LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A trio of Friends University Falcons have earned a spot on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) NAIA All-Region team, the organization has announced.
Pitcher Riley Wertz and outfielder Priscilla Mora were All-Region III first-team honorees, while catcher Elena Montoya received second-team recognition.
The KCAC Pitcher of the Year, Wertz ranks fourth in the NAIA with a single-season modern-era record 248 strikeouts along with a 22-8 record. The Wichita native finished the season with a 1.92 ERA while limiting the opposition to a .201 batting average. Earlier this year, Wertz pitched the first perfect game for the Falcons since 2008 in a victory over Bethany College (Mar. 22).
Mora anchored the Falcon offense this season, slugging 16 home runs that fell just one shy of the school's single-season modern-era record. For her career, Mora is tops on the modern list with 45 career homers. A native of Beaumont, Calif., Mora batted .354 on the season and drove in 46 runs with a team-leading .741 slugging percentage.
Hitting atop the Falcon lineup, Montoya ignited the offense all season, batting a team-leading .420 with seven home runs and 29 RBI. The Denver, Colo. native also paced the Falcons in runs (47), hits (68), on-base percentage (.497) and stolen bases (13).
The senior trio led the Falcons to their first KCAC regular season championship since 2016 and the program's most wins (37) since 2013.
Complete NFCA NAIA All-Region Teams
