SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Just a day before the Fighting Irish take the field at the NCAA Evanston Regional, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced its All-Region teams. Payton Tidd, Karina Gaskins, Abby Sweet, Joley Mitchell, Leea Hanks and Emma Clark were recognized for their efforts this season.
Gaskins, Sweet and Tidd were First Team Mid-Atlantic Region honorees. Gaskins, the ACC’s Player of the Year, finished the regular season with a .434 batting average and 59 RBI, leading the conference in both categories. The sophomore slugger hit 13 home runs, scored 27 runs and is two walks away from tying the school record for free passes in a season. Its her second NFCA All-Region honor after earning the same first team distinction a year ago.
Tidd, a Second Team All-ACC member, sports a 2.51 ERA in a team-leading 128.1 innings of work. She’s struck out 96 and holds opponents to a .210 average against. At the plate, Tidd hit for a .284 average with four homers and 14 RBI. This is Tidd’s second All-Region honor, having earned first team honors in 2021.
Sweet adds a .373 batting average with 57 hits and scored a team-best 52 runs with 19 stolen bases. She is second on the team with 11 doubles, while hitting two triples and six home runs. Its Sweet’s third NFCA honor after earning first team honors in 2021, and third team honors in 2018.
Mitchell and Hanks were Second Team Mid-Atlantic Region honorees. It is both Mitchell and Hanks’s first NFCA All-Region honors of their careers. Mitchell played in 44 games, making 31 starts. The sophomore hit for a .319 average, connecting on eight doubles, a triple and three home runs while driving in 20. Hanks started all 49 games in left field, hitting for a .366 average. She adds a team-best 13 doubles, five triples and 30 RBI. She’s also hit five home runs, scored 49 runs and is second on the team with 60 base hits.
Clark was named a Third Team Mid-Atlantic Region selection. The senior leads the team with 63 hits this season, hitting at a .360 clip. The right fielder has hit eight doubles with two triples and has driven in 21 to pair with 45 runs scored. Its Clark’s second NFCA All-Region award after being a first team selection last year.
Up Next
The Irish are in action Friday afternoon as they take on the McNeese Cowgirls at 2 p.m. at Sharon J. Drysdale Field in the first round of the NCAA Evanston Regional.