Bluefield, WV – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced its 2026 NCAA Division II All-Region teams on Friday, with Big Blue softball Paige Whittington earning a spot on the Atlantic Region First Team.

Whittington, who was previously named to the NFCA Division II Player and Pitcher of the Year watchlist earlier this spring, led the Big Blue in nearly every offensive category. She finished the 2026 season with a team-high .461 batting average and a .531 on-base percentage, providing a consistent spark at the top of the lineup.

A dual threat, Whittington tallied 71 hits, including 14 doubles and four triples, while scoring 57 times. Whittington was nearly impossible to catch on the base paths, successfully swiping 52 bases on 56 attempts. Defensively, Whittington finished with 92 putouts and a .960 fielding percentage across 47 games.