LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Minnesota Duluth’s Ellie Potts and Oklahoma Baptist’s Kayleigh Jones were named 2023 Division II Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player and Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for their outstanding performances for contests played Feb. 6-12.
Potts powered Minnesota Duluth to four wins last week, hitting .818 with two doubles, two home runs, 12 RBI, seven runs scored and a 1.545 slugging percentage. She recorded a pair of three-hit games against Bemidji State, driving in three runs and scoring twice in the first matchup. Potts clubbed two homers and drove in six runs against St. Cloud State. She scored twice in three of the four contests and had at least two RBI in three games.
Jones keyed Oklahoma Baptist to a 3-1 showing at the MSU Round-Up last weekend. Posting a 3-0 mark, Jones fanned 34 batters and recorded a 0.00 ERA in 18.1 innings of work. The Claremore, Okla. native twirled a five-hit shutout with a season-best 15 strikeouts against Rockhurst. Jones punched out eight batters, surrendered an unearned run on three hits in a complete-game outing versus Cameron. She earned her third win with 3.2 innings of no-hit ball against Midwestern State. The two-time Great American Conference Pitcher of the Week struck out 10 more batters, bringing her early-season total to 64 over 37.1 innings of work.
Selected Top Performances
Shelby Cook, UIndy - .500, 2 2B, 3 3B, HR, 9 R, 11 RBI, 1.111 SLG; Rylee Crouch, Colorado Mesa - .500, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 2B, 1.500 SLG; Kamryn Eaton, Mississippi College - .667, 10 H, 10 R, 15 RBI, 3 2B, 4 HR, 9 RBI vs. Kentucky State; Alyssa Miller, Southern Arkansas - .700, 2B, 3B, 4 RBI, 5 R, 1.250 SLG; Shelby Samples, Mississippi College – .556, 10 H, 3 3B, 2B, HR, 8 RBI, 8 R; Carly Settling, Goldey Beacom, .714, 2 2B; Nicole Shano, Harding - .615, 2 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 1.462 SLG, .706 OBP; Alexis Smith, Nova Southeastern - .591, 13 H, 10 RBI, 7 3B, BB, .625 OBP, 1.227 SLG, 8 SB; Sidney Zavoral, Minnesota Duluth - .778, 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 2.111 SLG, BB, 0 K; Cadie Currie, St. Edward’s – 2-0, 2 CG, 0.00 ERA, 17 K, 6 H, 14 IP; Madison Heinle, Northeastern State – 2-0, 2 SV, 0.00 ERA, 24 K, 6 BB, 17 IP, no-hitter vs. Truman State (7 K); Alex Hendrian, Florida Tech – 1-0, 1.00 ERA, 2 K, 6 H vs. No. 4 Auburn Montgomery; Hannah Killough, Mount Olive – 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 24 K, 13 IP, 2 SHO, no-hitter vs. Winston-Salem State (15 K, 6 IP); Kaitlyn Maddux, San Francisco State – 2-0, 1.00 ERA, 16 K, 2 CG, 6 H, .125 opp BA; Maxine Valdez, Lubbock Christian – 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 12 K, BB, 2 SHO, 10 IP, no-hitter vs. Chadron State (5 K, 5 IP).
Celebrating 40 years in 2023, the NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded Louisville Slugger/Player & Wilson/Pitcher of the Week awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from webinars to legal counsel, to in-person events and the National Convention.
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NFCA Division II Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week
