As a first team selection, Brittingham (right) is now eligible for All-America honors (Frank Poulin).
As a first team selection, Brittingham (right) is now eligible for All-America honors (Frank Poulin).

Wellesley's Brittingham, Hensch Earn NFCA Softball All-Region Honors

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced its 2019 Softball All-Region honors on Wednesday evening. Wellesley College softball sophomore Gen Brittingham (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) and first year Marisa Hensch (Carlsbad, Calif.) have each each been named to the New England All-Region team for the first time in their respective careers. Brittingham was named to the All-Region First Team, while Hensch was named an All-Region Third Team selection. 

The All-Region squad is comprised of three 15-player teams — plus voting ties — in each of the country's eight NCAA regions. In all, 364 players chosen for the 2019 NCAA Division III All-Region softball teams. All-Region players are nominated and selected by NFCA member coaches in each of the eight Division III regions.

Gen Brittingham | So. | Aliso Viejo, Calif | NFCA All-Region First Team

A two-time New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) All-Conference selection, Brittingham earns her first career All-Region honor following a season in which she finished in the top-ten in the NCAA in batting average (.509) and doubles per game (.563). Brittingham becomes the first Wellesley players since Maria LaBouyer '15 in 2015 to earn NFCA First Team recognition. She was Wellesley's leader and among the top-five in the NEWMAC in on-base percentage (.513), slugging (.796), hits (55), and RBI (32), while picking-up eight outfield assists in her first collegiate season in centerfield.

As an All-Region First Team honoree, Brittingham is now eligible for selection to the NFCA All-America team. The All-America teams will be announced the evening of May 22 online at NFCA.org and in person at the NCAA Division III Championship banquet in Tyler, Texas.

Marisa Hensch | Fy. | Carlsbad, Calif. | NFCA All-Region Third Team

Hensch hit .370 to earn her first career NEWMAC All-Conference honor in 2019 and is now first Wellesley first year to be named All-Region since Carly Bresee '16 earned Second Team accolades in 2013. the slick fielding third baseman had a .975 fielding percentage and made only three errors all season at the hot corner, including only one in her final 22 games. Hensch tied for the Wellesley lead in runs scored (27) and finished behind Brittingham with 20 RBI, whiel totaling a .434 on-base percentage and a .520 sluggin percentage in 32 games as a rookie. 

Established in 1983, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) is the professional growth organization for fastpitch softball coaches from all competitive levels of play.