Monday, May 15, 2023

PORTLAND, Ore. – Two of the top players in the conference are now consensus all-region selections as Northwest Nazarene senior outfielder Maia McNicoll and Saint Martin’s freshman outfielder Haley Agena lead six GNAC players selected to the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-West Region Softball Team.

Agena became a consensus First Team All-West Region selection after also earning first-team honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association last week. McNicoll, who was named the GNAC Player of the Year, earned her first regional first-team honors after receiving second-team NFCA accolades.

Western Washington senior pitcher Mareena Ramirez, Northwest Nazarene senior pitcher/utility player Tori Hensley and Simon Fraser junior outfielder Megan Duclos earned their second all-region second-team awards. Northwest Nazarene junior pitcher Sidney Booth earned her first all-region honor of the season, also collecting a second-team nod.

Agena was one of three freshmen named to the first team. She led the GNAC with a .410 batting average and five triples in 44 games. She finished the year tied for fourth in the conference with 35 runs scored and 59 hits. She also finished second with a .475 on-base percentage and fifth with a .556 slugging percentage.

McNicoll was named the GNAC Player of the Year as she finished the season with a .290 batting average in 56 games. She led the GNAC with 45 RBIs, was second with 11 home runs, third with 95 total bases, fourth with 13 doubles, 30 walks and a .562 slugging percentage and sixth with 33 runs scored.

Ramirez, the GNAC Pitcher and Newcomer of the Year, ended the season ranked third in the conference with a 2.01 ERA while amassing an 18-8 record. Her 174 strikeouts ranked second in the conference and 38th in Division II. In 180.2 innings, Ramirez allowed 72, runs, 56 earned, on 135 hits and limited opponents to a GNAC best .205 batting average.

Duclos finished second in the GNAC to Agena with a .409 batting average in 49 games. She led the GNAC during the regular season with 65 hits and 46 runs scored and finished fourth with a .453 on-base percentage. Duclos set the GNAC single-season record with 43 steals in 47 total attempts.

Hensley was the top two-way player in the conference this season, ranking second with a 2.01 ERA and third with a .343 batting average. In the circle, Hensley amassed a 15-7 record and allowed 53 runs, 43 earned, on 131 hits and struck out 100 in 150 innings. At the plate, Hensley led the conference with 69 hits and was seventh with 78 total bases.

Booth led the Nighthawks with 21 wins, a 1.73 ERA, 177 strikeouts and 194.1 innings pitched. In 32 appearances, Booth allowed 62 runs, 48 earned, on 154 hits and allowed just 39 walks while limiting opposing batters to a .233 batting average. At the plate, Booth finished with a .265 batting average with five doubles, three home runs and 31 RBIs.