Hedgecock, Delce named All-Americans

FAYETTEVILLE — A pair of Arkansas softball players were named to National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America teams, the organization announced Wednesday.

Designated player Rylin Hedgecock garnered a first-team selection and pitcher Chenise Delce was awarded second-team honors.

Hedgecock became the seventh Razorback – all since 2021 – to be an NFCA first-team All-American. She took the college softball world by notice this year with 21 home runs, which was tied for fifth-most nationally.

The redshirt junior from Valdosta, Ga., more than doubled her career at-bats in 2023. She entered the season with 78 at-bats from 2020-22 and had 164 this year.

Hedgecock posted a .335 batting average, .774 slugging percentage and tallied 62 RBI. Her 21 home runs and 62 RBI are each third most in a single season by a Razorback.

She is the second Arkansas designated player to earn NFCA first-team honors. Linnie Malkin, the program’s home runs record holder, also made the first team as a designated player in 2022.

Redshirt senior pitcher Chenise Delce earned her second consecutive NFCA second-team honor. She is the second Razorback, joining Danielle Gibson, to be named to an NFCA All-America team twice.

Delce posted a 2.02 ERA in 180 1/3 innings pitched and notched 21 wins, which are sixth most by an Arkansas pitcher in a single season. Her 193 strikeouts in 2023 are the ninth most in a season by a Razorback, and she tossed six solo shutouts in her final season.

Arkansas has had players named to NFCA All-America teams 12 times. Eleven of those selections have come since 2019 under the leadership of Coach Courtney Deifel.