MEDFORD, MA (May 18, 2026) – Seven Tufts University softball players have earned 2026 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Region I honors announced recently.
Junior catcher
Heaven Oliva, senior1B
Haley Leimbach and first-year shortstop
Paige Murphy were announced as All-Region I first team selections. Receiving second team accolades were senior DP
Lauryn Horita, sophomore 2B
Cat Kawabe and senior center fielder
Kaitlyn Perucci. First-year pitcher
Avery Kanouse earned a spot on the third team.
This is the fourth straight year that Perucci has received an All-Region award, including first-team nods in 2023 and 2024 and a second team recognition in 2025. It's the second NFCA All-Region honor for Oliva (2025 second team), Leimbach (2023 third team) and Horita (2024 first team). Kawabe and Kanouse earned the award for the first time.
Tufts' seven All-Region recipients is the most among the 12 teams that had players recognized. The Jumbos' three first-team selections tied with Colby College for the most.
Oliva was the top home run hitter in the Region for games through May 15 with her 12 shots. Her 46 rbis were the third-best mark. A .403 hitter, Oliva's 106 total bases were second regionally and led to a .736 slugging percentage. Behind the plate, she threw out more would-be base stealers (15) than any other catcher in the Region.
Leimbach again was outstanding defensively for the Jumbos at first base, making just two errors in 343 chances. In the five-spot of the batting order, she hit .333 with two home runs, 33 runs scored and 22 rbis. Her 51 hits made her one of four Jumbos who ranked in the top 15 for that category in Region 1.
Murphy had an outstanding first season as the #3 hitter and shortstop. She finished at .460, the fourth-best single-season mark in Tufts history. Ranked sixth in Region I for batting through May 15, she hit 17 doubles, five home runs, scored 38 runs and drove in 35. Her 125 assists at short were by far the most in the Region.
Perucci graduates as Tufts' career leader in hits (242) and doubles (54). She finished her senior season at .373 with five home runs, 37 runs scored and 35 runs batted in for 43 games. Among the Region I leaders through May 15, she is in the top 15 for hits, home runs, rbis and total bases.
Horita took over as the lead-off hitter for the Jumbos in the middle of the season and led the team with 39 runs scored in 43 games. She also produced runs, driving home 35 in 43. Both marks are among the top 15 in the Region. Horita hit .343 overall with 12 doubles, three home runs and 11 stolen bases.
For a Tufts team that led Region I batting average and home runs through May 15, Kawabe was a solid contributor in the sixth spot. She finished the season at .326 with three home runs, 30 runs scored, 27 rbis and 12 steals. She showed range at second base, where her 95 assists ranked fourth for Region I.
Kanouse was one of the most reliable pitchers in the Region, making 23 starts and finishing with a 12-4 record and 2.81 earned run average in 112 innings. The 12 victories were seventh in Region I this season. She threw six complete games, including a four-hit shutout at Trinity (Texas) early in the season.
Head coach
Lauren Ebstein's Tufts team finished the year at 31-12, earned the #1 seed for the NESCAC regular-season and hosted an NCAA Regional at Spicer Field.
See the full 2026 NFCA Division III All-Region Teams
HERE.
--JUMBOS--
