May 14, 2008

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Five Wildcats have been named National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Mideast Region selections, announced Wednesday by the organization. The honors mark the fourth time in the past five years at least five 'Cats have been chosen for the honor.

Sophomore pitcher Lauren Delaney (Jefferson City, Mo./Helias), sophomore second baseman Nicole Pauly (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) and junior shortstop Tammy Williams (Roscoe, Mo./Osceola) were named first-team selections, while junior catcher Erin Dyer (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport) and freshman first baseman Michelle Batts (Bloomingdale, Ill./Glenbard North) were second-team honorees. Batts was chosen as a utility selection after splitting time during the year between the designated player and first base positions.

All of Northwestern's All-Region selections now are eligible for the NFCA All-America ballot. The NFCA's All-America selections will be announced May 28.

The honor for Delaney is the second of her career after being a second-team selection in 2007. The Big Ten Pitcher of the Year ranks third in the nation in victories, ninth in hits allowed per game and 11th in strikeouts per game. She has broken NU's school single-season record for wins with 34, and is the second pitcher in school history to reach 400 strikeouts in one year.

Pauly also was a first-team honoree in 2007, and currently leads Northwestern with 13 home runs and 11 doubles while batting .318 with 40 runs scored and 41 RBIs. She began the season on the USA Softball Top 50 Player of the Year watch list.

Williams is a three-time first-team All-Region selection, joining Lisa Ishikawa and Garland Cooper as the only Wildcats in school history to perform that feat. Both Ishikawa and Cooper went on to become four-time first-team All-Region performers. Williams was named Big Ten Player of the Year in 2008, and is one of 10 finalists for USA Softball's Player of the Year award.

Dyer's honor is the first for the junior. A career .227 hitter entering 2008, Dyer has been phenomenal for the Wildcats this season, batting .325 with 12 home runs, 37 RBIs and a .444 on-base percentage.

Batts' award marks the sixth-consecutive season a freshman Wildcat has been named to the All-Region team. Batts leads the club with 42 RBIs and 26 walks while ranking second with 12 home runs and 10 doubles on the year.

To view the complete NFCA All-Region teams, link to NFCA.org.