Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Softball's Ford Named Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Region
5/19/2011 8:00:00 AM | Softball
May 19, 2011
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell softball's Alison Ford (Suisun City, Calif./Fairfield) continued her run through the awards season, earning a selection to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-Region Second Team, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced on Thursday. Ford, who was also tabbed the 2011 Patriot League Player of the Year, is one of 25 players from the Mid-Atlantic Region that will advance to the All-America ballot.
Ford is Bucknell's second consecutive selection to the all-region squad. Teammate Lauren Fry (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) was also a second-team honoree a year ago.
During her senior campaign, Ford led the Bison in a number of categories, including batting average (.408), hits (58), doubles (12), home runs (4), slugging percentage (.592), on-base percentage (.488) and stolen bases (10). Several of those marks were career highs, and Ford now finds herself among the program's top 10 in career runs batted in (2nd, 98), home runs (3rd, 14), doubles (7th, 31), games played (7th, 178), hits (8th, 159) and batting average (10th, .331).
The only Patriot League Player of the Year in history to come from a team that did not qualify for the postseason, Ford led all conference foes with a .434 batting average in league action. Primarily a third baseman this season, she is a two-time All-Patriot League selection, first as a utility player as a sophomore and again this spring at third.
The 2011 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-Region teams honor student-athletes from the 10 NFCA regions. A total of 258 players from 126 different institutions comprise this season's regional teams, including first and second teams for each region.
The all-region teams were chosen by NFCA member coaches from each region, and all the honorees will now be eligible for selection to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America first, second or third teams. In addition, conference pitchers and players of the year not selected to the regional teams were added for All-America consideration.
Bucknell finished the season 14-36 overall. A Capital One Academic All-District First Team and Academic All-Patriot League Team honoree, Ford will cap off her career by graduating with a degree in early childhood education this weekend.
Mid-Atlantic Region First Team
P - Jen Mineau, Fordham
P - Kerry Hickey, Maryland
C - Tenaya Tucker, Charlotte
1B - Courtney Liddle, Virginia Tech
2B - Nichole Beall, Radford
3B - Jocelyn Dearborn, Fordham
SS - Dani Anderson, Virginia Tech
OF - Jessica Phillips, Binghamton
OF - Vangie Galindo, Maryland
OF - Jordan Reid, Delaware State
UT/P - Katie Ferguson, UMBC
UT/Non-P - Lauren Nacke, Dayton
Mid Atlantic Region Second Team
P - Ashley Czechner, Maryland
P - McCall Langford, Georgia State
P - Jackie Jenkins, Radford
C - Betty Rose, Virginia Tech
1B - Bree Hanafin, Maryland
2B - Kelly Strickland, Liberty
3B - Ashley Bensinger, Liberty
3B - Alison Ford, Bucknell
SS - Samantha Pellechio, Fordham
OF - Giannina Cipollini, Virginia
OF - Briana Gwaltney - Charlotte
OF - Whitney Williams - Charlotte
UT/Non-P - Nicole Callahan, Fordham
