May 18, 2012 — Morehead State softball junior Amber Riddle added another accolade for her record-breaking campaign as she was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Mideast Region First-Team.
“Amber being named all-region is an outstanding honor and is a credit to her hard work this season,” said Head Coach David Williams. “She is a great representative of Morehead State and the Eagle softball program.”
Along with this honor, the Eagle first baseman was also named Second Team All-Ohio Valley Conference on May 9, as voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information contacts.
The Morehead native ranked first or second in almost every offensive category for the Eagles in 2012, including batting average (.361), slugging percentage (.653), on-base percentage (.466), runs (28), hits (53), RBI (40) and home runs (12). She ranked first in the OVC during conference games with a .413 batting average. She also ranked in the top five in the conference in slugging percentage, on-base percentage and home runs.
She set the school’s single-season home run record with 12 this season, eclipsing the previous record held by former Eagle and All-OVC First-Teamer Rebecca Butler, who tallied 10 long balls a season ago. Riddle now owns 27 homers in her three-year career and is three shy of tying the MSU career record.
Riddle is only the second player in the history of the program to earn this honor after former Eagle Alex Gjevre was tabbed First-Team All-Mideast Region in 2009 and Second-Team All-South Region in 2008.
She was one of seven OVC players who earned all-region honors in two separate regions and only one of three league players who were tabbed first-team all-region.
A total of 263 players representing 129 different institutions comprise this year’s regional teams, including first and second teams for each region. The all-region teams were chosen by NFCA member coaches from each region, and the honorees will now be eligible for selection to one of the three 2012 NFCA Division I All-American teams. In addition, conference pitchers and players of the year not selected to the regional teams were added for All-American consideration.
The 2012 NFCA Division I All-America teams will be announced at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 30, on NFCA.org.
