Springfield, Ohio – Freshman outfielder Abby Baker (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) and sophomore shortstop Loren Combs (Cincinnati, Ohio/Turpin) earned All-Central Region honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). 

Baker earned second-team honors, while Combs claimed a spot on the third team from the NFCA, which organizes eight all-region teams following nominations and voting by member coaches. It was the first all-region award for either player in their collegiate career. 

Baker was outstanding in her inaugural campaign in the Red & White, starting all 35 games in right field for the Tigers. By season’s end, Baker had claimed North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Newcomer of the Year and first-team All-NCAC honors. 

Baker posted a batting average of .402 and a team-best on-base percentage of .460 to go along with stellar work in the field. She was charged with just one error en route to a fielding percentage of .969. 

Offensively, she was second on the team in hits with 41, third in runs scored with 28, fifth in runs batted in with 21 and fourth in doubles with eight. She also was a perfect 9-for-9 in stolen bases on the season. 

Combs was the 2013 NCAC Newcomer of the Year, and she has picked up second-team all-league honors following each of her first two collegiate seasons. She led the Tigers with a .407 batting average, 33 runs scored, 50 hits and 33 stolen bases in 2014. 

Combs started all 35 games for the Tigers. She ranked second on the team with 71 putouts and led the squad with 71 assists en route to a .940 fielding percentage. 

Wittenberg finished with records of 24-11 overall and 11-5 in the NCAC, good for second place in the final league standings. The Tigers advanced to the championship game of the NCAC Tournament, only to fall one run short for a second consecutive year.

Written By: Ryan Maurer