May 17, 2006
STARKVILLE, Miss. - The No. 19 Baylor softball team placed five players on the NFCA All-Midwest Region team, the most selections of any team in the region, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced on Wednesday. Baylor placed three members on the first team and added a pair of second team selections.
Chelsi Lake, Kelly Osburn and Brette Reagan each earned first-team honors for the Lady Bears as Nebraska and Oklahoma also placed three members on the first team.
The selection for Lake marked the third consecutive season the junior has been named to the all-region squad. Her selection to the first team marked her second first-team nod and the first time she has been named to the squad as a catcher. Heading into the NCAA Championships, the junior leads the Lady Bears with a .368 batting average, 16 home runs and 48 RBI.
Osburn, who also earned first team All-Big 12 Conference honors this season, earned her first selection to the all-region squad. The senior lead-off hitter is currently batting .315 on the season with 13 home runs and 35 runs scored.
Currently hitting .362 on the season with 12 home runs and 44 RBI, Reagan earned first team honors after an outstanding year at third base. Reagan, who was named Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year, was one of three freshmen (Crystal Carwile, Nebraska; Samantha Ricketts, Oklahoma) to be named to the all-region first team.
Senior Tessa Lynam earned her second consecutive selection to the all-region squad as the right-handed designated player earned second team honors. Lynam is currently batting .289 on the season with 13 home runs and 30 runs scored.
Junior pitcher Lisa Ferguson earned her first selection to the all-region squad as the right-handed hurler made the second-team after posting an 18-12 record and 1.64 ERA during the regular season.
The five selections to the all-region squad marked the most in school history as the three first-team selections tied (2004) for the most in school history.
Chosen by NFCA member coaches from each region, the honorees will now be eligible for selection to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America first, second or third teams.
Baylor will open play at the NCAA Corvallis Regional on Friday, May 19, when the Lady Bears face third-seeded Portland State at 3:00 p.m. at the Oregon State Softball Complex.
Fans in the Waco area can listen to the Portland State contest on ESPN Radio 1660-AM with all other Baylor broadcasts at the Corvallis Regional airing on KWGW 104.9 FM. In addition to the radio broadcasts, all games will air on www.baylorbears.com.
