OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Johnson County Community College first baseman Kaylin Watkins and DP/Utility Aubrey Griffith were among the 36 players who were named as National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II All-Americans, announced by the organization on Friday. Watkins and Griffith earned second-team recognition. They become the 59th and 60th JCCC players to be named as NFCA All-American, but the first since Mataya Wooten in 2012.
Earlier this year, both players were named as All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Division II performers. Watkins was a first-team selection, Griffith earned honorable mention.
Watkins, who was also voted the team's MVP, finished the season batting .445 (53-for-119) with 11 doubles, 15 home runs, 28 runs and 50 driven in, all which led the team. She also led the team with 18 multiple-hit games and 16 multiple-RBI games. Her 15 homers tied the third-most for a season in team history and ranked fourth in the conference and 25th in NJCAA D-II. Her 16 multi-RBI games tied the season record at JCCC. Watkins also made 15 appearances in the circle. She was 6-4 with 54 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.32.
Griffith posted the team's top batting average of .457. She was second to Watkins with 42 hits. She had seven doubles, three triples, seven home runs and drove in 33 runners. Griffith had 13 multi-hit and 10 multi-RBI games.
The NJCAA/NFCA Division II All-America team is voted on by NFCA member coaches in the country's three regions. NFCA All-Region and All-American athletes must be nominated by their NFCA-member head coach, are voted for by the coaches in their region or division, and ultimately selected by elected All-American committee members to receive this prestigious accolade. These honorees are in the top 1% of student-athletes competing during the 2021 season. All special awards are also selected by the All-American committee members or by the entire division.