LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A dozen Northwest softball players have been recognized as 2015-16 All-America Scholar Athletes by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), it was recently announced.

The honorees are sophomores Kayla Andrada, Heath Griffith, Hailee Kolwyck, Avery McCullough, Ashton Needham, Olivia Owen and Erin Claire Stegall as well as freshmen Sallie Rose Carver, Makenzie Crutcher, Leeah Henson, Kali Roberts and Annah Catherine Storey.

The award is bestowed upon any player submitted by a member coach who achieved a 3.50 grade point average or higher during the 2015-16 academic year. The honor marks the second component of the association's academic award program.

Northwest posted a 3.56 team GPA this academic year, one of the tops in the NJCAA and NFCA, and has now boasted 38 NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes under head coach Mike Rowan the last three seasons.

For a complete listing of all NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes, please visit www.nfca.org.