GREENVILLE – Greenville softball player Ally Russell was named a second team all-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association for the 2015 high school softball season.
Russell was one of 48 players from across the nation to earn the all-America honors. Sixteen of them were first team all-Americans, 16 were second team all-Americans, and 16 were third team all-Americans.
“It just says something great about Russell,” Greenville softball coach Jerrod Newland said of his senior pitcher. “She’ll go down as one of the greatest Greenville athletes in school history.”
This is the second time that Russell was named an all-American by the NFCA. As a sophomore in 2013 she was named a third team all-American.
Russell is the second Lady Wave softball player to earn all-American honors. Former Greenville pitcher Jordyn Fisherback also was a two-time all-American.
“Two great kids. We play at a pretty high level,” Newland said of his two all-American players. “It’s just great for the program the notoriety that we get.”
As the lone senior on Greenville’s 2015 softball team, Russell led the Lady Wave to a 28-4 record and a No. 1 ranking in the Ohio High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association state rankings. The Lady Wave won the Greater Western Ohio Conference North Division championship with a 10-0 record and advanced to the regional finals of the Ohio High School Athletic Association tournament where they lost to eventual Division II state champion Granville.
Russell, who finished her high school career as Greenville’s record holder for career wins as a pitcher, compiled a 28-4 record and a 0.97 ERA during the 2015 season. The future Wright State University softball player struck out 214 batters and posted 12 shutouts.
The Greenville senior was named first team all-GWOC by the conference, the GWOC North softball player of the year by the conference, first team all-Ohio by the OHSFSCA, first team all-North Region by the NFCA and was named to the Ohio All Stars softball team that competed against the USA Junior Women’s National Team.
Russell adding all-American honors to her lengthy list of accomplishments is icing on the cake, Newland said.
“Ices the cake to end a great career,” Newland said. “It just says a lot for her hard work.”
