Region 8 sweeps NJCAA Softball Awards

Candela Figueroa
Photo courtesy of Tom Hagerty, Polk State College

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (June 19, 2019) - Chipola College's Candela Figueroa and Florida SouthWestern State College's Kelsi Collins claimed the NJCAA's top softball honors, earning Dudley Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively.

Figueroa, a sophomore catcher from Entre Rios, Argentina, led Chipola to its third national championship in 2019 after batting .513 with 14 home runs. She was previously named First-team NJCAA All-America and First-team FCSAA All-State and was the Panhandle Conference Player of the Year.

Collins, a right-hander from Clermont, Fla., finished her sophomore season with an impressive 1.15 ERA against some of the top competition in the country. She finished with a 25-1 record and 187 strikeouts in 158 innings pitched. 

Like Figueroa, she was named First-team All-America by the NJCAA. Collins was also voted FCSAA Softball Player of the Year and the FCSAA Female Athlete of the Year.