LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Southern Nazarene’s Caitlyn Curlee and Concordia Irvine’s Callie Nunes were named 2019 Louisville/Slugger NFCA Division II National Player and Pitcher of the Week honorees for games played April 8-14. 

Curlee connected on six home runs, including three in game three of a four-game Great American Conference series at Southwestern Oklahoma State. The sophomore slugger set single-game program records with those three long balls as well as eight RBI in the 19-5 victory. Curlee, selected GAC Hitter of the Week, also homered in the other three contests and finished the weekend batting .600 (9-for-15) with a double, 12 RBI, nine runs scored and a 1.867 slugging percentage. She doubled, homered, recorded two RBI and scored three times in game one and crossed the dish four times in the previously-mentioned game three.

Nunes, garnering her second award this year, was a workhorse last week picking up a win in all seven of the Eagles’ PacWest contests. The sophomore hurler tossed a no-hitter and was 7-0 with a 0.22 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 31.1 innings of work. Nunes fanned 12 as she tossed her fourth no-no of the season in a 4-0 win over Academy of Art, which also was CUI head coach Crystal Rosenthal’s 500^thcareer victory. The PacWest Pitcher of the Week did not allow a run, scattered four hits and struck out 20 in 14 innings of a four-game series at Holy Names. 

2019 Honorees

Selected Top Performances

Shannon Petersen, Augustana– .684 (13-for-19), 4 2B, 3 HR, 12 RBI, .700 OBP, 1.368 SLG; Kylee Smith, North Georgia– 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 18 K, BB, 10 IP, perfect game vs. USC Aiken; Robyn Wampler, UC San Diego– 2-0, SV, 0.88 ERA, 16 K, 0 BB, 16 IP, no-hitter vs Cal State San Marcos; Jackie Popko, Saginaw Valley State– .643 (9-for-14), 3 HR, 11 RBI, 2 SB, 4 R; Christa Reisinger, Truman State– .611, 2B, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 11-12 SB, 6 BB (2IBB), 1.333 SLG, .708 OBP; Bekah Slattery, Lock Haven– 3-1, 0.68 ERA, 48 K, 5 BB, 12 H, 31 IP, .400, 2B, 3B, 5 RBI; Georgia Cappell, Tarleton State– .583, 7 H, 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 6 R, 1.250 SLG, .750 OBP; Breanna Smith, Texas A&M-Kingsville– 2-0, 1.00 ERA, 13 K, 4 H, 3BB, .091 opp. BA, no-hitter vs. Midwestern State; Jordyn Klemen, Winona State– 3-0, SV, 23 K, 17 IP, no-hitter v Minnesota Crookston; Allison Lipovsky, Grand Valley State– 4-0, 0.24 ERA, 39 K, 7 BB, 29 IP; Hannah Self, Concordia (Ore.)– .533 (8-for-15), 3 2B, 3 HR, 6 R, 9 RBI.

OKLAHOMA CITY — USA Softball, the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States, announced the list of 26 finalists for the 2019 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award recognizes the outstanding athletic achievement by Division I female players across the country.

Click here for the list of Finalists for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year

The finalists include 10 seniors, nine juniors and four sophomores and three freshmen representing 18 NCAA Division I universities and nine athletic conferences. Among the universities, Arizona has three student-athletes among the list of finalists, followed by Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Oklahoma, UCLA and Washington with two student-athletes. Drake, Georgia, James Madison, Kentucky, Louisiana, LSU, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Northwestern, USF and Wisconsin also are represented by one student-athlete. 

The list of 26 will be narrowed to the ten on May 8 before the top-three finalists will be announced on May 22. The 2019 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed May 28. 

— Courtesy of USA Softball

LOUISVILLE, Ky. –Ichabod Crane’s (Valatie, N.Y.) Isabella Milazzo, Warrior Run’s (Turbotville, Pa.) Madi Waltman, Plant City’s (Fla.) Ashley Blessin, Scott’s (Scott City, Kan.) Tori Ford and Artesia’s (N.M.) Rylee Crandall were selected MaxPreps / NFCA National High School Players of the Week for their outstanding play during the week of April 15-21.

East Region
Milazo twirled a perfect game and finished the week 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 30 strikeouts. She struck out a season-best 17 in the perfecto, a 4-0 win over Maple Hill. Earlier in the week, Milazo went the distance in a 9-1 versus Schalmont. She allowed an unearned run on two hits with a 13 punchouts and two walks. For the week, Milazo her opponents to a .087 batting average.

