UNK Athletics
Peter Yazvac, Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations
KEARNEY – Nebraska-Kearney freshman right fielder Carlee Liesch has been named to the 2019 Division II National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Central Region team.
The squad, comprised of 26 players on a first and second team, is voted upon by NFCA member coaches from the Central Region. Schools from the MIAA, NSIC (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conf.) and GAC (Great American Conf.) make up the Central.
Yesterday Liesch (Lincoln Pius X) was named second-team all-region by the D2 Conference Commissioner’s Association (D2CCA) (PDF), a squad voted upon by sports information directors. Today she was tabbed second-team again, one of just six MIAA players chosen. No. 1 Central Oklahoma placed three on the first-team with Missouri Western State and Pittsburg State having second-team selections.
All NFCA all-region honorees have a chance to earn All-American honors; that squad will be named on Wednesday, May 22, at the NCAA Division II National Championship Banquet in Denver, Colo.
The 2019 MIAA Freshman of the Year, Liesch was one of the top freshmen in Division II this spring, batting .458 with 12 doubles, three triples, seven homers and 18 RBI’s. Batting leadoff in 32 games, she scored a team-best 51 runs while fielding at a .978 clip. Her 71 hits are fourth most in school history for a single season with her batting average the second highest.
Liesch is the 18th Loper in the Division II era to be named All-Region (either coaches or SID) and the first since first baseman Kate Ruwein 2016.
UNK went 20-24 (12-14) this past spring, tying for 10th place in the league standings. The Lopers went 18-11 over its final 27 games and had players named to the All-MIAA team.