SAN ANTONIO (June 6, 2023) - For the first time since 2016, an Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) softball student-athlete has been selected to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association – NAIA All-American Team. This year, the Saints have two honorees selected – Madison Nunn and Cassandra Valdez – and this marks the first time OLLU has received First-Team All-American status.

Back in 2016, Taylor Doege was selected to the Second-Team.

Madison Nunn, an outfielder, and Cassandra Valdez, the Saints starting pitcher and third baseman, represent Region II of the NFCA for the NAIA. The two were earlier named to the NFCA-NAIA All-Region First Team.

Madison Nunn played in her final year for the Saints. In the season, she recorded 137 at-bats, had 43 runs, 52 hits, 11 doubles, a leading five triples, 11 homer runs, a leading 47 RBIs, 16 walks, a leading 17 stolen bases, a leading .380 batting average, on-base percentage of .449 and a .774 slugging percentage. Nunn marked a 1.000 fielding percentage. She received All-Conference First-Team honors and was part of the All-Tournament Team. Earlier this year, she received NAIA Softball Player of the Week honors. In addition, Nunn was selected OLLU's Big Blue Top Saint Female Athlete of the Year.

Cassandra Valdez played two years for the Saints. In the season, she led the team in at-bats with 156, runs with 46, hits with 58, triples with five, home runs with 14, RBIs with 47, walks with 24, stole bases with 17, on-base percentage with .454 and slugging percentage with .782. In the circle, she was 28-5 and had three saves in 211.2 innings pitched with 274 strikeouts for an ERA of 1.72. She was named All-Conference First Team and received Pitcher and Player of the Year honors. She was also selected Tournament MVP. In addition, she was named an NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

The NFCA-NAIA All-American awards honor student-athletes from the Association's six regions with selection to one of two teams. NFCA- member head coaches nominate and then vote for the winners in their respective regions.

Celebrating 40 years in 2023, the NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its vast library of digital education, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from podcasts to an extensive Awards & Scholarships platform to NFCA Webinars and a National Convention.

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