Wildcats Land 5 on NFCA All-America Squads
05/29/2019 | Softball
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Arizona Wildcats were well represented on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America squads, announced Wednesday at the Women's College World Series.
Juniors Dejah Mulipola and Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza and senior Taylor McQuillin were first-team selections, while fellow juniors Reyna Carranco and Jessie Harper were named to the second-team.
Mulipola, who has started all 59 games for the Wildcats, and is batting .316 with 22 home runs, was also selected as the NFCA Catcher of the Year. The Garden Grove, California native is the second Wildcat in program history to earn Catcher of the Year honors. Leah Bratz also won the prestigious honor in both 1997 and 1998.
Mulipola also earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors, Pac-12 All-Defensive Team honors and was named first-team NFCA All-Region, on top of being an honorable mention Pac-12 All-Academic pick. The powerful catcher is also a U.S. Women's National Team member and one of 26 players selected as a finalist for USA Softball Player of the Year.
Palomino-Cardoza, who was also a first-selection in 2018, was one of seven unanimous selections to the first-team. The centerfielder, who also started all 59 games for Arizona this season, hit .394 with 17 home runs, 18 doubles and 65 RBI.
Like Mulipola, Palomino-Cardoza was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection, along with being selected to the conference's All-Defensive Team. Palomino-Cardoza has been on fire in the postseason for the Wildcats with three-straight multi-hit games and eight RBI over her last three games.
McQuillin earned first-team honors after a masterful senior season that saw her go 23-7 with a 1.52 ERA. The Mission Viejo, California native struck out 214 batters in 188 1/3 innings this season and is 3-0 in three postseason starts so far. McQuillin has already been named first-team All-Pac-12 and NFCA West Region. The lefty has already been selected No. 6 overall in the NPF Draft by the Cleveland Comets.
Harper, who leads the country in home runs with 28, earned second-team honors after earning first-team honors as a freshman in 2017. Harper enters the WCWS batting .345 with her 28 home runs 69 RBI and 64 runs scored. She was named first-team All-Pac-12 and was named to the All-Defensive Team, on top of being named CoSIDA Academic All-District and Pac-12 All-Academic.
Carranco, who won the Pac-12 batting crown, earned NFCA All-America honors for the first time in her career. Carranco enters the WCWS with a .420 batting average with 13 doubles, five home runs and 40 RBI. She was first-team All-Pac-12 and a member of the All-Defensive Team.
The five All-Americans will lead the Wildcats in WCWS play, which opens Thursday morning at 9 a.m., MST versus Washington.
Juniors Dejah Mulipola and Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza and senior Taylor McQuillin were first-team selections, while fellow juniors Reyna Carranco and Jessie Harper were named to the second-team.
Mulipola, who has started all 59 games for the Wildcats, and is batting .316 with 22 home runs, was also selected as the NFCA Catcher of the Year. The Garden Grove, California native is the second Wildcat in program history to earn Catcher of the Year honors. Leah Bratz also won the prestigious honor in both 1997 and 1998.
Mulipola also earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors, Pac-12 All-Defensive Team honors and was named first-team NFCA All-Region, on top of being an honorable mention Pac-12 All-Academic pick. The powerful catcher is also a U.S. Women's National Team member and one of 26 players selected as a finalist for USA Softball Player of the Year.
Palomino-Cardoza, who was also a first-selection in 2018, was one of seven unanimous selections to the first-team. The centerfielder, who also started all 59 games for Arizona this season, hit .394 with 17 home runs, 18 doubles and 65 RBI.
Like Mulipola, Palomino-Cardoza was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection, along with being selected to the conference's All-Defensive Team. Palomino-Cardoza has been on fire in the postseason for the Wildcats with three-straight multi-hit games and eight RBI over her last three games.
McQuillin earned first-team honors after a masterful senior season that saw her go 23-7 with a 1.52 ERA. The Mission Viejo, California native struck out 214 batters in 188 1/3 innings this season and is 3-0 in three postseason starts so far. McQuillin has already been named first-team All-Pac-12 and NFCA West Region. The lefty has already been selected No. 6 overall in the NPF Draft by the Cleveland Comets.
Harper, who leads the country in home runs with 28, earned second-team honors after earning first-team honors as a freshman in 2017. Harper enters the WCWS batting .345 with her 28 home runs 69 RBI and 64 runs scored. She was named first-team All-Pac-12 and was named to the All-Defensive Team, on top of being named CoSIDA Academic All-District and Pac-12 All-Academic.
Carranco, who won the Pac-12 batting crown, earned NFCA All-America honors for the first time in her career. Carranco enters the WCWS with a .420 batting average with 13 doubles, five home runs and 40 RBI. She was first-team All-Pac-12 and a member of the All-Defensive Team.
The five All-Americans will lead the Wildcats in WCWS play, which opens Thursday morning at 9 a.m., MST versus Washington.
Players Mentioned
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