NFCA Release
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association has announced that 667 student-athletes from 175 programs have received 2017 NFCA Division I All-Region accolades, including standout Missouri State outfielder Erika Velasquez Zimmer (Coppell, Texas). 
 
Velasquez Zimmer is a second-team selection on the NFCA All-Midwest Region Team. She was a third-team NFCA All-Region selection after her freshman season in 2015.
 
This season, the junior center fielder led the Bears with 58 hits on the season, a .349 batting average, 25 runs, and 14 stolen bases. She produced 10- and 13-game hitting streaks this season, including a 4-for-4 performance at Oklahoma State where she produced three singles and a double in MSU's upset of the NCAA Tournament-bound Cowgirls. The speedster also led MSU with 15 multiple-hit games as accumulated five outfield assists and 63 putouts.
 
She earned All-MVC second-team laurels this season and earned her way onto this season's MVC Scholar-Athlete first team. She was also named to the 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-District team with her 3.87 cumulative GPA in Exercise and Movement Science.
 
The NFCA awards honor softball student-athletes from the Association's 10 regions with first, second and third team selections. NFCA member coaches from each respective region voted on the teams, and all the honorees now become eligible for selection to the 2017 NFCA Division I All-American squads.
 
Under head coach Holly Hesse, the Bears have earned 19 NFCA All-Region honors since 1989, including Velasquez Zimmer and two other MSU players during the 2015 season.