LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The 2015 NFCA NJCAA Division II All-Americans Teams, consisting of 47 student-athletes from 29 different institutions, were announced by the Association on Wednesday.
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Jefferson College and Lake Land College led the way with four overall selections. Western Nebraska Community College, Howard College, Central Alabama Community College and Blinn College each reaped three nods, while Midland College, Eastern Arizona College, Seminole State College of Florida and Indian River State College rounded out the list of schools in possession of multiple inclusions.
Representing Jefferson College on the first team are pitcher Bailey Benefiel, catcher Morgan Oliver and outfielder Theresa DeCosty. Benefiel was 29-1 with a 1.40 ERA and 230 strikeouts. She ranks nationally in the top 10 in wins (4th), strikeouts (7th), complete games (28 – 5th) and strikeouts per seven innings (8.46 – 8th). Oliver hit a team-best .476 and also led the squad with 20 doubles. She added three triples, six home runs, 69 RBI, 55 runs scored, a .738 slugging percentage and .514 on base percentage. DeCosty ranked fifth in the NJCAA DI with 57 stolen bases, seventh with 78 runs scored and ninth with 93 hits. The sophomore also contributed 11 doubles, 36 RBI and a .535 on base percentage, while striking out just seven times in 198 at bats.
Joining Benefiel at pitcher were Lexi Smith of Temple College and NJCAA Division I Pitcher of the Year Jessica Elliott of Chipola College. Smith guided the Leopards to a 51-12 mark this season. She was 22-8 with the second most strikeouts (316) and four lowest ERA (0.91) in the nation. Her 11.96 strikeouts per seven innings led NJCAA D1, while she recorded 14 shutouts and held opponents to a .134 batting average in 184.1 innings. In guiding Chipola to a national championship, Elliot compiled a 0.80 ERA – third lowest in the country. The right-hander ranked eighth in the land with 229 strikeouts, averaging 9.18 per seven innings pitched and posted a 21-5 record with two saves.
KyRae Kogianes of Salt Lake Community College joins Oliver as the second first-team catcher. She hits .427 with 74 RBI, 61 runs scored and 44 extra base hits. Oliver ranked 10th nationally with six triples, 19 home runs and a .921 slugging percentage, to go along with 19 doubles and 76 total hits.
Grabbing the five spots in the infield are Sarah Lopesilvero of Lake Land College, Delilah Pacheco of Blinn College, Lindsey Sticktrod of Chattanooga State, Bevia Robinson of Pensacola State and Jessica Ball Of Western Nebraska Community College.
Lopesilvero, a Marucci Elite Hitter in Region 24, hit .471 with a team-best 71 runs, 68 RBI and 82 hits. She ranked sixth nationally with 24 doubles and seventh with a .562 on base percentage. Pacheco clocked in with a team-best .405 batting average, 89 hits, eight doubles, 64 runs scored, 49 stolen bases and a .445 on base percentage. Sticktrod led Chattanooga State with 17 home runs and 77 RBI to go along with a .419 average, 85 hits, 64 runs scored and 15 doubles.
Robinson, a freshman, is second in NJCAA DI with a .527 batting average and is sixth with a .589 on base percentage, while totaling 69 hits, five doubles, 14 RBI and 54 runs scored. Ball has amassed a NJCAA D1-best 101 RBI and 20 triples and is ranked second with 108 hits, third with 86 runs, fourth with 58 stolen bases and a .950 slugging percentage and a 10th-best .551 on base percentage. She also hit .495 with 13 home runs.
Garnering first-team outfield nods with DeCosty are Blinn’s Meghann Wrinkle, Midland’s Danielle Bottley and Western Nebraska’s Kenzie Sawyer. Wrinkle hit and even .400 with 52 hits, seven doubles, three home runs and 28 RBI. Bottley hit .464 with a NJCAA DI six-best 96 hits, team-high 71 runs, 35 RBI, 38 stolen bases and a .491 on base percentage. Sawyer has launched 24 home runs – fourth highest in NJCAA DI – to go along with a .426 batting average, 92 hits, 67 RBI, 70 runs scored and a .900 slugging percentage.
Kaylee Childers of Lake Land College is the first-team designated player. The freshman hit .393 with 66 hits, 54 runs scored, 17 doubles, a team-high three triples and 32 RBI.
Rounding out the first team is utility selection, Jessica Flores of Arizona Western College. With a .519 batting average – third highest in NJCAA DI – Flores is the Region I Marucci Elite Hitter. Her 13 doubles and 17 home runs attribute to Flores’ 1.045 slugging percentage – ranked second nationally – while her .592 on base percentage is third.