LOUISVILLE, Ky. –Forty-eight student-athletes from 23 schools in three-member regions have garnered 2019 NFCA National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I All-America Team recognition, the Association revealed on Thursday.
Additionally, Tanjala Smith of Tyler Junior College was selected the New Balance/NFCA NJCAA DII Golden Shoe Award recipient, while Chipola College’s Candela Figueroa took home the Diamond Sports/NFCA NJCAA DII Catcher of the Year honor.
2019 NFCA NJCAA DI All-Americans
National champion Chipola College led the way with five NFCA All-Americans, four on the first team. Florida SouthWestern State College earned four nods, three on the first team. Four programs – Tyler Junior College, College of Southern Idaho, College of Central Florida and Arizona Western – each had three representatives.
Both first-team catchers – Figueroa (.513, 21 2B, 14 HR, 64 RBI, 91 R, 1.625 OPS, 66 SB) and Seminole State College of Florida’s Chelsea Peace (.436, 16 2B, 24 HR, 63 RBI, 64 R, .923 SLG) – garner their second straight NFCA All-America accolades with Peace on the first team again. Joining them this year as two-time honorees are third-team selections Tristin Evans from the College of Southern Idaho and Butler Community College’s Brianna Robinson.
Joining Figueroa on the first team are her teammates, pitcher Brianna Bailey (22-2, 1.26 ERA, 190 K, 155 IP, .174 opp. BA), outfielder Eila Infante (.460, 26 2B, 63 RBI, 56 R, .542 OBP, 24 SB) and utility player Amy Woodham (29-2, 1.64 ERA, 171 K, 170.1 IP, .166 opp. BA / .358, 36 RBI, 26 R). Figueroa was second in NJCAA DI in stolen bases, while Woodham tied for second in victories and Bailey tied for third lowest ERA.
Joining Bailey as first-team pitchers are Florida SouthWestern’s Kelsi Collins (25-1, 1.15 ERA, 187 K, 158 IP, .171 opp. BA), who tied for the second-lowest ERA in NJCAA DI, and Gulf Coast State College’s Hannah Poole (20-7, 1.95 ERA, 223 K, 172.2 IP, .200 opp. BA).
Headlining the five infield selections are NJCAA DI batting champion Arianna Cordova (.569, 25 2B, 19 HR, 73 RBI, 78 R, 34 SB, 1.153 SLG) of Otero Junior College and the home run and RBI leader Amanda Gonzalez (.505, 29 HR, 102 RBI, 97 R, 1.129 SLG) of Howard College. Joining the previously mentioned duo are Rebeca Laudino of Florida SouthWestern (.527, 98 H, 35 RBI, 80 R, 43 SB, .581 OBP), Nikki Whitehead of national runner-up Angelina College (.476, 91 H, 19 2B, 11 HR, 53 RBI, 70 R, .516 OBP) and Shaylee Alani of Yavapai (.460, 91 H, 27 2B, 18 HR, 79 RBI, 77 R, .522 OBP).
Smith, the Golden Shoe recipient and first-team outfield selection, swiped a NJCAA DI-best 71 bases in 73 attempts, while also hitting .449 with 13 doubles, 14 homers, 79 RBI and a .560 on-base percentage.
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The final two NFCA first-team outfielders are Lake Land College’s Frankie Izard (.512, 22 2B, 9 3B, 89 R, .545 OBP), who led the nation with 131 hits, and Florida SouthWestern’s Paris Woods (.406, 13 2B, 49 RBI, 52 R, 30 SB).
Rounding out this year’s First-Team All-Americans is designated player Illy Cisneros (.487, 20 2B, 10 HR, 50 RBI, 47 R, .548 OBP) of Odessa College.