Kentucky Softball's Kowalik, Coffel Make Program History With Postseason Awards

Make room on the shelves, because Kentucky softball’s Kayla Kowalik and Erin Coffel are reeling in the postseason awards.

Last week, Kowalik and Coffel were named to the All-American list by the National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association. Kowalik was voted to the first team, and Coffel the second. This distinction marks the first time in program history that two Kentucky players were placed on the list in the same season. Kowalik was voted on the First-Team list in 2021 and Coffel was an All-American last season.

Kowalik ended the season with a .442 BA, 80 hits, 10 doubles, three triples, two home runs, and 24 RBI. Coffel finished with a .440 BA, 60 runs scored, 55 hits, 10 doubles, and 55 RBI. Coffel also hit an impressive 19 home runs on the season as she tried to tackle the program record, but fell short.

A panel of NCAA Division I coaches traveled to Oklahoma City to vote for which players they thought should make it. Each team contains three pitchers, one catcher, one first baseman, one second baseman, one third baseman, one shortstop, three outfielders, two DP positions, and five at-large spots that are not assigned to any of the roles above.

Adding both players to the All-American list tallies a total of eight NFCA All-American honors for the Kentucky program. Seven of those eight awards have come since 2016.

Keep ’em coming, ‘Cats

The awards did not stop there though, as both Kowalik and Coffel were voted to the 2023 College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Teams following the 2022-23 season.

Sports information directors, who are members of the CSC, vote on the award, with 50 percent of the vote being based on the academic success of the player, and the other 50 percent based on athletic success.

This honor marks the first time that either Kowalik or Coffel has been named a CSC Academic All-America member in their careers.