2019 NFCA All-American Teams
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The combo of Trevecca Nazarene shortstop MaKray Odom and utility/catcher Mary Collins was honored by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) on the All-American First Team.
The NFCA recognized 51 total student-athletes on the All-American Team and this is the second year in a row that the Great Midwest Athletic Conference had two selections honored on the prestigious list.
Odom, now a two-time Great Midwest Player of the Year, is an NFCA All-American for the second straight season after securing second-team honors from the organization in 2018.
The McEwen, Tenn., native was second in the country in batting average at .565. She tied Kutztown's Sara Keeny for the NCAA Division II lead in hits with 100 despite playing in nine less games.
Serving as the leadoff hitter for the Trojans, Odom was the Great Midwest league leader in batting average, hits, runs (59) and stolen bases (51). She was also on the radar for Schutt Sports\NFCA National Player of the Year accolades as a top-10 finalist (Odom also made the top-25 cut) for a top honor in Division II softball.
Odom's impressive work in just three years has made an impact in the Great Midwest career record books. Among all players in the league's seven-year history, Odom is first in batting average (.489) and on-base percentage (.508). Going into her senior year, Odom is also on track to become the all-time league record holder in runs, stolen bases and hits.
Collins, also just a junior, bashed her way to tie the single-season conference record in home runs with 19 (Katie Chryssofos – Salem International, 2016). The slugger was selected NFCA/Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week back on March 7 which included a pair of grand slams vs. Lincoln Memorial.
Her historic season included a .440 batting average to rank fifth in the Great Midwest. She was the league leader in RBI (53), total bases (124) and home runs (19). Collins also earned first-team all-conference honors from the coaches in 2019.
Collins is also bearing down on some of the Great Midwest career records. The Collierville, Tenn., native is already the all-time RBI league leader with 145. She additionally ranks eighth in on-base percentage (.437), sixth in slugging percentage (.626), seventh in runs (113), sixth in hits (196), ninth in doubles (39).
She will also become the total bases career leader in short order and only needs six more home runs to rank No. 1 that category as well. Collins also has tremendous plate discipline in the heart of TNU's order with 65 walks tying for third all-time among all conference players.
Collins and Odom helped TNU easily lead the conference in batting average as a team, breaking the program's own single-season league record last year (.356 in 2018).