IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa catcher Holly Hoffman garnered third team All-Midwest Region honors, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced Thursday. The regional award is the first of Hoffman’s career.
Hoffman had her best offensive year at the plate this season. The senior registered single-season career highs with a team-best .304 batting average, 41 hits, 11 doubles, two triples, and four home runs over 46 games. The Osceola, Indiana, native hit .379 in conference action and registered 25 of her 41 hits in Big Ten play. In game one of a doubleheader against Nebraska on April 6, Hoffman went a perfect 4-for-4 with two doubles and a pair of singles. The four hits and two doubles both marked a career high.
In her career, Hoffman started 192 games, including 181 behind the plate. She caught runners stealing 41 times and was responsible for calling the pitches behind the dish, including redshirt junior Shayla Starkenburg’s no hitter last season on Feb. 17, 2015.
Hoffman is one of 14 players from the Big Ten Conference to receive All-Midwest Region recognition. The award honors softball student-athletes from the NFCA’s 10 regions with first, second, and third team selections. NFCA member coaches from each respective region voted on the teams, and all honorees are now eligible for selection to the 2016 NFCA Division I All-American squads.
NFCA Division I All-America teams will be announced at 4 p.m. (CT) on Wednesday, June 1, via NFCA.org.