North Carolina State University Athletics
Sims Named Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America
5/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
RALEIGH, N.C. Recent NC State graduate and Wolfpack softball cornerstone Abbie Sims has been named a 2007 Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America as announced by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) on Wednesday, May 30. Sims was selected to the third-team in the pitcher/utility player position. The accolade marks the first such award in State's brief four-year program history that a player has been named an All-America for on-field performance.
A complete list of all three All-America teams can be found here, while an accompanying video can be viewed at this location.
“It’s a great honor and I’m very happy,” said Sims. “It was one of my goals all season long, so I’m very excited and thrilled to accomplish something that I set out to do and worked so hard to get.
“I enjoyed my time playing for coach Navas and attending NC State,” said Sims. “I owe a lot of credit to my coaches and teammates for helping me to accomplish the things that I was able to get done during my time in a Wolfpack uniform.”
Sims had collected several NFCA distinctions before, however each previous accolade was of the all-region variety. Sims was named second-team all-region in 2005 and 2006, before taking first-team prestige in 2007.
"I'm extremely happy for her,” said head coach Lisa Navas. “It’s a goal that she had set out for herself at the beginning of the season.
“It’s also another first for the program,” said Navas. “She has left some big shoes to fill and she will never be replaced. I'm just really happy for her that she accomplished this."
Sims, who became the first-ever NC State softball player to be named ACC Player of the Year in 2007, had an impressive senior campaign as she tossed four no-hitters, including a perfect game. She owned the second-best pitching record (27-7) in the conference, as well as one of the top marks in the nation. In addition, Sims is one of five pitchers in ACC history to have collected 1,000 or more career strikeouts (1,091). A native of Artesia, N.M., she also saw action as an outfielder for the Wolfpack, compiling a .292 batting average with 45 hits, 25 runs scored, 11 home runs and 27 RBIs on the year.
One of two ACC student-athletes to receive national player of the week recognition in 2007, Sims was tabbed by USA Softball (March 20) and Louisville Slugger/NFCA (April 22). She was also the only student-athlete named ACC Player of the Week four times this season. This year Sims made her third appearance as an All-ACC first-team member, garnishing all-league accolades in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Sims finished her career at NC State as the active leader in career victories among all league hurlers and fourth all-time in wins by ACC pitchers with 90 decisions. With 1,091 strikeouts, Sims places fourth all-time among ACC pitchers. Additionally, Sims’ 102 complete games ranks fifth all-time and was tops among active pitchers this past year.
Never more was Sims pitching prowess obvious than when she tossed a no-hitter over then-No. 6 Oklahoma at the Judi Garman Classic this past March 16 in Fullerton, Calif. The Sooners entered the game as the nation’s top offensive unit overall, leading the country in scoring and batting average, and ranking near the top of nearly every other hitting statistic. None of that mattered to Sims, however, who allowed just four base runners while striking out 10 batters.
Sims departed the Wolfpack owning many of the program’s all-time pitching records, including lowest career ERA (1.69), lowest opponent batting average (.179), most wins (90), saves (5), appearances (146), starts (121), complete games (102), games finished (25), shutouts (36), innings pitched (836.2), strikeouts (1,091) and batters faced (3,491).
Since graduating with a degree in business management, Sims has been competing with the Rockford Thunder of the National Pro Fastpitch league in Rockford, Ill. Click here to follow Sims and the Thunder online.
Sims’ Career No-Hitters
Vs. James Madison - 2/13/05
Vs. Central Connecticut State - ^3/19/05 (6 inn.)
Vs. East Carolina - 3/30/05
Vs. Ohio - 2/9/07
Vs. No. 6 Oklahoma - 3/16/07
Vs. Virginia - *4/14/07 (5 inn.)
Vs. Campbell - *^4/18/07
*- back-to-back appearances, ^ - perfect game
Sims’ Notable Performances in 2007
- no-hitter vs. Ohio (2/9/07)
- Carolina Classic All-Tournament Team
- ACC Player of the Week (2/12/07)
- no-hitter vs. No. 6 Oklahoma (3/16/07)
- ACC Co-Player of the Week (3/19/07)
- USA Softball National Player of the Week (3/20/07)
- no-hitter vs. Virginia (4/14/07)
- ACC Player of the Week (4/16/07)
- perfect game vs. Campbell (4/18/07)
- ACC Player of the Week (4/23/07)
- Louisville Slugger/NFCA Co-Player of the Week (4/25/07)
- ACC Player of the Year
- All-ACC First-Team
- Louisville Slugger All-Southeast Region First-Team
- Louisville Slugger Third-Team All-America
A complete list of all three All-America teams can be found here, while an accompanying video can be viewed at this location.
