LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The West Liberty University softball team has been honored as an NCAA Division II Scholar All-America Team by the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and 21 Hilltoppers have been named to the 2021 Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete Team.
    Coach Herb Minch's two-time defending Mountain East Conference champions were one of 95 NCAA Division II softball teams to earn the NFCA's Scholar All-America designation by maintaining a cumulative team GPA of 3.50 or higher throughout the 2020-21 academic year.
    With a team GPA of 3.526, the Black and Gold were joined by Frostburg State as the only MEC teams receiving academic recognition from the national coaches' organization.
    Led by NCAA Division II Academic All-District honorees Makenzie Amend and Kat Donzella, the Hilltoppers' 21 Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes was one of the highest totals in the nation for any team. In order to qualify for the individual honor, student-athletes were required to maintain a 3.50 GPA or higher for the entire school year.
    Coming off its second straight NCAA Division II Tournament run, West Liberty is scheduled to open the 2022 season at home on Feb. 20 with a non-conference doubleheader against Clarion (Pa.).
                  Makenzie Amend, Avery Becker, Katie Beeman, Riley Bennington, Katelynn Blair, Makayla Blair, Taylor Bonnett, Kat Donzella, Lauren Garcia, Julia Hahn, Savannah Holbrook, Kenzie Holt, Sidney Little, Mahayla McCroskey, McKenzie Morrison, Annie Paterson, Laral Saunders, Taylor Scott, Lauryn Simmons, Grace Swigart, Madison Young