DiBlasio, Carrano Named to NFCA All-Region II Third Team

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (May 19, 2023) – Western New England softball graduate student second baseman Dina DiBlasio and senior third baseman Kailey Carrano have earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Region II Third Team awards. In total, 373 student-athletes from 174 institutions comprise of the NFCA All-Region Teams for the 2023 season. 

Dina DiBlasio put together another career year for the Golden Bears at second base, earning her third NFCA All-Region Team award. The Norwalk, Connecticut native led Western New England with 150 at-bats on the season, scoring 30 runs, while producing a .420 batting average on the season, tops amongst all Golden Bears. DiBlasio cracked 26 extra base hits on the season of her 63 total hits, 21 coming as doubles, which is a WNE and CCC best on the year, with a triple and four home runs to go along with that. DiBlasio drove in 32 runs for Western New England and became the all-time career batting average leader this season, breaking a near 30-year-old Western New England softball record while also collecting 203 total career hits, which sits third in WNE's program history. DiBlasio now has played in 150 games with the Golden Bears, collecting 503 at-bats, scoring 100 runs, collecting 48 doubles, three triples, 21 home runs and 126 RBIs, which sits tied for second in program history. DiBlasio has now made all three NFCA All-Region teams in her historic career, making All-Region II Third Team in 2023, All-Region II First Team in 2022, and All-Region II Second Team in 2021. 

Third baseman Kailey Carrano earned her first NFCA All-Region accolades this season after smashing the Western New England softball career and single season home runs record. Carrano added 14 home runs to her resume this season, a single season Western New England softball record and now has totaled 24 home runs over her 117 games played this season, which sits at the tops of the WNE softball career home runs record book. The West Haven, Connecticut native played in all 44 games on the season for Western New England, totaling 143 at-bats, collecting 18 runs, and 48 hits, amassing a .336 batting average on the year. Carrano gathered a double and 43 RBIs on the year to lead all Golden Bears and a number that sits second in the CCC. Over her four years with WNE, Carrano has a .337 career batting average and has composed 130 hits and is two RBIs shy of 100. 

The Golden Bears were one of 52 schools who had two players selected to the All-Region Teams. 

The awards honor student-athletes from the Association's 10 regions with selection to one of three teams. NFCA member head coaches nominate and then vote for the winners in their respective region.

If they were not already voted to an All-Region squad, conference Players and Pitchers of the Year from member institutions are added to the third team in their region, so long as they are nominated by their member head coach and receive votes.

All honorees move forward to be considered for selection for the three NFCA Division III All-America squads, which will be announced May 31 online and on-site at the NCAA Division III Finals banquet in Marshall, Texas.