LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Fresh off their selection to the program’s NCAA Regional, Western Kentucky University softball student-athletes Olivia Watkins and Emily Rousseau earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Central Region honors, according to the organization on Thursday.
Watkins was named to the region’s first team while Rousseau was selected to the second team. It is the first time in each of the duo’s careers that they have been named to an all-region team. It also marks the first time since 2009 that a Lady Topper was honored by the organization, as Watkins and Rousseau mark the third and fourth Lady Topper selected to a regional team in program history.
Originally from Florence, Ala., Watkins leads the team in batting average, hits, runs and stolen bases, as she ranks in the top 20 nationally in stolen bases. Watkins ranks in the top 10 in the SBC in runs and hits while ranking first in stolen bases and stolen bases attempt. The junior was selected as a First-Team All-Conference honoree while she was also named to the SBC All-Tourney Team.
Named the conference’s Pitcher of the Year, First-Team All-SBC and SBC All-Tournament Team, Rousseau holds a 24-6 record for the season in the pitching circle. The Greenwood, La., native ranks in the SBC top five in nine categories while being named the league Pitcher of the Week four times. This season, Rousseau has recorded six wins against nationally-ranked opponents, including a complete-game shutout at No. 11 Missouri.
The all-region teams were chosen by NFCA member coaches from each respective region, and all the honorees now become eligible for selection to one of three 2013 NFCA Division I All-American teams. The All-America teams will be announced at 4 p.m. CT on Wednesday, May 29, via NFCA.org.
The Lady Toppers will take on the field at the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional this weekend, as WKU opens the NCAA Softball Championship with USC Upstate on Friday, May 17 at 3:30 p.m.
