Eight Sooners Earn All-Region Honors

NORMAN — The No. 1/1 Oklahoma softball team tied a school record by placing all eight of its nominees on the 2021 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I All-Central Regional Team, the NFCA announced Thursday.

Redshirt senior Shannon Saile, senior Jocelyn Alo, junior Grace Lyons, sophomores Mackenzie Donihoo and Kinzie Hansen, along with freshmen Jayda Coleman and Tiare Jennings were all selected for the All-Region First Team. Redshirt senior Nicole Mendes received All-Region Second Team honors.

Seven first-team selections tied for most in the country with UCLA and ties the OU program record for first-team selections, also hitting the mark in 2019.

Overall, this marks the sixth time in seven seasons that OU has had eight selections. The Sooners are one of six teams to have eight All-Region honorees this year, joining Alabama, Arizona, Oklahoma State, Oregon and UCLA.

The awards honor softball student-athletes from the Association's 10 regions with first, second and third teams selected for each region. The all-region teams were voted on by NFCA member coaches from each respective region, and all the honorees now become eligible for selection to one of three 2021 NFCA Division I All-American teams.

The 2021 NFCA Division I All-America teams will be announced at Wednesday, June 2.

The Sooners return to action this weekend as they host Wichita State, Texas A&M and Morgan State in the NCAA Norman Regional at Marita Hynes Field.

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