associaton (NFCA).
Junior Rhea Taylor, sophomore Ashley Fleming and freshman Jenna Marston were each selected to the Midwest Region Team, with Taylor claiming first team honors. It is the third all-region honor for Taylor and first for both Fleming and Marston.
Taylor, an All-American in 2008, has put together the best season of her career, as she's reached career highs in batting average (.455), triples (7), home runs (7), RBI (39), slugging percentage (.721) and on base percentage (.486). She's also swiped 41 bases in 44 attempts and broke school records for most runs scored in a career and most stolen bases in a career earlier this season.
Fleming has had a huge breakout sophomore season, as she's third on the team with a .354 batting average and tied for first with nine home runs. She's also ripped nine doubles and driven in 39, while posting a .463 on base percentage and a .631 slugging percentage. Earlier this season, Fleming was named the National Player of the Week by USA Softball.
Marston has broken onto the scene in just her first season, proving to be one of the most consistent batters in the Tiger lineup. Second on the team with a .389 batting average, the freshman leads all Missouri players with 52 RBI and 16 doubles, while also belting five home runs and scoring 43 times.
A total of 256 players from 116 different institutions comprise this season's regional teams, including first and second teams for each region.
The all-region teams were chosen by NFCA member coaches from each region, and all the honorees will now be eligible for selection to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America first, second or third teams. In addition, conference pitchers and players of the year not selected to the regional teams were added for All-America consideration. The NFCA Division I All-American teams will be announced at 4 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, June 2.
Missouri opens NCAA Regional play tomorrow as the No. 9 overall seed, as they'll take on Creighton in the first round beginning at 6:30 p.m. CT.