Igawa, Pettenger Earn NFCA All-Region Honors

BOSTON, Mass. – The Wentworth Institute of Technology softball team continued to add to its postseason awards collection Friday afternoon as the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association (NFCA) announced their 2024 All-Region teams. Sophomore catcher Kyla Igawa (Long Beach, Calif.) and graduate outfielder Kaitlin Pettenger (Budd Lake, N.J.) were named to the first and third teams, respectively. For Pettenger, it marks her second straight all-region nod, having also been named to the third team in 2023. With this duo earning all-region accolades, it marks the third straight season the Black & Gold has had at least one student-athlete recognized.

Igawa earned her first all-conference nod after an efficient season, batting .414 with 34 RBI that ranked second and third in the league, respectively. The sophomore's breakout season also included a team-high 14 doubles and a .432 on base percentage.

Across her career, Igawa bats .363 with a .461 slugging percentage, notching 21 doubles, 54 RBI, and three home runs. Her seven sacrifice flies tie for first in the program's all-time ranks.

Pettenger etched her name further into the program's record books in her fifth season, being named CCC Player of the Year while batting .409 at the plate with 54 hits, including 10 doubles and two triples, and holding a .561 slugging percentage and a .506 on base percentage that ranked second conference-wide. Her 45 runs scored and 24 stolen bases both ranked first in the CCC. Pettenger was also named CCC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and to the all-conference first team.

Pettenger ranks arguably at the top among all-time Leopards per her career, ranking first in the following statistical categories: games played (148), runs scored (139), hits (193), triples (19), total bases (287), and stolen bases (54). Her .388 batting average and .469 on base percentage each rank second. In addition to this season's accolades, which now includes her second straight NFCA All-Region nod, the outfielder was named all-region a season ago and has been named to the All-CCC First Team each of the last two seasons prior to 2024 after being named to the second team as a freshman.

The Leopards made their third straight trip to the CCC Tournament, finishing with 20 or more wins (25-19) for the third straight season while making their second straight appearance in the CCC semifinal round.

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