Five Georgia State softball players named All-Region

Release from Georgia State Athletics:

Georgia State softball made history as five GSU student-athletes were voted to the NFCA South All-Region teams, the National Fast Pitch Association announced Thursday. Five honorees surpasses the previous record of three set in 2013.

“I am very proud of all five of these student-athletes for receiving this recognition for such great individual accomplishments,” head coach Roger Kincaid said. “This reflects well on our program and the standards we have set. It is great to see other coaches in our region recognizing Georgia State’s success by voting for these kids.”

Ivie Drake added first team all-region honors to her impressive list of accolades earned during her outstanding freshman campaign. Drake became the first Panther named first team all-region since 2013. The Sun Belt Freshman of the Year established new program single-season records in five categories and was selected as one of 10 finalists for the NFCA Division I National Freshman-of-the-Year award given annually.

Lauren Coleman was named to the all-region second team after receiving third-team honors last year. The senior first baseman established new career highs in RBI, runs scored, home runs and stolen bases in 2015 while also becoming the GSU career walks leader. The second-team all-conference selection also is tied for second in career home runs and career RBI in the GSU record book.

Megan Litumbe, who blasted a career-high 21 homers in 2015, joined Coleman on the all-region second team. The sophomore was second on the team in home runs and slugging percentage and finished third in batting average and RBI. In the conference standings, she was third in home runs in addition to fourth in the RBI and slugging percentage.

Callie Alford earned third-team all-region honors to go with her two NCFA all-region second team awards from 2012 and 2013. The first-team all-Sun Belt third baseman had a career senior season, setting career highs in batting average, hits, runs scored, RBI and home runs while breaking the GSU career records for home runs and RBI. In the Sun Belt standings, she finished second in hits, third in runs scored and fifth in RBI.

Ashley Christy was selected to the all-region third team after being named first team All-Sun Belt for an incredible senior season. The centerfielder set career highs in nearly every offensive category from batting average to home runs, doubles, triples and RBI. In the career record book, she moved into third in steals, seventh in runs scored and tied for eighth in triples.

Georgia State finished 2015 with a 38-22 record. The Panthers reached the semifinals of the Sun Belt Conference Softball Championship and were ranked 42nd in the final NCAA RPI of the regular season.