LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A total of nine Northwest softball players have been recognized as 2017-18 All-America Scholar Athletes by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), it was recently announced.

The honorees are sophomores Kendall Akerson, Ally Judkins, Harley Smith and Mary Thornburg, as well as freshmen Katie Brownlee, Laura Fields, Sarah Johnson, Marlee Ray and Harley Stoufflet.

The award is bestowed upon any player submitted by a member coach who achieved a 3.50 grade point average or higher during the 2017-18 academic year. The honor marks the second component of the association's academic award program.

Northwest posted a 3.47 team GPA, one of the tops in the NJCAA and NFCA, and has now boasted a conference-best 66 NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes under head coach Mike Rowan the last six seasons.

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