The NJCAA Division I Region II softball meeting was held on Monday and brought honors to six Western Oklahoma State softball players. The Pioneers had five players named first team all-region (Kelsey Watson, Emery Fox, Martha Thomas, Samantha Betts, Tori Jones) and one player (LeNae Sanchez) named second team. Western also had four players listed on the top 15 player rankings for Region II.

Freshman Kelsey Watson made the first team selection while being tabbed as the second best player in the region. Watson is currently 22-6 in the circle with a 2.56 era and 217 strikeouts. She also is ranked seventh nationally in strikeouts. Watson is hitting .340 with 7 doubles, 5 home runs, and 37 rbi’s. Kelsey also broke the school record for strikeouts in a season as she currently has 217.

Freshman Emery Fox was a first team selection and ranked the fourth best player in the region. Fox is hitting .431 with 18 doubles, 19 home runs, 61 runs, 79 rbi’s, and 21 stolen bases. Nationally Fox is ranked 8th in home runs, 16th in runs, and 3rd in rbi’s. She was also name “National Player of the Week” once during the regular season. Fox broke two single season school records this season with currently having 79 rbi’s and 7 hit by pitches.

Sophomore Martha “Moose” Thomas earned a first team selection for the second straight year. Thomas was the sixth ranked player overall in the region. Moose is hitting .437 with 22 doubles, 17 home runs, 66 runs, 64 rbi’s and has committed only five errors while starting every game at second base this season. In the national rankings, Thomas is 15th in doubles, 13th in home runs, 9th in runs, and 16th in rbi’s. Thomas was also named “National Player of the Week” once during the regular season. Thomas also broke her own record for double in a season as she currently has 22.

Sophomore Samantha Betts earned first team honors for the second consecutive year. Betts was ranked the eleventh best player in the region. Betts is 19-5 with a 2.74 era and 174 strikeouts. Sam has walked only 30 batters in 156 innings pitched while holding opponents to a .234 batting average.

Sophomore Tori Jones got her first all-region selection making the first team. Jones is hitting .358 with 6 doubles, 11 home runs, 40 runs, and 49 rbi’s. Tori has a .416 on base percentage to go with a .594 slugging percentage.

Sophomore LeNae Sanchez was selected as a second team all-region player. Sanchez finished the regular season hitting .309 with 8 doubles, 11 home runs, 35 runs, and 45 rbi’s. Sanchez had a .579 slugging percentage and committed only eight errors on the season playing shortstop and right field.