North Region
Waltman twirled a pair of shutouts, including a no-hitter for the Defenders last week. The junior hurler no hit South Williamsport, striking out 13. She followed that outing with 18 punchouts in a nine-inning complete-game three-hit shutout of Milton. For the week, she struck out 31 and held her opponents to an .059 batting average.

South Region
Blessin keyed Plant City to a pair of close victories over Bloomingdale and East Bay with back-to-back one-hit shutouts. The senior righty fanned 16 and walked one in the 3-0 win against the Bulls. Blessin followed with 19 strikeouts, her third highest total of the season, in a 1-0 victory over the Indians. 

South Central Region
In a doubleheader sweep of Southwestern Heights, Ford was 6-for-8 (.750) with 11 RBI and four runs scored. She slugged 1.750 with three doubles, a triple and home run. Ford, who recorded three hits in each contest, drove in seven runs with two doubles, three runs scored and a homer in game two. She added a double, triple and four RBI in the opener.

West
Crandall went 4-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 39 strikeouts to just one walk in 19 innings of work. She surrendered an unearned run on seven hits, holding her opposition to a .108 batting average. Crandall tossed a one-hit shutout with eight strikeouts and one walk in an 11-0 win over Portales. The freshman hurler also fanned a season-high 16 in a complete-game win over Goddard. She retired all nine batters in a three-inning win in game one versus Goddard. At the plate, she homered three times and drove in eight runs, including a five-RBI effort in a game-two triumph over Portales.

2018-19 Players of the Week

MaxPreps.com, the official high school statistical provider of the NFCA, provides all statistics for the NFCA High School Player of the Week award. To nominate a player for the award, the coach must enter his or her athlete’s game stats into MaxPreps.com by Sunday evening to be eligible for that week’s award.

The MaxPreps/NFCA High School Players of the Week are announced on NFCA.orgevery Monday during the spring campaign with a player from each of five separate high school regions being selected. In the fall season, one representative is chosen from the participating regions.

MaxPreps is a free stat tool that is available to high school coaches across the country and is one of the most recognized and respected high school athletics websites on the internet. Coaches who enter their team’s stats on Max Preps will not only be nominating their players for this award, but they will be getting their team’s information out to thousands of high school sports fans, as well as college coaches across the country.

To obtain a coach’s login, please contact: [email protected] call (800) 329-7324 x1. To enter a team’s stats on the MaxPreps website, please click here.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. –Ichabod Crane’s (Valatie, N.Y.) Isabella Milazzo, Warrior Run’s (Turbotville, Pa.) Madi Waltman, Plant City’s (Fla.) Ashley Blessin, Scott’s (Scott City, Kan.) Tori Ford and Artesia’s (N.M.) Rylee Crandall were selected MaxPreps / NFCA National High School Players of the Week for their outstanding play during the week of April 15-21.

East Region
Milazo twirled a perfect game and finished the week 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 30 strikeouts. She struck out a season-best 17 in the perfecto, a 4-0 win over Maple Hill. Earlier in the week, Milazo went the distance in a 9-1 versus Schalmont. She allowed an unearned run on two hits with a 13 punchouts and two walks. For the week, Milazo her opponents to a .087 batting average.

North Region
Waltman twirled a pair of shutouts, including a no-hitter for the Defenders last week. The junior hurler no hit South Williamsport, striking out 13. She followed that outing with 18 punchouts in a nine-inning complete-game three-hit shutout of Milton. For the week, she struck out 31 and held her opponents to an .059 batting average.

South Region
Blessin keyed Plant City to a pair of close victories over Bloomingdale and East Bay with back-to-back one-hit shutouts. The senior righty fanned 16 and walked one in the 3-0 win against the Bulls. Blessin followed with 19 strikeouts, her third highest total of the season, in a 1-0 victory over the Indians. 

South Central Region
In a doubleheader sweep of Southwestern Heights, Ford was 6-for-8 (.750) with 11 RBI and four runs scored. She slugged 1.750 with three doubles, a triple and home run. Ford, who recorded three hits in each contest, drove in seven runs with two doubles, three runs scored and a homer in game two. She added a double, triple and four RBI in the opener.

