By Diana Ly, SDA Media Relations Student Assistant
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Six Sun Devil softball student-athletes have earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region honors, the Association announced Wednesday afternoon.
Sophomore sensations G Juarez and Kindra Hackbarth each earned All-West Region First Team honors, while Freshman Danielle Gibson and Junior Morgan Howe earned Second Team recognition. Seniors Marisa Stankiewicz and Breanna Macha were each named to the All-West Region Third Team.
Juarez, a Top-10 Finalist for USA Softball's Player of the Year Award and All-Pac-12 First Team honoree, has been incredible all season in the circle for ASU. The Glendale, Ariz. native struck out a Pac-12 leading 276 batters while maintaining a pristine 0.92 ERA on the year, a mark that is nearly a full two points lower than her ERA in 2017 (2.79). Juarez has also done a masterful job in keeping opposing batters off the bases, holding hitters to just a .146 batting average in the season.
Hackbarth, a speedy outfielder from Oakdale, Calif., recently earned All-Pac-12 Second Team honors following a 2018 season that saw her lead the team with a .363 batting average. Following back-to-back two-hit outings to start her Sun Devil career, Hackbarth has gone on to record 65 hits, including four home runs and 25 RBI. Her eight stolen bases lead the team, while her pristine .981 fielding percentage ranks in the top-five for the Sun Devils this season.
Gibson, the freshman phenom first baseman from Murrieta Calif., has been a force at the plate for the Sun Devils this season. The All-Pac-12 First Team honoree leads the Sun Devils in numerous categories, including home runs (12), RBI (39), and slugging percentage (.675). The first year slugger burst onto the scene amassing 14 hits through the first month of the season. She went on to add to that total, securing 16 multi-hit games through the regular season.
Howe rounded out the All-West Region Second Team selections, an honor that marks her second career all-region honor after being named to the All-Pacific Region Second Team last season at Fresno State. Howe has been a welcome addition to the Sun Devil lineup, accounting for a team-leading 39 runs on 58 hits so far this season. Her ten-game hit streak earlier this year ties for the longest on the team, while her seven multi RBI games ties for third in 2018.
Stankiewicz, a senior infielder from Gilbert, Ariz., earned All-West Region Third Team recognition following a season that saw her connect on a career-high nine home runs. None of her home runs were as big as her three-run shot that stood as the game-winner and sealed ASU's third win over a No. 1 ranked team this season. The All-Pac-12 Third Team honoree garnered national attention earlier this year, picking up National Player of the Week honors following a week that saw the slugger connect on five hits, three home runs, in eight at-bats. Her 29 hits this season also marks a new career-high for Stankiewicz.
Senior right hander, Macha, rounds out the Sun Devil player accolades, earning a spot on the All-West Region Third Team. Macha has been a steady force in the Sun Devil pitching rotation since she first arrived on campus. In her four years as a Sun Devil, Macha has amassed 52 career-wins while striking out 366 batters. The 52 wins moves Macha ahead of Carrie Bedlove (1995-98) for 11th- in ASU career-wins, while her 366 strikeouts ranks 11th in Sun Devil softball history.
The sixth ranked Arizona State softball team will host the 2018 NCAA Softball Tempe Regional this coming weekend. Entering the postseason as the No. 8 seed, the Sun Devils will start post-season against New Mexico State on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. PT. at Farrington Stadium. Fans can follow all of the action from the 2018 postseason by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.
2018 NFCA All-Region Honorees
Kindra Hackbarth (First Team)
G Juarez (First Team)
Danielle Gibson (Second Team)
Morgan Howe (Second Team)
Breanna Macha (Third Team)
Marisa Stankiewicz (Third Team)
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Six Sun Devil softball student-athletes have earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region honors, the Association announced Wednesday afternoon.
Sophomore sensations G Juarez and Kindra Hackbarth each earned All-West Region First Team honors, while Freshman Danielle Gibson and Junior Morgan Howe earned Second Team recognition. Seniors Marisa Stankiewicz and Breanna Macha were each named to the All-West Region Third Team.
Juarez, a Top-10 Finalist for USA Softball's Player of the Year Award and All-Pac-12 First Team honoree, has been incredible all season in the circle for ASU. The Glendale, Ariz. native struck out a Pac-12 leading 276 batters while maintaining a pristine 0.92 ERA on the year, a mark that is nearly a full two points lower than her ERA in 2017 (2.79). Juarez has also done a masterful job in keeping opposing batters off the bases, holding hitters to just a .146 batting average in the season.
Hackbarth, a speedy outfielder from Oakdale, Calif., recently earned All-Pac-12 Second Team honors following a 2018 season that saw her lead the team with a .363 batting average. Following back-to-back two-hit outings to start her Sun Devil career, Hackbarth has gone on to record 65 hits, including four home runs and 25 RBI. Her eight stolen bases lead the team, while her pristine .981 fielding percentage ranks in the top-five for the Sun Devils this season.
Gibson, the freshman phenom first baseman from Murrieta Calif., has been a force at the plate for the Sun Devils this season. The All-Pac-12 First Team honoree leads the Sun Devils in numerous categories, including home runs (12), RBI (39), and slugging percentage (.675). The first year slugger burst onto the scene amassing 14 hits through the first month of the season. She went on to add to that total, securing 16 multi-hit games through the regular season.
Howe rounded out the All-West Region Second Team selections, an honor that marks her second career all-region honor after being named to the All-Pacific Region Second Team last season at Fresno State. Howe has been a welcome addition to the Sun Devil lineup, accounting for a team-leading 39 runs on 58 hits so far this season. Her ten-game hit streak earlier this year ties for the longest on the team, while her seven multi RBI games ties for third in 2018.
Stankiewicz, a senior infielder from Gilbert, Ariz., earned All-West Region Third Team recognition following a season that saw her connect on a career-high nine home runs. None of her home runs were as big as her three-run shot that stood as the game-winner and sealed ASU's third win over a No. 1 ranked team this season. The All-Pac-12 Third Team honoree garnered national attention earlier this year, picking up National Player of the Week honors following a week that saw the slugger connect on five hits, three home runs, in eight at-bats. Her 29 hits this season also marks a new career-high for Stankiewicz.
Senior right hander, Macha, rounds out the Sun Devil player accolades, earning a spot on the All-West Region Third Team. Macha has been a steady force in the Sun Devil pitching rotation since she first arrived on campus. In her four years as a Sun Devil, Macha has amassed 52 career-wins while striking out 366 batters. The 52 wins moves Macha ahead of Carrie Bedlove (1995-98) for 11th- in ASU career-wins, while her 366 strikeouts ranks 11th in Sun Devil softball history.
The sixth ranked Arizona State softball team will host the 2018 NCAA Softball Tempe Regional this coming weekend. Entering the postseason as the No. 8 seed, the Sun Devils will start post-season against New Mexico State on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. PT. at Farrington Stadium. Fans can follow all of the action from the 2018 postseason by following @ASUSoftball on Twitter.
2018 NFCA All-Region Honorees
Kindra Hackbarth (First Team)
G Juarez (First Team)
Danielle Gibson (Second Team)
Morgan Howe (Second Team)
Breanna Macha (Third Team)
Marisa Stankiewicz (Third Team)