Smith, Busby Earn NFCA All-Region Recognition

NFCA Release | All-Region Teams

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia softball senior Lacy Smith (Lancaster, Pa.) was named an NFCA Mid-Atlantic first team selection while sophomore Hayley Busby (Phoenix, Ariz.) earned a spot on the third team on Thursday (May 16).
 
The All-Region bid is the first for Smith, who adds the award to her All-ACC first team honor this season. Smith’s recognition marks the 12th time a Cavalier has earned first team All-Region honors. Most recently, Katie Park brought in first team honors in 2017. With Busby’s third team selection, the pair are the first Cavaliers to earn recognition in the same season since 2012.
 
Smith posted top 10 marks in nine single-season categories at Virginia. She set the school record by hitting 15 home runs this season and also set the school record for slugging percentage at .784. Along with her 15 homers, Smith roped 15 doubles as part of her .414 batting average. The mark ranks third all-time at Virginia and makes Smith the first Cavalier to hit over .400 since 2007.
 
Her 43 RBI this season are the eighth most in Cavalier history and the most since 2010. Smith drove in multiple runs in 13 games this season, ranking fourth in Virginia history. The 13 multi-RBI games are the most by a Cavalier since Sara Larquier posted 14 in 2005. Smith also set the school record this season by hitting in 16 consecutive games.
 
In the career record books, Smith’s 29 home runs are tied for fourth in program history. Her .543 slugging percentage ranks eighth all-time.
 
Busby also produced a career-best season, hitting .388 with a team-leading 17 doubles to earn her first All-Region honor. The third baseman ranked second in the ACC in doubles and posted the sixth-most in Virginia history. The 17 doubles were the most by a Cavalier since 2005. Her .388 average is the eighth best season in program history.
 
Like Smith, Busby charged up the single-season home run record book with 11 round trippers. That mark is tied for sixth in Virginia history. Her .706 slugging percentage in 2019 ranks fourth all-time for a Cavalier. Busby also finished second on the team with 27 RBI from the lead-off spot.

This is the third consecutive year a Virginia player has earned All-Region recognition. The full list of NFCA All-Region honors is available here. The selections make Smith and Busby eligible for NFCA All-America honors, which will be announced Wednesday, May 29.