West
Crandall went 4-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 39 strikeouts to just one walk in 19 innings of work. She surrendered an unearned run on seven hits, holding her opposition to a .108 batting average. Crandall tossed a one-hit shutout with eight strikeouts and one walk in an 11-0 win over Portales. The freshman hurler also fanned a season-high 16 in a complete-game win over Goddard. She retired all nine batters in a three-inning win in game one versus Goddard. At the plate, she homered three times and drove in eight runs, including a five-RBI effort in a game-two triumph over Portales.

2018-19 Players of the Week

MaxPreps.com, the official high school statistical provider of the NFCA, provides all statistics for the NFCA High School Player of the Week award. To nominate a player for the award, the coach must enter his or her athlete’s game stats into MaxPreps.com by Sunday evening to be eligible for that week’s award.

The MaxPreps/NFCA High School Players of the Week are announced on NFCA.orgevery Monday during the spring campaign with a player from each of five separate high school regions being selected. In the fall season, one representative is chosen from the participating regions.

MaxPreps is a free stat tool that is available to high school coaches across the country and is one of the most recognized and respected high school athletics websites on the internet. Coaches who enter their team’s stats on Max Preps will not only be nominating their players for this award, but they will be getting their team’s information out to thousands of high school sports fans, as well as college coaches across the country.

To obtain a coach’s login, please contact: [email protected] call (800) 329-7324 x1. To enter a team’s stats on the MaxPreps website, please click here.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – USC Upstate’s Alyssa Oakes and UMBC’s Courtney Coppersmith were named Louisville/Slugger NFCA Division I National Player and Pitcher of the Week of the Week, respectively, for games played April 1-7.

Oakes slugged her way her first NFCA national honor. The junior catcher hit .500 with four home runs, 15 RBI and a 1.500 slugging percentage helping the Spartans to a 5-0 week. Oakes added two doubles, a triple, seven runs scored and a .556 on-base percentage. She drove in at least one run in all five contests, including five and six RBI outputs during a Big South sweep of Campbell. The Winter Park, Fla. native cracked two homers, including a grand slam in the series finale.

Coppersmith produced four 10-plus strikeout contests, which included 17 punchouts in a no-hitter against Maine. The rookie southpaw finished the week 3-0 with a 0.28 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 25.1 innings of work. She surrendered just six hits and holding the opposition to a .074 batting average. Against the Black Bears, Coppersmith matched her own program record with the 17 strikeouts. On the same day, she fanned 11 more batters in 4.1 innings of shutout relief, finish April 6 with 28 strikeouts and one hit allowed in 11.1 innings. 

She capped off her dominant performance against Maine with a one hit-shutout in which she sat down 13 more Black Bears in the America East series clincher. Earlier in the week, Coppersmith fanned 10 Norfolk State batters and hit the game-winning grand slam in game one of a doubleheader. For the week, she also hit .529 with six RBI and a 1.312 OPS.

2019 Players & Pitcher of the Week

Selected Top Performances
Nicole Newman, Drake – 2-0, SV, 0 R, 0 H, 28 K, BB, 9.1 IP, perfect game vs. Valparaiso; Summer Ellyson, Louisiana – 3-0, SV, 0.32 ERA, 28 K, 5 BB, 9 H, .129 opp. BA, 22 IP; Jessie Harper, Arizona– .667, 2 2B, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 11 R, 3 BB, .722 OBP, 1.600 SLG; Samaria Diaz, New Mexico State– 3-0, 0.30 ERA, 38 K, 4 BB, 23 IP; Taylor Pack, UCLA– .750, 6 H, 3 2B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 5 R; Caleigh Clifton, Oklahoma-.714, 5 H, 2 3B, HR, 5 RBI, 6 R, .700 OBP; Mya Felder, New Mexico State– .571, 8 H, 2 2B, 4 HR, 9 RBI, .625 OBP, 1.571 SLG; Briana Marcelino, UConn– .611, 11 H, 2 2B, HR, 7 R, 9 RBI, .650 OBP; Jazlyn Crowder, Louisiana Tech– .750, 12 H, 3 2B, HR, 8 R, 10 RBI, 3-3 SB, 1.125 SLG; Virginia Irby, Colgate– .471, 8 H, 10 R, 4 RBI, 3 2B, HR; Miranda Elish, Texas – 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 SHO, 15 K, 7 H, .152 opp. BA, 14 IP; Danielle Williams, Northwestern– 2-0, 0.00 ERA 2 SHO, 22 K, 4 H.

