(7-15-23) The 2023 NFCA High School First Team All-America features Covington Senior Shortstop Nigella Reck. Joining Reck on the 1st team from Ohio was Macee Eaton o Wheelersburg.

Reck will continue her education and softball career at Huntington University.

NFHS press release

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) has announced 40 student-athletes from 35 programs have been voted to one of three 2022-23 NFCA High School All-America teams.

NFCA High School All-America Videos (First Team | Second Team | Third Team)

2022-23 NFCA High School All-Americans

Lake Creek High School (Texas) topped all programs with three All-Americans, one on each team, for the second straight season. The trio, consisting of 2022-23 Gatorade National Player of the Year Ava Brown (first team), outfielder Carmen Uribe (second team) and catcher Kalee Rochinski (third team), keyed the Lions to a 44-1 season, which culminated with a second consecutive Class 5A state title and the No. 1 ranking in the final USA Today Sports/NFCA High School Super 25. 

Three programs – Antioch High School (Ill.), Blue Springs South High School (Mo.) and Rock Bridge High School (Mo.) – each had two All-Americans.

Voted on by member head coaches, the awards honor softball student-athletes from around the nation. All student-athletes who earned All-Region status (2022 Summer/Fall and 2023 Spring) from the NFCA’s 10 membership regions, were on the ballot and eligible for All-America status. 

NFCA High School All-Region and All-America student-athletes must be nominated by their NFCA-member head coach. All-Region is voted on by their respective region’s member head coaches.

Fifteen states were represented with All-Americans. Texas topped the charts with 10 honorees. Illinois and Ohio came in with five apiece, while California and Missouri captured four each. Indiana and Nebraska rounded out with two awardees. 

Roncalli High School (Ind.) pitcher Keagan Rothrock captured her third straight first-team plaudit. She was joined by first-team first baseman Macee Eaton of Wheelersburg High School (Ohio) and second-team catcher Emma Kavanagh of Barrington High School (Ill.) as three-time All-Americans.

Picking up second consecutive first-team honors are Brown, outfielder Kasidi Pickering of Atascocita High School (Texas) and designated player or utility/non-pitcher Dani Jackman of University Preparatory (Calif.). Additionally, first-team outfielder Jadyn Laneaux of Pope High School (Ga.) and second-team pitcher Ryan Maddox of Clovis North High School (Calif.) garnered their second All-America nods.

Additionally, four student-athletes earned their state’s Gatorade Player of the Year accolade. Joining the national winner Brown are fellow first-team pitchers Rothrock (Ind.) and Sage Mardjetko of Lemont High School (Ill.), along with Maddox (Calif.), a second-team hurler.

Celebrating 40 years in 2023, the NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded All-Region and All-America awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from podcasts to a comprehensive drills database, to in-person events and a National Convention.

High School Division – first Team
Position–Name–School

P-Ava Brown, Lake Creek High School (TX)
P-Sage Mardjetko, Lemont High School (IL)
P-Keagan Rothrock,Roncalli High School (IN)

C
Ava Ratliff -Bedford North Lawrence High School (IN)

1B
Macee Eaton, Wheelersburg High School (OH)

2B
Jenna Joyce, Royse City High School (TX)

3B
Bree Urban, Millard South High School (NE)

SS
Nigella Reck, Covington High School (OH)

OF
Kasidi Pickering, Atascocita High School (TX)

OF
Dylan Reyer, Baldwin High School (NY)

OF
Jadyn Laneaux, Pope High School (GA)

UT/P
Olivia Buettner, Billy Ryan High School (TX)

DP or UT/Non-P
Dani Jackman, University Preparatory (CA)