May 14, 2009

RUSTON -- The National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-Region teams Thursday and Louisiana Tech junior shortstop Amberly Waits earned a spot on the All-West Region squad.

The all-region teams were chosen by NFCA member coaches from each region, and Waits will now be eligible for selection to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America first, second or third teams.

Waits becomes the first Louisiana Tech player since Evette Grayson in 1997 (South Region) to earn a spot on the all-region team.

"Amberly is very deserving of this honor," said Tech head coach Sarah Dawson. "She is naturally talented and has worked so hard over the last three years to refine her talents. She has continued to mature as a hitter; learned to be patient and disciplined at the plate.

"With her speed and athletic ability, she is tough to defend. She has also worked hard every day at practice to improve defensively. She performed even under pressure in every game."

The Cleburne, Texas native earned the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year award following a season which saw her bat .488 with 17 doubles, 17 home runs, 41 runs and 62 RBI.

Waits also became only the third player in WAC history to win the triple crown, as she led the league in batting average, home runs and RBI.

While leading the Lady Techsters to a 34-23 mark, Waits set single season program records in average, hits (81), home runs, RBI, total bases (155) and slugging percentage (.934).

Defensively, Waits cut down drastically on her errors, committing only nine on the year after making 59 during her first two seasons. Her .951 fielding percentage was the best among shortstop nominees in the West Region.

Nationally, Waits ranks No. 3 in batting average, No. 4 in slugging percentage, No. 8 in RBI per game, No. 8 in home runs, No. 12 in on-base percentage, No. 19 in home runs per game, and No. 26 in doubles per game.

Waits is one of 11 Western Athletic Conference players to earn all-region honors joining Fresno State pitcher Morgan Melloh, New Mexico State second baseman Tiare Jennings, and Hawaii pitcher Stephanie Ricketts, outfielder Tanisha Milca and first baseman Amanda Tauali'i on the all-West Region Team. Nevada's Katie Holverson, Britton Murdock, Brittany Puzey and Sam Bias and Boise State's Kathy Cox were named to the all-Pacific Region team.

Waits could become the four player in LA Tech history to earn all-American honors, joining LeeAnn Jarvis (1984, 1985), Stacey Johnson (1986) and Debbie Nichols (1988, 1989, 1990).

The NFCA Division I All-American teams will be announced at 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 27.

West Region Team

P Hillary Bach Arizona State University

P Morgan Melloh Fresno State University

P Bailey Micetich San Diego State University

P Missy Penna Stanford University

P Stephanie Ricketts University of Hawai'i

C Stacie Chambers University of Arizona

C Kaila Shull University of California, Los Angeles

1B Krysten Cary California Polytechnic State University-SLO

1B Amanda Tauali'i University of Hawai'i

2B Tiare Jennings New Mexico State University

2B Amanda Kamekona University of California, Los Angeles

3B Krista Donnenwirth Arizona State University

3B Jennifer Griffin Long Beach State University

3B Shannon Koplitz Stanford University

3B Jenae Leles University of Arizona

SS Ashley Hansen Stanford University

SS Amberly Waits Louisiana Tech University

OF Kaitlin Cochran Arizona State University

OF Alissa Haber Stanford University

OF Brittany Lastrapes University of Arizona

OF Tanisha Milca University of Hawai'i

OF Katie Schroeder University of California, Los Angeles

OF Lauren Schutzler University of Arizona

UT/P Anna Cahn California Polytechnic State University-SLO

UT/P Megan Langenfeld University of California, Los Angeles

UT/Non-P GiOnna DiSalvatore University of California, Los Angeles

UT/Non-P Jessica Mapes Arizona State University