Three Bobcats honored by NFCA All-Central region

 The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Central Region honored Texas State’s Randi Rupp, Haleigh Davis and Hailey MacKay with All-Central Region honors on Thursday. Rupp earned first team honors, Davis second team and Mackay third team.

“Obviously, we are excited for these three athletes,” head coach Ricci Woodard said in a statement. “We are in a tough region, so I am proud to see them represent the Bobcats on the All-Region teams. All three of these athletes continuously work hard to perfect their craft and have learned to manage the ups and downs of the game. To be recognized in our region reflects their talent and work ethic.”

Under the direction of Coach Woodard, the Bobcats have now seen 25 athletes named NFCA All-Region. Rupp joins Kristen Zaleski (2003-04) as the only Texas State players to earn two first-team accolades under Woodard.

Davis’ second team honors comes after a second team recognition from the Sun Belt as well. She has started 48 games for the Bobcats and currently owns the second highest batting average on the team, hitting .324. She has driven in 15 runs, including the game-sealing home run in the Sun Belt Championship against the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns.

MacKay was named to the regional third team following a First Team All-Sun Belt honor. She started every game for the Bobcats this season with majority of the starts at third base. The Arkansas transfer led the offense in 10 categories: batting average (.341), hits (57), walks drawn (28) and home runs (11). She produced 19 of her team-high 38 RBIs in conference matchups.

Cunningham signs with Bobcats

Texas State made its third addition to its 2018 signing class this offseason. The Bobcats added Marlon Cunningham out of Albuquerque High School where he averaged 1.2 points, 16.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 4.4 blocks per game as a senior.

"We are very fortunate to sign a three-star recruit like Marlon this late," head coach Danny Kaspar said in a statement. "With the departure of Immanuel King we needed to sign another big man. We believe Marlon will help us in our scoring and rebounding at the center spot."

The senior led the Bulldogs to the New Mexico Activities Association 6A State Tournament. He was named to both the All-District 4-6A First Team and the All-Metro 6A Second Team in his final two years of play in New Mexico. This past year he was a runner-up for the state's Gatorade Player of the Year.

The 6-foot-8, 240-pound forward is rated a three-star prospect and the No.1 player in New Mexico by ESPN and 247Sports. 

Cunningham will play in the 2018 New Mexico High School Coaches Association 6A/5A All-Star Game on June 7 at 8 p.m. 

Texas State promotes Paige Love

After two years as a graduate assistant, Paige Love was offered an assistant coaching position under head coach Zenarae Antoine. Love aided the Bobcats in what was a historic 2017-18 season that led to a Sun Belt Championship game berth and an offer to play in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament.

“From the moment I met Skyler Paige, I knew that she was a ‘mover and shaker’ in our profession,” Antoine said in a statement. “Over the last two years she has dedicated herself to our program and its success. How fitting it is to have a master’s degree Bobcat enter the workforce at her Alma Mater. It is a great day to be a Bobcat!”

With the help from Love, all three of Texas State’s starting guards produced career seasons. Taeler Deer was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, Toshua Leavitt was named Second Team All-Sun Belt after breaking every program 3-point record available and sophomore Brooke Holle evolved into a consistent, viable third option for Texas State by averaging 11.7 points per game. 

Following the season, Love was included in as a roundtable speaker at the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Convention at the Final Four in Columbus, Ohio. She presented “Behind the Scenes: the Graduate Assistant Life.”