BRISTOL, Tenn. –
Nikole Counts of the King University softball team had a great season as she was selected second team all-southeast region by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).
Earlier this spring, Counts was selected first team All-Conference Carolinas after ranking second in the league with 14 wins. The Clintwood, Va., native not only ranks near the top of the Conference Carolinas rankings in numerous pitching categories, but she is in the region's top 10 in four categories and the top 20 in six categories. Her 21 starts ranks second in the region and her 24 appearances is seventh. Counts' 1.88 ERA ranks second in the region and 62nd in all of NCAA Division II. Her 14 wins rank her fifth in the region. She ranks 13th in the region with 13 complete games and her 1.19 WHIP is 16th in the southeast region.
Counts tossed two shutouts, and helped the Tornado to another. She tossed a pair of seven-inning shutouts against Southern Wesleyan University and the University of Mount Olive while helping King to a shutout at Converse College. In the win over Southern Wesleyan, Counts struck out a career-high 10 batters. On the season she registered 92 strikeouts in 126 and two-thirds innings pitched. She also ranked fifth in Conference Carolinas, holding opposing hitters to a .226 batting average.
This marks the first time in her career that Counts has been selected NFCA All-Southeast Region. She also becomes the fourth individual, and first Tornado pitcher, to earn all-region honors from the NFCA. The other Tornado to be selected NFCA All-Region include Hannah Riddle, who earned the honor twice, in 2017 and 2018. She was joined by
Kaycee Casteel in 2017 and
Jenna Burnett in 2018.
