NIACC's Peka earns Fastpitch News all-American honor

MASON CITY - NIACC freshman pitcher Kristen Peka has been selected as a second-team NJCAA Division II all-American by Fastpitch News.

Peka, a freshman from Chanhassen, Minn., was 19-10 with a 2.14 earned run average with 187 strikeouts in 176 2/3 innings pitched. She was a first-team all-NJCAA Region XI selection.

The 187 strikeouts ranks second on NIACC's all-time single-season strikeout list and Peka's 19 wins ranks third on the school's single-season win list.

Peka was selected as the ICCAC and NJCAA Division II pitcher of the week for the week of Feb. 18-24.

She tossed a perfect game (5 innings) with 14 strikeouts against Northeast CC on April 20 and also tossed no-hitters against Southwestern, Ellsworth and Iowa Lakes in the opening round of the NJCAA Region XI tournament.

Peka was one of six ICCAC players honored by Fastpitch News.

DMACC's Mia Ruther was selected as the offensive player of the year and was a first-team all-American selection. DMACC's Josie Swafford and Kirkwood's Erin Hocker were first-team pitchers and Kirkwood's London Jackson and Iowa Lakes' Taylor Allen were honorable mention selections.

NIACC'S ALL-AMERICANS

NJCAA Division I

1992  - Heather Higgins (catcher) honorable mention

NSCA All-American

1996 - Mary Jo Vrba (utility) 3rd team

NFCA All-American

2016 - Kendall Cornick (outfield) NJCAA Division II first team

Note: Kendall Cornick was a 2016 NFCA NJCAA Division II Golden Shoe winner.

2018 - Morgan Thesing-Ritter (outfield) NJCAA Division II second team

2019 - Kaci Sherwood (infield) NJCAA Division II second team

Fastpitch News All-American

2016 - Kendall Cornick (outfield) NJCAA Division II 2nd team

2019 - Kristen Peka (pitcher) NJCAA Division II 2nd team