NFCA Release
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – On Thursday, six West Texas A&M softball players earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region recognition as announced by the organization. Of the 13 student-athletes recognized on the first team, all six Lady Buffs honored earned a spot on the top team.
 
WT's Emilee Boyer, Lauren Granger, Diana Murtha, Brittni Rufus, Gabriella Valforte, and Heidi Vortherms earned spots on the first team. Rufus leads the honorees as the only three-time award winner after being named second team in 2022 and first team in 2023. Boyer landed on the first team after receiving a spot on the second team last season while Granger, Murtha, Valforte, and Vortherms earn NFCA honors for the first time in their career.
 
Granger, Murtha, Rufus, and Valforte are all hitting above .400 on the season with Murtha leading the way at .481. Murtha, the 2024 Lone Star Conference Player of the Year, ranks atop the conference and national standings in almost every offensive category while Rufus ranks in the top 20 in hits and triples. Granger also ranks inside the top 20 with 19 doubles.
 
Boyer and Vortherms have been an unstoppable duo in the circle as Boyer holds a 23-2 record and Vortherms is 15-4 with two saves. The two pitchers have combined for 21 complete games and six shutouts with 242 strikeouts over 338.0 innings.
 
WT starts the NCAA Tournament on Thursday when the Lady Buffs take on Regis at 2:30 p.m. at Schaeffer Park.