2018 D2CCA All-West Region Teams

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Receiving more recognition for her record-breaking season, NFCA All-Region First Team and All-PacWest First Team honoree freshman pitcher Brooke Larsen (22-5) of Academy of Art University Softball added another regional award with Monday's release of the 2018 Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-Region Teams. Larsen was named to the All-Region First Team as a Utility-Pitcher.

Comprised of 28 student-athletes from 12 programs, the teams are voted on by the NCAA Division II Sports Information Directors from institutions and conference offices. All the honorees now become eligible for selection to the 2018 D2CCA Division II All-America squads.

Leading the way in a historic year for the Urban Knights, Larsen proved to be one of the toughest pitchers to face in the country. She finished the regular season as the PacWest leader with 10 shutouts (fifth in NCAA Division II) and innings pitched (178.1), ranked second in strikeouts (207, 11th in NCAA DII), wins (21, 19th in NCAA DII), and fourth in earned run average (1.41, 23rd in NCAA DII). One of the most dynamic talents in the conference, as a hitter, she also finished second in the PacWest in doubles (18) and tied for ninth in batting average (.359). She would set single-season program records in shutouts, strikeouts, ERA, and doubles.

"Brooke has been such a fierce competitor for us anywhere we put her," said head coach Sonja Garnett. "She has been a huge game-changer for this program."

Truly dominant as a freshman, Larsen did not allow more than three earned runs in any of her first 30 collegiate appearances. After shutting out Central Washington in her third start of the year, Larsen collected the first of what would be seven PacWest Freshman of the Week honors, one Player of the Week honor, and eventually the program's first Louisville Slugger/NFCA DII National Pitcher of the Week selection. She struck out a career-high 13 (one shy of the program's single-game record) against Notre Dame de Namur on Mar. 9 then later delivered 38.1 consecutive scoreless innings that covered a stretch where she was named 2018 Tournament of Champions MVP, Top Pitcher, & All-Tournament Team. Larsen proved her elite talent with the bat as well, leading the team in batting average for much of the year and doubling six times over a six-game stretch en route to the program's record for a single season.

In ART U's first postseason in program history, Larsen once again made major contributions both offensively and defensively. She delivered a 1.62 ERA through 8.2 innings of work, struck out 10, and received the win in the Knights' 6-1 victory over Cal State San Bernardino on May 11. As a hitter, she went 3-for-8 (.375) with two doubles, two walks, and two runs scored.

Haily MacDonald was the program's lone previous recipient of D2CCA All-Region honors, making Larsen just the second player ever to be named All-Region the first to join the All-Region First Team.