< Become A Fan Of EKU Softball On Facebook
< Follow EKU Softball On Twitter


STARKVILLE, Miss. – Eastern Kentucky University junior Raquel Howes was selected first team All-Mideast Region by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).  Howes will now be eligible for a spot on the 2012 NFCA Division I All-America team.

Howes batted .371 with 14 doubles, 16 home runs, 54 RBIs and 38 runs scored.  She led the team in RBIs, home runs, doubles, total bases and slugging percentage.  She was second in average, hits, runs scored and stolen bases. 

The Colorado Springs, Colo., native led the OVC in RBIs (54) and total bases (134).  She finished second in the league in home runs, doubles and slugging (.691).  She was third with (72) hits and had the fifth best batting average.

Nationally, Howes has the 26th most home runs in the country.  She ranks 37th in RBIs, 67th in slugging and 142nd in batting.

Howes broke three team records this season.  With her 14th home run of the season, against Eastern Illinois on April 22, she broke her own single season home run record and broke Eastern’s career home run record.  She’s hit two more and now has 31 for her career.  Howes also broke the program’s single season RBI record (50) by driving in 54 runs in 2012.

A total of 263 players representing 129 different institutions comprise this season’s regional teams, including first and second teams for each region.  The all-region teams were chosen by NFCA member coaches from each region.

The 2012 NFCA Division I All-America teams will be announced at 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 30, on NFCA.org.