The Tigers are off to a good start in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, as Kasey Cooper and Emily Carosone were welcomed with All-American recognition Wednesday afternoon, May 27.
The Tigers were two of six players who received the honor alongside UCLA’s Ally Carda and Alexis Bennett, Oklahoma’s Lauren Chamberlain and Oregon’s Cheridan Hawkins.
Cooper said it was an honor to be sitting next to the five other All-Americans.
“For me I think it’s cool because I watched Oklahoma and Alabama play in the championship sitting at home in high school.” Cooper said. “Having, almost, the opportunity to play Lauren Chamberlain, and some of the girls like Ally Carta … I grew up watching them. It’s really cool to be a competitor against them.”
The selection process for the honor begins near the conclusion of regular season play. Division I schools are divided into 10 regions across the country, and, in late April, all Division I coaches can nominate up to eight players from their respective regions for All-Region consideration.
These coaches then vote on players from their respected regions by mid May, and once a player holds All-Region status, they are eligible to be All-Americans.
Then, a committee of 10 coaches, one from each region, meets in Oklahoma City and votes on the All-American players.
“Earning the title of an NFCA All-American is the highest individual award a softball athlete can achieve.” Carol Bruggeman, Associate Executive Director of the NFCA said.
The SEC led the competition with 19 legible players, with the PAC 12 falling behind with 13.
“It’s great to be recognized,” Carosone said, “but I think both of us realize that it takes all of our team, there’s 25 other girls that it takes to get here. It’s not about the individual, it’s about the team.”
Cooper said she agreed.
“People see us however it takes,” Cooper said. “All 25. It just shows how much dedication and commitment the players have.”
She then commended Carosone for her defensive plays at second base this season and said her walk out song should be the ESPN jingle.
Fifty-one percent of the eligible candidates are participating in this year’s Women’s College World Series.
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