By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Marykate DeLuca (Jr., DP/C, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) of Willamette University has been named Honorable Mention All-Northwest Conference for the 2022 softball season as selected by the NWC head coaches. DeLuca was selected as a designated player.

A total of 45 student-athletes were included on the 2022 All-NWC Softball Team. Fourteen players were named First Team All-NWC, with 14 players on the Second Team, and 14 players on the Honorable Mention list. Linfield University outfielder Katie Phillips was named NWC Softball Player of the Year. Tayah Kelley of Linfield was chosen NWC Softball Pitcher of the Year. Sydney Sandifer from George Fox University was selected NWC Softball Freshman of the Year. Head Coach Jackson Vaughan of Linfield was voted NWC softball Coach of the Year.

Honorable Mention All-Northwest Conference

Marykate DeLuca (Jr., DP/C) was chosen Honorable Mention All-NWC for the first time. She led the Bearcats this season with a .356 batting average after missing nine games due to an injury early in the year. She ranked first on Willamette's offensive chart with 19 RBIs and four sacrifice flies. She scored eight runs, blasted three doubles and one home run, and walked eight times. She had a .425 slugging percentage and a .394 on-base percentage.

DeLuca played in 29 games overall with 26 starts. She competed as the designated player in 20 games. In addition, DeLuca played six games as a catcher and earned a 1.000 fielding percentage with 31 putouts, three assists, and no errors. She made three appearances as a pinch-hitter.

"After Marykate's shoulder injury, she really worked hard at her hitting, making it her main focus, and it showed this year," Willamette Head Softball Coach Paige Hall said. "Marykate was one of our most consistent hitters this season and hit in the heart of our lineup for a reason. I am so proud of the way she dedicated herself to her hitting so she could help this team anyway she could."

During her three years at Willamette, DeLuca has achieved .295 career batting average to go along with 30 RBIs, 14 runs, and eight doubles. She has recorded a .994 career fielding percentage with 139 putouts, 23 assists, and one error. She has competed in 66 games with 59 starts.