Empire 8 Places 13 on NFCA All-Region Teams
The National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced its all-region selections and 13 student-athletes from the Empire 8 were honored. Of the 13 E8 players selected, six were chosen for first team recognition.
The All-Region teams 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.
Pitcher, Lindsey Thayer (St. John Fisher): The Empire 8 Rookie and Pitcher of the Year collected 294 strikeouts over 202.0 innings pitched en route to recording a 1.00 earned run average. The freshman broke the previous school record of 290 strikeouts and in fewer innings pitched (222.0). Thayer ranks third and fourth in Fisher's single-season top-10 lists for innings pitched and wins (20), respectively.
First Base, Casey Gavin (Ithaca): Started all 35 games for the Bombers in her junior season. She ranked second on the team with a .393 batting average, while her 42 total hits also ranked second on the roster. She recorded 15 extra-base hits on the season, including a team-high 12 doubles, a team-high two triples and one home run. Gavin paced the Bombers with 30 RBI, a total that ranked eighth in the Empire 8. She ranked second on the team in on-base percentage (.464) and slugging percentage (.570). Gavin had a perfect fielding percentage, and was 1-for-1 in stolen-base attempts. This marks Gavin's second-straight all-region nod.
Third Base, Liz Thompson (Alfred): The Empire 8 Player of the Year, is currently hitting .481 and leads the team in runs (school-record 55), hits (64) and steals (20). Her 43 RBI, 12 homeruns and .925 slugging percentage all rank second on the team.
Outfield, Katie Mazierski (St. John Fisher): She got off to a fast start to her collegiate career, recording the team's best batting average at .400 and on-base percentage (.441). She also held the Cardinals' second-highest amount of hits with 44 and the team's third-highest number for slugging percentage (.473) and runs scored (28). Her batting average, hits, triples and runs scored all rank among the conference's top-10 leaders.
At-Large, Laura Quicker (Ithaca): Made 22 appearances with 19 starts in the circle for the Bombers in 2015. She finished the year with a 12-8 record, ranking third in the conference in wins. Quicker ranked second in the Empire 8 and first on the Bombers with a 1.47 ERA, while her 81 strikeouts marked the fourth highest total in the Empire 8. She pitched 16 complete games and recorded five shutouts while holding opponents to a .222 batting average. This season marks Quicker's first all-region honor.
At-Large, Alison Wickwire (Alfred): Repeats as an NFCA First Team all-region pick and is currently hitting .406 and leads the team in RBI (53), slugging (.953) and homeruns (school-record 16). A three-time First Team Empire 8 all-star, she earned Most Outstanding Player honors for the regional after earning two pitching wins and driving in the lone run in a 1-0 win over Rowan.
Complete
NFCA Northeast All-Region Teams
First Team
P - Lindsay Thayer, St. John Fisher
1B - Casey Gavin, Ithaca
3B - Liz Thompson, Alfred
OF - Katie Mazierski, St. John Fisher
AL - Laura Quicker, Ithaca
AL - Alison WIckwire, Alfred
Second Team
1B - Sophia Chiavatti, Alfred
SS - Nicole Maher, Alfred
OF - Meghan Burns, St. John Fisher
UT - Kelly Robichaud, Ithaca
AL - Stephanie Siriano, Utica
Third Team
AL - Alysa Russell, Utica
AL - Dana Torchia, Alfred