May 17, 2012

STARKVILLE, Miss. – A total of 18 softball student-athletes representing seven Atlantic Coast Conference schools have been honored as members of the 2012 National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s Division I All-Region teams, which were announced today by the NFCA.

Six ACC student-athletes earned first-team honors, including three Maryland Terrapins in the Mid-Atlantic Region: Candice Beards, Kendra Knight, and Vangie Galindo. Boston College’s Nicole D’Argento and Virginia Tech’s Lauren Gaskill were also named to the first team in the Mid-Atlantic, and North Carolina’s Ally Blake represented the Tar Heels on the Southeast’s first team.

Virginia Tech, which made a run to the final game of the ACC Championship and earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament, had a league-high four players recognized. Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia had three student-athletes named apiece.

Among the 18 selections, 12 were named first or second team All-ACC and 14 will compete in the regional round of the 2012 NCAA Softball Championship this weekend.

A total of 263 players representing 129 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 one of three 2012 NFCA Division I All-American teams.

The 2012 NFCA Division I All-America teams will be announced at 5 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, May 30, on NFCA.org.

ACC Student-Athletes on NFCA All-Region First Team