LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Five BIG EAST softball players have received National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I All-Region honors for their performances during the 2019 season.
Villanova utility/pitcher Paige Rauch led the way with a first team nod in the Mideast Region. Providence outfielder Emma Lee and Seton Hall outfielder Hailey Arteaga were both second team selections in the Great Lakes Region and Mideast Region, respectively. St. John’s pitcher Madison Morris and designated player Peyton Cody were both tabbed to the Great Lakes Region’s Third Team.
Rauch, the 2019 BIG EAST Player of the Year, finished the season leading the league in batting average (.445), slugging percentage (.935), on base percentage (.561), runs scored (50), hits (69), RBI (51), triples (6), home runs (18), total bases (145) and walks (39). She was also third in ERA (3.01) and tied for third in strikeouts (141). The Wildcats fell to DePaul in the BIG EAST Championship title game, 11-10.
Lee paced the Friars to a turnaround season. She finished second in the BIG EAST in batting average (.411) and hits (65). Providence ended its season at 30-22, after losing to eventual champion DePaul in the BIG EAST Championship semifinal. The Friars went 13-32 a year ago.
Arteaga led the Pirates with a .408 batting average and collected 62 hits, which were both third in the conference. Seton Hall finished the season just .003 percentage points behind Villanova for the final berth in the BIG EAST Championship.
Morris, the 2019 BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year, went undefeated in league play with an 11-0 record. She was one shy of the most strikeouts overall in the conference this season with 178. Morris pitched a league-high 176 innings and finished with a 3.02 ERA. Her 18 total wins were second in the BIG EAST.
Cody, the 2019 BIG EAST Co-Freshman of the Year, was third in the league with 45 RBI during her rookie season. She also led the team in doubles with 12 and was fifth in the BIG EAST with a .375 batting average. The Red Storm captured the regular season title, but fell to Villanova in the BIG EAST Championship semifinal.
The 2019 NFCA Division I All-America teams will be announced at 5 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, May 29, via NFCA.org.
2019 BIG EAST All-Region Selections
Great Lakes Region
Second Team
Emma Lee, Providence, Sr., Outfield
Third Team
Madison Morris, St. John’s, Sr., Pitcher
Peyton Cody, St. John’s, Fr., DP or Utility/Non-Pitcher
Mideast Region
First Team
Paige Rauch, Villanova, So., Utility/Pitcher
Second Team
Hailey Arteaga, Seton Hall, Jr., Outfield