LOUISVILLE, Ky. - After putting up eye-popping numbers all season, Northwest outfielder/pitcher Saige Koczka earned a selection to the 2021 National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-South Region First Team, the organization announced on Memorial Day.

Koczka is the first Northwest player to earn NFCA All-South Region recognition since the 2018 season, which featured three second team honorees - pitcher Harley Smith, pitcher Sarah Johnson and infielder Alexis McShan. The Rangers' last first team selection was designated player/pitcher Micalah Beall in 2014.

Koczka led the Rangers in several offensive categories this season and shattered numerous single-season and career records, most notably setting a new program record of 14 home runs. Her .489 batting average put her atop the rest of the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference, while also putting her in the NJCAA's Top 25 batting averages for hitters with 100 or more at-bats.

Other accomplishments for the Southaven native include 20 doubles, 59 RBIs, 131 total bases and a .985 slugging percentage, all single-season program records. Koczka's 48 runs scored are also good for second most in a single season, while her .520 on-base percentage is the highest single-season mark since Ashley White's .540 percentage in 2007.

Additionally, Koczka now owns a program-record .486 batting average and is tied for third all-time with Angela Carden (2009-10) in career doubles (22). Her 67 RBIs are the most by a single player since Lauren Riley's total of 68 from 2012-13.

In the field, Koczka totaled 50 putouts and a .934 fielding percentage, while also stepping into the circle for 51.1 innings pitched, 31 strikeouts and a 5-4 season record.

Koczka was the only Northwest representative selected to the All-South Region team, but joined five other MACCC student-athletes to garner first team honors. Eight others from the conference were selected to the South Region's second team.

All student-athletes selected for the all-region teams are eligible for NFCA All-American consideration, which will be announced on Friday, June 4.