 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Central Oklahoma edged out West Florida by one point to grab the No. 1 spot in this week’s 2019 NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll. The Bronchos (38-4) and Argonauts (39-7) each received seven first-place votes, but UCO collected 384 points to UWF’s 383 to garner their first No. 1 ranking since the 2014 preseason poll.

Central Oklahoma, the eighth different No. 1 ranked program in 2019, has been a mainstay in the top 10 since March 6 and held down the No. 2 spot the last five weeks. UCO posted a 3-1 mark in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) play last week, sweeping Emporia State and splitting a twinbill with Washburn, suffering its first home loss of 2019. With four games left in the regular season, the Bronchos enter the final week with a three-game lead over Missouri Western in the MIAA standings.

West Florida’s run of four straight weeks at No. 1 was snapped after it dropped both games of a Gulf South Conference doubleheader at then-No. 18 UAH, its first GSC series loss of the season. The Argonauts still hold a three-game lead in the loss column over the Chargers heading into the final week of the regular season.

No. 3 through No. 8 remained the same as those programs went through the week unscathed. No. 3 Texas A&M-Kingsville collected the final two first-place votes and 376 points. The Javelinas bounced back from a 2-3 week with a three-game Lone Star Conference sweep of Midwestern State. TAMUK heads into the final week of the regular season in a three-way tie for first place with No. 8 Texas A&M-Commerce and No. 6 West Texas A&M. 

The Javelinas, who close out league play at Texas Permian Basin, currently own the tiebreaker having swept the Lions (36-10), who were idle last week, and won the series versus the Lady Buffs, who are coming off a three-game sweep of Texas Woman’s.

No. 4 North Georgia posted a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader sweep of USC Aiken last week. Seeking their sixth straight PBC regular-season title, the NightHawks (36-10) have a pair of crucial Peach Belt Conference doubleheaders left of the slate, including one against second-place Columbus State.

No. 5 Florida Tech swept Florida Southern on the road and are tied with Tampa atop the Sunshine State Conference standings with one weekend to go. The Panthers (36-10) close out their regular season with Eckerd, while the Spartans battle Saint Leo. UT owns the tiebreaker having taken two-of-three from FIT earlier in the season.

No. 7 Winona State extended its program-record winning streak to 24 games with an 8-0 week in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action. Undefeated in the NSIC and the month of April, the Warriors (39-5) hold a two-game lead over No. 14 Augustana in the league standings. Owning the tiebreaker with the Vikings (42-7), the Warriors have six remaining conference contests this week.

UC San Diego (29-10) went 3-1 at Cal State San Marcos and moved up to No. 9 this week, while Grand Valley State returned at No. 10 following a brief top-10 absence. The Lakers (36-8) put forth a 7-1 week in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. Both squads hold slim leads in their respective league standings as they head into the home stretch.

This week’s poll welcomes No. 24 Lincoln Memorial and t-No. 25 Mississippi College back into the rankings. Then-No. 23 Georgia College dropped out.

The 2019 NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll is voted on by 16 NCAA Division II head coaches with two representing each of the eight NCAA regions. Records reflect games played through April 21, 2019.

 

2019 NFCA Division II
Top 25 Coaches Poll – April 24 (Week 10)

Rank

School

Totals

2019 Record

Previous Week

1

Central Oklahoma (7)

384

38-4

2

2

West Florida (7)

383

39-7

1

3

Texas A&M Kingsville (2)

376

36-8

3

4

North Georgia

357

36-10

4

5

Florida Tech

335

36-10

5

6

West Texas A&M

317

30-10

6

7

Winona State

304

39-5

7

8

Texas A&M-Commerce

285

35-10

8

9

UC San Diego

261

29-10

10

10

Grand Valley State

246

36-8

15

11

Colorado Mesa

218

38-7

12

12

Concordia Irvine

217

40-6

14

13

Indianapolis

199

39-11

9

14

Augustana

191

42-7

17

15

Valdosta State

172

30-12

16

16

UAH

156

35-12

18

17

Southern New Hampshire

147

33-9

13

18

Arkansas Tech

122

37-13

24

19

Tarleton State

102

36-11

22

19

Southern Arkansas

102

41-10

11

21

Georgian Court

83

39-6

19

22

Southern Indiana

70

31-15

21

23

Chico State

49

29-13

25

24

Lincoln Memorial

44

32-12

RV

t25

Shepherd

19

32-10

20

t25

Mississippi College

19

34-11

RV

 

New to Poll: No. 24 Lincoln Memorial, t-No. 25 Mississippi College.

