NFCA DII Player of the Year Announcement (4-8-15)

1. National Fastpitch Coaches Association
Contact: Brian Stanley, NFCA Director of Media Relations,
502-409-4600, brian@nfca.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
25 Finalists Selected for Inaugural Schutt Sports/NFCA Division II National Player of the
Year
April 8, 2015
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association is proud to announce the 25
finalist for the inaugural Schutt Sports/NFCA Division II National Player of the Year award.
This group of student-athletes is represented by 20 different programs and 11 conferences.
Fourteen from the original Top-50 “Watchlist” made the cut and are joined by 11 newcomers to
the fold. The field consists of 23 upperclassmen, including 14 seniors, along with eight juniors
and three sophomores.
No. 1 Valdosta State boasted three selections, while No. 2 West Texas A&M, No. 8 North
Georgia and No. 12 Augustana (S.D.) each had two student-athletes recognized. Programs with
one representative were, No. 3 Missouri-St. Louis, No. 4 Dixie State, No. 5 Cal State Monterey
Bay, No. 7 St. Mary’s (Texas), No. 10 Indianapolis, No. 13 Humboldt State, No. 15 Emporia
State, No. 16 Southern Indiana, No. 23 Rollins, No. 24 Missouri Western, Bellarmine, Northwest
Missouri State, Ashland, Cal State San Bernardino, Oklahoma Christian and Texas Woman’s.
The Great Lakes Valley Conference paced the way with four representatives. The California
Collegiate Athletic Association, Lone Star Conference, Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics
Association (MIAA) and Gulf South Conference each had three student-athletes. The Peach Belt
Conference, Northern Sun and Heartland Conference posted two, while the PacWest, Great Lakes
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and Sunshine State Conference were also represented.
The Top 10 finalists will be announced on April 30 and the Top 3 on May 14 with the 2015
Division II National Player of the Year revealed on Wednesday, May 20.
Behind the collaboration between the NFCA and the Division II Head Coaches Committee, and
the generosity of Schutt Sports, the award was created to honor the outstanding athletic
achievement among softball student-athletes throughout Division II.
About the NFCA
The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) is the professional growth organization for
fastpitch softball coaches for all competitive levels of play. Founded in the early 1980s by
collegiate softball coaches, today the organization also includes high school coaches, travel
ball/club coaches and individuals who support the sport. Founded by coaches for coaches, the
Association is built on strong values and continually instills within its members a deep sense of
responsibility for developing programs that enrich the lives of all those involved.
In addition, the Association provides educational training; encourages sportsmanship and high
standards of competition; promotes the sport both nationally and internationally; identifies and
pursues issues relevant to the fastpitch coaching profession and provides a forum to discuss those
issues; honors excellence through awards programs for coaches and players, and keeps members
informed of current coaching techniques, equipment innovations and fastpitch news.
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2. Courtney Albritton* Valdosta State Sr. OF
Caitlyn Calhoun Valdosta State Jr. P
MacKenzi Dorsam* Southern Indiana Sr. C/IF
Michelle Duncan Dixie State Sr. P
Renee Erwin* West Texas A&M Sr. OF
Morgan Foley* Indianapolis Jr. P
Ally Foster* Bellarmine Jr. P/OF
Tiffany Gillaspy* Missouri Western Sr. 1B
Stephanie Goodwin* Emporia State Sr. OF
Vianna Gutierrez Touchtone St. Mary’s Sr. P
Tiffany Hollingsworth* Humboldt State So. 2B
Hailee Keisling Rollins So. C
Sarah Kennedy Augustana So. SS
Stephanie Mark Northwest Missouri State Sr. 1B
Kim McMillan North Georgia Sr. 1B
Taylor Menhart* Ashland Sr. OF
Nicole Nobbe* Cal State San Bernardino Sr. SS
Hannah Perryman* Missouri-St. Louis Jr. P
Jaime Phillips Valdosta State Jr. IF/C
Kendra Pierce Oklahoma Christian Sr. SS
Courtney Poole North Georgia Jr. P
Cori Reinhardt* Cal State Monterey Bay Fr. P/IFP
Kendra Sancet* Texas Woman’s Sr. 1B
Lacey Taylor West Texas A&M Jr. C
Jenelle Trautmann* Augustana Sr. P/UT