03/29/2024
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IMG_0377 (1)West Bladen grad and current UNC-Pembroke junior Abbey Walters has been named All-Southeast Region for her exploits on the softball field by two different organizations – the National Fast-Pitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA).

Earlier this season, Walters was a first team All-Peach Belt Conference selection and was also named to the PBC All-Tournament team after her Lady Braves advanced to the semi-finals before dropping a 6-3 decision to eventual champion                                   North Georgia.

The Bladenboro native started all 54 games for the Lady Braves and led UNC-P in batting average (.396), hits (72), doubles (16), triples (4), home runs (8) runs batted in (42), total bases (120), and slugging percentage (.659). She also tied for the team-lead in stolen bases (26) and on-base percentage (.420).

Those numbers placed Walters in the top five in the Peach Belt Conference in seven of those categories and in the top ten in the PBC in ten categories. Her 120 total bases came up just two short of the UNC-Pembroke school record of 122 set by two-time All-American Jelena Shaw in 2008.

Walters racked up a team-high of 25 multi-hit games and drove in more than one-run in 13 games. She also had a hitting streak of 14 consecutive games during the season.

When she wasn’t playing right field for the Lady Braves, Walters also starred in the pitching circle, tossing 82.2 innings in 21 appearances that included ten starts. She posted a team-best earned run average of 2.71 and an 8-5 record with 48 strike-outs. Opponents hit just .245 against her.

The mission of the CCA is to encourage and promote Division II athletics and standards of sportsmanship as important elements of higher education. The voting, nomination and calculations are all conducted by the school’s sports information directors. The teams are voted on by the members of D2SIDA, NCAA Division II Sports Information Directors Association.

The NFCA All-Region teams were voted on by NFCA member coaches from each respective region.

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