Dropped Out: No. 23 Georgia College.

Receiving Votes: LIU Post (18), Saint Leo (10), Cameron (5), Carson-Newman (4), Missouri Western (2), Saint Anselm (2), San Francisco State (1).

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Truman State’s Christa Reisinger and Adelphi’s Ally Mullerwere named 2019 Louisville/Slugger NFCA Division II National Player and Pitcher of the Week honorees for games played April 8-14. 

Reisinger was the catalyst for the Bulldog’s run production in six victories last week. She had her hand in 25 of the Bulldogs’ 59 runs by driving in 10 and scoring 15 times. The senior centerfielder was 12-for-16 (.750) at the plate with two triples, three home runs and five walks. Reisinger posted a .818 on-base percentage, slugged 1.562 and was a perfect 8-for-8 on the base paths. She recorded five multiple-hit games.

The Winfield, Mo. native registered three hits with a triple, two RBI and three runs scored in games one versus Lincoln (Mo.). She also crossed the dish three times in the second game of doubleheaders versus Illinois-Springfield and McKendree. Reisinger drove in four runs with a triple and homer in game one versus the Prairie Stars. She swiped at least one base every game, including two in both ends of a twinbill against the Bearcats.

Muller tossed three shutouts, including a no-hitter versus Saint Rose, keying the Panthers to a 5-0 week in Northeast-10 Conference play. The sophomore righty’s first collegiate no-no came in a 7-0 win over the Golden Knights in which she fanned eight and walked four. She capped off the three-game sweep of Saint Rose, limiting the opposition to just three hits and striking out eight. 

Muller opened the week with a four-hit, 11-strikeout performance against Southern Connecticut. Over her 21 innings of work, the NE-10 Pitcher of the Week posted three wins, struck out 27, walked five and held her opponents to a .101 batting average (7-for-69).

2019 Honorees

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Texas’ Cedar Ridge took over the No. 1 spot in the USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 poll this week after Neshoba Central lost for the first time in 65 games.

The (25-0) Raiders jump up from the No. 3 spot, as the only unbeaten team in the top three, while Neshoba went to second after being no-hit by Nia Luckett (18 strikeouts) in Tuesday’s 2-0 home loss to Philadelphia. Despite their first defeat since May 2017, the Rockets stayed ahead of California’s Norco (25-1), who had their own win streak snapped at 33 games, with a 4-3 loss to Santiago in eight innings.

Neshoba had been the top team in the rankings for the past 14 weeks.

Four newcomers joined the poll this week: Florida’s Lakewood Ranch (19-0) at No. 13, Oregon’s Tualatin (12-0) at No. 14, Ohio’s Keystone (12-0) at 16th and Arizona’s Pinnacle (18-3) at 24th.

State rankings submitted by NFCA member coaches are used to compile the USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25. Teams are chosen based on performance, roster quality and strength of schedule.

USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 Poll – April 18, 2019

Rank

Team

2019 Record

Previous

1

Cedar Ridge (Texas)

25-0

3

2

Neshoba Central (Miss.)

25-1

1

3

Norco (Calif.)

25-1

2

4

Shawnee Heights (Kan.)

9-0

5

5

New Palestine (Ind.)

7-0

8

6

Louisville Male (Ky.)

15-0

9

7

Foothill (Pleasanton, Calif.)

17-0

11

8

Winter Springs (Fla.)

21-0

12

9

James Madison (Va.)

9-1

4

10

Angleton (Texas)

27-1

6

11

Estero (Fla.)

20-2

7

12

Barbers Hill (Texas)

29-1

10

13

Lakewood Ranch (Fla.)

19-0

NR

14

Tualatin (Ore.)

12-0

NR

15

Apopka (Fla.)

17-1

15

16

Keystone (Ohio)

12-0

NR

17

Fairhope (Ala.)

29-3

16

18

Marist (Ill.)

12-2

17

19

Forney (Texas)

17-2

18

20

Keller (Texas)

25-3-1

19

21

Immaculate Heart Acad. (N.J.)

7-0

20

22

Donovan Catholic (N.J.)

6-1

22

23

Center Grove (Ind.)

8-2

21

24

Pinnacle (Ariz.)

18-3

NR

25

Los Alamitos (Calif.)

16-7

24

Dropped out: Estero (Fla.), South Granville (N.C.), Spain Park (Ala.) and Wachusett Regional (Mass.).