Madison Didion of the Barton Community College softball team continues to have post-season accolades roll in landing on the third team of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I All-American selections. Didion becomes the eighth in Barton softball history and the first NJCAA All-American since pitcher Christie Oreskovic was awarded the same third team honor following the 1996 season.
Didion's freshman season at Barton produced a school historical second best twenty-six wins going 26-5 with a 1.84 ERA in 182.1 innings of work. The 5'5" right hander from Montesano, Washington, struck out 210 batters for an average of 8.06 per game as both stats ranked 11th in NJCAA Division I softball this season. Recording eight or more strikeouts in thirteen games, Didion's achievements also finished second in program history behind's Michelle Moores' 33-12 record and 219 punch-outs set in the 1993 season. Signing with Coppin State University in Baltimore, Maryland, Didion will leave her one-year mark on Barton Softball history to the NCAA Division I level.
The NJCAA has played a vital role in collegiate athletics for the past eight decades and continues to be the leader in championing academic and athletic opportunities for student-athletes. The NJCAA's mission is to promote and foster two-year college athletics with healthy and fair competition. For more information regarding the NJCAA, visit www.njcaa.org.
Earlier in the week Didion received first team pitching honors in the 2016 Fastpitch News (FPN) NJCAA Division I All-American selections. FPN News was launched in the spring of 2013 to be a resource for Women's Fastpitch news around the country to promote the sport and be a one stop site for news related to College, High School, Professional and International Fastpitch. For more information regarding the FPN visit www.fastpitchnews.com.
The distinctions add to her previous honors of Freshman and Most Valuable Player awards in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) and Region VI, as well as, her second team selection to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) West Region All-American team recognizing Division I players of the NJCAA.
Didion's 2016 Hardware:
- First team – Fastpitch News NJCAA Division I All-American
- Second team - National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) West Region All-American
- Third team – NJCAA Division I All-American
- Freshman of the Year – All-KJCCC Division I and All-Region VI
- Most Valuable Player – All-KJCCC Division I and All-Region VI
- First Team – All-KJCCC and All-Region VI
- Seven-time KJCCC Division I Pitcher of the Week