Milaysia Ochoa Earns NFCA All-Region Distinction

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State junior Milaysia Ochoa has been named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Midwest Third Team All-Region, the organization announced Thursday.

Ochoa, a Chino, Calif. native, picks up her second postseason honor of the year, having earned an All-Big 12 Second Team nod last week. Ochoa's recognition marks the 11th consecutive season Iowa State has had a representative on the team.

The southpaw centerfielder led Iowa State in most offensive categories as she was the lone Cyclone to start all 53 games on the season. Ochoa slashed .319/.614/.406, leading the team in all three departments. She notched 53 hits in 166 at-bats, scored 44 runs and tallied a team-high 33 RBI.

Ochoa had a team-high 25 extra-base hits on the year, recording 13 doubles and 12 home runs – the seventh most in a single season in program history. Ochoa also cracked multiple other top ten categories during her breakout season as she now owns the third most doubles (39) in school history as well as the eighth most RBI (109).

After spending her first two seasons as the Cyclones' primary right fielder, Ochoa shifted to center field for her junior year. There, she was able to showcase her tremendous range and cannon of an arm, making multiple diving catches and throwing out runners from the outfield.

Milaysia began the season batting in the middle of the lineup, fluctuating between the third and eighth spot before earning the leadoff job in March. The move from the middle of the order to the top played a major role in Ochoa's offensive production.

NFCA member head coaches from each respective region nominated student-athletes and voted for the teams. All awarded student-athletes now become eligible for the 2023 NFCA Division I All-America squads. The NFCA Division I All-America teams, voted on by the NFCA DI All-American Committee, will be announced at a later date.

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