Amarilla Headlines Trio of Athenas Named NFCA All-Region
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced the student-athletes chosen for the 2018 NFCA Division III All-Region softball teams on Wednesday, and three Athenas were honored. Junior utility player Chloe Amarilla (CMC) highlighted the CMS selections, earning First Team honors in the first All-Region honor of her career.
Anna Gurr (CMC) and Kawai Scanlan (SC) also earned All-Region accolades, with Gurr garnering Second Team honors and Scanlan earning her first All-Region nod at Third Team.
Earning her All-Region recognition as a third baseman, Amarilla also earned First Team All-SCIAC as a pitcher/third baseman, showing her versatility on the field. She led the Athenas at the plate this season with a .428 batting average while leading the SCIAC in hits with 65. Amarilla put up some of the best numbers for CMS this season, leading the team in runs scored (38), doubles (14), and on-base percentage (.466). She legged out three triples while knocking in 26 runs and swiping eight bags. Her 20-game hit streak, ranging from Feb. 24-Mar. 30, was the longest of any Athena this season. A threat in the circle as well as at the plate, Amarilla tossed a no-hitter on Mar. 17 against Hamline. She logged 61 strikeouts in 112.1 innings and finished the season with a 2.49 ERA.
Gurr is no stranger to All-Region awards as a two-time West Region Pitcher of the Year and earns a Second Team nod in her final season. The 2018 SCIAC Pitcher of the Year led the conference in ERA for the 2018 season at 1.61, bringing her career ERA to an impressive 1.48. After earning 19 wins in her senior campaign, Gurr is now the winningest pitcher in CMS history with a record of 71-29. She tossed seven shutouts in 24 starts this season with 18 complete games. Gurr struck out 112 batters while walking just 11, and was named MVP of the SCIAC Championship Tournament after tossing 21 innings without allowing an earned run. Gurr was named to the McMinnville NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team over the weekend.
Freshman Kawai Scanlan anchored the Athenas' outfield, playing every game in center field. She finished the season tied for the SCIAC-lead in triples with five, and logged a total of 48 hits. Her batting average of .381 was second-best on the team behind Amarilla. Scanlan scored 27 runs for CMS and knocked in 30 with six stolen bases. She boasted a .444 on-base percentage and .508 slugging percentage. The freshman earned her first-career All-SCIAC nod this season, earning Second Team recognition.
All-Region players are nominated and selected by NFCA member coaches in each of the eight Division III regions. First team All-Region choices are eligible for selection to the NFCA All-America team, which will be announced the evening of May 23 online at NFCA.org and in person at the NCAA Division III Championship banquet in Oklahoma City.