NFCA Release | All-Region Teams
WORCESTER, Mass. – Worcester State University's seniors Sydney Despres (Sterling, Mass.) and Dakota Smith-Porter (Montague, Mass.) have been named to the 2018 NFCA Division III All-Region softball team, as announced by the organization Wednesday (May 16) afternoon.
360 players were chosen from Division III, as the squad is comprised of three 15-player teams in each of the country's eight NCAA regions.
Despres earned a spot on the New England Region First Team, as she helped the Lancers to the MASCAC Regular Season title and top seed in the tournament. She ended the 2018 season leading not just her team and conference in batting average, but has been atop the NCAA Division III rankings in batting average over the past three weeks with a .570 average. The MASCAC Player of the Year logged a league-best .877 slugging percentage and a .609 on-base percentage this season as she tallied 65 hits, 11 doubles and eight home runs, scored 47 runs, and hit home 35 runs. Behind the plate in the catchers spot, she had 159 puts outs and was a part of four double plays. Four times this season, she was 4-for-4 at the plate. She also registered her 200th career hit in the sweep over Becker College on April 26.
Smith-Porter earned a spot on the New England Region Third Team after being named the MASCAC Pitcher of the Year last week. The senior pitched 88 innings, netted a 3.58 ERA with 51 strikeouts, 10 wins, nine complete games, including three shutouts with an opponent batting average of .289 and averaged 4.06 strikeouts per game. Smith-Porter also was an offensive threat this season, as she batted .455 with a .500 on base percentage. She led the MASCAC in doubles (11) and RBI (37).
All-Region players are nominated and selected by NFCA member coaches in each of the eight Division III regions. First team All-Region choices are eligible for selection to the NFCA All-America team, which will be announced the evening of May 23 online at NFCA.org and in person at the NCAA Division III Championship banquet in Oklahoma City.