LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Six softball players from the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) were deemed All-Americans by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) on May 29.
The NFCA All-America teams are voted on by the Association's All-America Committees. In Division III, the committee is comprised of one member head coach from each of the NCAA's 10 regions. All student-athletes who were nominated by a member head coach and voted to the first, second or third team All-Region squads were eligible for All-America consideration.
Three of the six All-Americans from the MIAA earned a spot on the First Team: Trine University's Debbie Hill, Tyra Marcum, and Alexis Michon. All three assisted the Thunder to the regular-season title, the 2024 MIAA Championship crown, and a trip to the NCAA Super Regionals.
Sophomore pitcher Debbie Hill is now a two-time First Team All-American and earned the Joan Joyce Utility/Pitcher spot. This position was renamed during the 2023 season to honor the late Joan Joyce's dedication to women's athletics and the sport of softball. Hill closed out the season as the league leader with 48 games, 17 doubles, 14 home runs, 111 total bases, and a .841 slugging percentage. On the mound, she leads the MIAA with four saves and an earned-run average of 0.91.
Freshman first baseman Tyra Marcum was a 2024 Tucci/NFCA Division III Freshman of the Year Finalist in addition to receiving a spot on the All-America First Team in her inaugural collegiate season. Marcum concluded the 2024 campaign as the conference leader with 58 runs batted in and was in the top three with 11 home runs, 97 total bases, a .450 batting average, an on-base percentage of .535, and a .808 slugging percentage.
Alexis Michon, a senior pitcher for the Thunder, is now a two-time All-America selection. Michon has also been recognized as a two-time All-MIAA honoree and a CSC Academic All-American®. She finished the year as the league's leader with 19 wins, eight shutouts, 173 strikeouts, 9.93 strikeouts per contest, a WHIP of 0.63, and a .157 batting-average against.
Also honored by the NFCA on the All-America Third Team are Adrian College senior shortstop and 2024 MIAA Most Valuable Position Player Karson Bagelmann, Trine sophomore infielder and 2024 Second Team All-MIAA honoree Mary Rocha, and Trine sophomore outfielder and 2024 First Team All-MIAA selection Karley Trine.
The NFCA is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded All-America awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from podcasts to awards, to in-person events and National Convention.
MIAA Student-Athletes Honored by NFCA
Adrian - Karson Bagelmann (Third Team)
Trine - Debbie Hill (First Team), Tyra Marcum (First Team), Alexis Michon (First Team), Mary Rocha (Third Team), Karley Trine (Third Team)
