May 11, 2015

NFCA All-Region Teams

BLUFFTON, Ohio - For the second straight year, senior Jessica Kuzara (Flat Rock, Mich./Huron) has been named All-Central Region by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). A First Team All-Region selection in 2014, Jess continued her assault on Bluffton's record books while earning Second Team All-Region honors following her final season as a Beaver. The NFCA honor comes on the heels of her second straight First Team All-Heartland Conference selection.

Picking up right where she left off following a  2014 campaign that saw her named First Team All-Central Region and First Team All-Heartland Conference as a junior, the third baseman ignited a Bluffton offense that set a school record with 50 home runs this season, 27 more than the previous mark of 23 set in 2013! She topped the Heartland Conference with 43 runs scored which also set a school mark for runs in a season. Her 45 hits and nine homers were both 2nd in the HCAC. In conference contests, Kuzara  topped the competition with 24 runs, seven dingers and 49 total bases while her .907 slugging percentage was 2nd in the HCAC. Kuzara's nine homers is 2nd to Lindsey Miller's 11 on Bluffton's single season list. Her 32 RBI this year places her 7th all-time, while her 14 stolen bases is tied for 9th all-time. Defensively, Kuzara added 108 assists which is tied for 4th all-time. Her 84 total bases are 6th on Bluffton's single-season list and her .651 slugging percentage is 7th all-time.                        

Kuzara's career numbers are even more impressive as the Kathryn E. Little Outstanding Female Athlete is at the top of the record book with 119 runs scored. She has two of the top three single season marks with 43 runs this season and 41 runs scored as a junior. Her 19 homers is just one behind Miller's career mark of 20. Kuzara is 2nd all-time with 102 RBI and 257 total bases. Her 35 doubles and 155 hits are 3rd all-time, while her five triples are tied for 2nd. She played in 152 games (7th all-time), started 144 (8th all-time) and tallied 449 at bats (5th all-time). Her .345 batting average is fifth all-time and her .572 slugging percentage is 4th in the career record book. She was superb at the hot corner, finishing with 292 career assists (5th all-time). She is one of just 11 Beavers to hit two home runs in a game, a feat she accomplished at Rose-Hulman this season. Kuzara earned HCAC Player of the Week honors for her work that week.

The Bluffton University softball team put together its best offensive season in school history and its defense was also up to the task as the Beavers pounded 50 home runs, eclipsing the previous school mark by 27 dingers!  A .330 batting average equaled the 2014 club for the best BA in school history and 20 points higher than the any other year at Bluffton. Bluffton's .551 slugging percentage was nearly 100 points higher than the previous mark of .452 set in 2013. The 2015 Beavers also obliterated school marks with 243 RBI, 621 total bases, 274 runs and 83 doubles while the 26 victories this season was bested only by the 2009 squad that went 30-13. The Bluffton defense turned a school-record 26 double plays and posted an all-time best .958 fielding percentage!

-BEAVERS-