Story by NPCC Athletic Communications
Three members of the North Platte Community College Knights softball team have been recognized with postseason awards.
Elena Montoya, of Denver, Colo.; Kelsey Woodhouse, of Duchesne, Utah and Nancy Martinez, of San Antonio, Texas were named to the All-Region IX Team. Martinez was also selected as the region’s Defensive Player of the Year.
The recognitions were voted on by Division II Region IX coaches. It’s the second year in a row that Montoya and Woodhouse have made the All-Region IX Team.
“I am very proud of our team as a whole, but having Montoya and Woodhouse named back to the all-region team for the second year in a row shows their dedication, work ethic, buy-in and commitment to our program,” said NPCC Head Women’s Softball Coach Janelle Higgins. “Having a freshman named defensive player of the year is also a big accomplishment as it shows that she has the same qualities that Montoya and Woodhouse had last year, and she can use that to motivate her for her sophomore year. These awards went to three very hardworking individuals who love NPCC and our community and have bought into what we are building from day one.”
Montoya ended the season first in the region for her .541 batting average, was second for having 63 stolen bases, fifth for 39 runs batted in and fifth for home runs. Altogether, she had 48 runs on 79 hits, 20 of which were doubles. She also notched 94 putouts and 65 assists while posting a fielding percentage of .914.
Woodhouse’s batting average of .430 placed her fifth in the regional rankings. She was also fifth in stolen bases with 22, ninth for home runs and 10th for RBIs. Woodhouse had 26 runs on 52 hits this season. On the defensive side, she contributed 79 putouts and boasted a fielding percentage of .944.
Martinez tallied 27 RBIs on 44 hits while maintaining a batting average of .396 over the course of the season. She added 40 putouts and 60 assists and finished with a fielding percentage of .935.