“It’s a great honor and I’m very happy,” said Sims. “It was one of my goals all season long, so I’m very excited and thrilled to accomplish something that I set out to do and worked so hard to get.
“I enjoyed my time playing for coach Navas and attending NC State,” said Sims. “I owe a lot of credit to my coaches and teammates for helping me to accomplish the things that I was able to get done during my time in a Wolfpack uniform.”
Sims had collected several NFCA distinctions before, however each previous accolade was of the all-region variety. Sims was named second-team all-region in 2005 and 2006, before taking first-team prestige in 2007.
"I'm extremely happy for her,” said head coach Lisa Navas. “It’s a goal that she had set out for herself at the beginning of the season.
“It’s also another first for the program,” said Navas. “She has left some big shoes to fill and she will never be replaced. I'm just really happy for her that she accomplished this."
Sims, who became the first-ever NC State softball player to be named ACC Player of the Year in 2007, had an impressive senior campaign as she tossed four no-hitters, including a perfect game. She owned the second-best pitching record (27-7) in the conference, as well as one of the top marks in the nation. In addition, Sims is one of five pitchers in ACC history to have collected 1,000 or more career strikeouts (1,091). A native of Artesia, N.M., she also saw action as an outfielder for the Wolfpack, compiling a .292 batting average with 45 hits, 25 runs scored, 11 home runs and 27 RBIs on the year.
One of two ACC student-athletes to receive national player of the week recognition in 2007, Sims was tabbed by USA Softball (March 20) and Louisville Slugger/NFCA (April 22). She was also the only student-athlete named ACC Player of the Week four times this season. This year Sims made her third appearance as an All-ACC first-team member, garnishing all-league accolades in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Sims finished her career at NC State as the active leader in career victories among all league hurlers and fourth all-time in wins by ACC pitchers with 90 decisions. With 1,091 strikeouts, Sims places fourth all-time among ACC pitchers. Additionally, Sims’ 102 complete games ranks fifth all-time and was tops among active pitchers this past year.
Never more was Sims pitching prowess obvious than when she tossed a no-hitter over then-No. 6 Oklahoma at the Judi Garman Classic this past March 16 in Fullerton, Calif. The Sooners entered the game as the nation’s top offensive unit overall, leading the country in scoring and batting average, and ranking near the top of nearly every other hitting statistic. None of that mattered to Sims, however, who allowed just four base runners while striking out 10 batters.
Sims departed the Wolfpack owning many of the program’s all-time pitching records, including lowest career ERA (1.69), lowest opponent batting average (.179), most wins (90), saves (5), appearances (146), starts (121), complete games (102), games finished (25), shutouts (36), innings pitched (836.2), strikeouts (1,091) and batters faced (3,491).
Since graduating with a degree in business management, Sims has been competing with the Rockford Thunder of the National Pro Fastpitch league in Rockford, Ill. Click here to follow Sims and the Thunder online.
Sims’ Career No-Hitters
Vs. James Madison - 2/13/05
Vs. Central Connecticut State - ^3/19/05 (6 inn.)
Vs. East Carolina - 3/30/05
Vs. Ohio - 2/9/07
Vs. No. 6 Oklahoma - 3/16/07
Vs. Virginia - *4/14/07 (5 inn.)
Vs. Campbell - *^4/18/07
*- back-to-back appearances, ^ - perfect game
Sims’ Notable Performances in 2007
- no-hitter vs. Ohio (2/9/07)
- Carolina Classic All-Tournament Team
- ACC Player of the Week (2/12/07)
- no-hitter vs. No. 6 Oklahoma (3/16/07)
- ACC Co-Player of the Week (3/19/07)
- USA Softball National Player of the Week (3/20/07)
- no-hitter vs. Virginia (4/14/07)
- ACC Player of the Week (4/16/07)
- perfect game vs. Campbell (4/18/07)
- ACC Player of the Week (4/23/07)
- Louisville Slugger/NFCA Co-Player of the Week (4/25/07)
- ACC Player of the Year
- All-ACC First-Team
- Louisville Slugger All-Southeast Region First-Team
- Louisville Slugger Third-Team All-America
#BehindThe20 with former Pack Stars Abbie Sims and Renada Davis
Wednesday, April 24
Softball: Players Presser (2/15)
Thursday, February 15
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Thursday, February 15
EmpowHER with Aisha Weixlmann #Shorts #NCState #GoPack
Monday, October 16