2026 NFCA All-Midwest Region teams
Breakout seasons helped two Hillsdale College softball players earn All-Midwest Region honors Friday morning.
Hillsdale sophomores
Ronnie Craft and
Nathalie Hagle were both named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's 2026 All-Midwest Region second team, the organization announced as part of their annual awards showcase.
Craft was one of six outfielders to earn All-Midwest Region honors from the NFCA, a feat made even more impressive by the fact that she started just 36 games on the season and didn't lock down a full-time starting job until March. Once Craft solidified her spot in the lineup, however, she became undeniable, earning a spot as the team's leadoff hitter and becoming one of the Chargers' most important bats offensively. She was nearly impossible to get out, posting a G-MAC-leading .447 batting average with a 1.009 OPS, nine doubles, a triple, 22 RBIs and 45 runs scored.
She quickly proved herself to be one of the greatest base-stealers in program history, averaging more than one stolen base a game in conference play, and going a perfect 30 for 30 on stolen bases against G-MAC foes. For the season, Craft's 37 stolen bases broke the Hillsdale single-season record of 34 set by her teammate,
Emma Sather, while her 45 runs scored ranked eighth all-time at Hillsdale for a single season and her .447 batting average ranks ninth. In just two seasons, Craft's 45 stolen bases are tied for sixth in program history, and she's on pace to challenge the Chargers' career record of 84 set by Sharyl Loose in 1992.
Hagle, who was one of two catchers to earn All-Midwest Region honors, was another revelation for the Hillsdale offense in her first season in Chargers blue and white after transferring from Miami (OH). The sophomore didn't waste any time locking down an every-day spot in the lineup, and cemented herself as a key bat in the middle of the order who could hit for average and power. Hagle finished the season with a .323 batting average, including 14 doubles, eight home runs, 48 RBIs along with 21 walks and seven stolen bases. She also was an excellent defender at catcher for the Chargers, throwing out eight of 20 attempted base-stealers against her for outs while behind the plate.
The sophomore's 48 RBIs rank third in Hillsdale history for a single season, just two off the record of 50 set by Sam Catron in 2021, and her eight home runs on the year are tied for eighth all-time for a single season as well.
Craft and Hagle are the 24th and 25th Chargers in program history to earn All-Region honors, and continue a Hillsdale streak of four straight seasons with at least one All-Region player. Both players will be in the mix for D2CCA All-Region honors announced on Monday, as well as NFCA and D2CCA All-American honors announced at the end of May.
