RENO, Nev. - University of Nevada second baseman Karley Hopkins was named to Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-Region team as a second-team selection in the Pacific Region, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced Thursday.
Hopkins, a freshman from Sparks (Spanish Springs High School), started all 47 games for Nevada and hit 3.53 with 16 doubles, a triple and two home runs. She drove in 14 runs and scored 30 while hitting out of the leadoff spot for most of the season. She stole three bases and had a .948 fielding percentage.
"To be named to the All-Region team as a freshman is a great honor," Hopkins said. "Softball is a team game so something like this isn't possible without all of my teammates and coaches and the support of my family."
Hopkins was one of seven Western Athletic Conference players who earned All-Region honors in the West and Pacific Regions. Hopkins led the WAC in doubles this season and was eighth in batting average.
"I'm very excited for Karley and happy for her to get this well-deserved recognition," Nevada coach Matt Meuchel said. "She had a terrific freshman season and she is a major piece of our core group of young players who will help build this program as we move forward."
Hopkins was second on the team with her .353 average and five of Nevada's top seven hitters in 2011 were freshmen and sophomores.
This is the ninth time in school history that Nevada has had a player named to the NFCA All-Region Team. Brittany Puzey (2007, 2009) and Katie Holverson (2008, 2009) twice earned the honor while Sam Bias (2009) Vanessa Briones (2008), Noelle Micka (2008) and Britton Murdock (2009) were each named All-Region once during their careers with the Wolf Pack.
The all-region teams were chosen by NFCA member coaches from each region, and all the honorees are now eligible for selection to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America first, second or third teams. In addition, conference pitchers and players of the year not selected to the regional teams were added for All-America consideration.
The NFCA Division I All-American teams will be announced on Wednesday, June 1.
Link to the complete NFCA All-Region Teams: http://www.nfca.org/pagebank/?id=1801
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