LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Adelphi’s Courtney Wengryn and Lubbock Christian's Taylor Franco were named 2023 Division II Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player and Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week, respectively. The duo was recognized for their outstanding performances Feb. 20-26.
Wengryn, a sophomore, powered No. 15 Adelphi to a 5-2 week in North Carolina. She hit. 524 (11-for-21) with three doubles, four home runs, 10 RBI and 13 runs scored. She drew five walks, was a perfect 5-for-5 in stolen bases, slugged 1.238 and registered a .621 on-base percentage. Wengryn homered and drove in four runs at UNC Pembroke. The Hillsborough, N.J. native scored multiple runs in six outings, including three against Shippensburg.
Franco tossed 22 innings of scoreless ball, going 3-0 with 30 strikeouts in helping the seventh-ranked Lady Chaps to a 6-0 week in Lone Star Conference play. The graduate hurler tossed a two-hit, eight-inning shutout against Texas Woman’s, fanning 11 batters and issuing one walk. She added a one-hit five-inning shutout at Midwestern State, striking out seven and walking three. Franco also added a pair of scoreless relief outings of three innings (Midwestern State) and six innings (Texas Woman’s) with four and eight punchouts, respectively. For the week, she did not allow an extra-base hit and held her opposition to a 0.85 batting average.
The Division II weekly awards are voted on by the NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll Committee.
Selected Top Performances
Mackenzie Devine, Missouri Western - .471, 2 3B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 1.235 SLG; Chole Freischmidt, Tusculum - .583, 2 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 9 R, 1.500 SLG; Taylor Macera, Valdosta State - .409, 6 HR, 12 RBI, 7 R, .2BB, 1.227 SLG; Adriana Mungo, Georgian Court - .500, 6 H, 2B, 3 B, 7 RBI, 4 R, 5 BB; Ava Fugate Colorado Mesa - .583, 2 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 1.00 SLG, .616 OBP; Karina Ortiz-Munoz - .412, 2B, 3B, HR, 3 R, 4 RBI, .474 OBP, SB; Rylie Rohr, Concordia - .385, 3 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R, 2B; JT Smith, UT Tyler - .429, HR, 4-4 SB, .667 OBP, 7 BB, .667 OBP; Ann Marie Stanbridge, West Alabama - .556, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 1.556 SLG; Katie Bracken, UAH – 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 SHO, 3 BB, 14 IP, 3 H; no-hitter vs. Carson-Newman (9 K); Tatum Goff, UT Tyler – 3-0, 1.50 ERA, 12 K, 4 BB, 23 IP; Lindsey Hibbs, Adelphi – 3-1, 1.54 ERA, 64 K, 14 H, 3 BB, SHO, SV, .144 opp. BA; perfect game vs. UNC Pembroke (20 K); Kayleigh Jones, Oklahoma Baptist – 3-1, 0.00 ERA, 29 K, 5 BB, 24 IP; Cortney Koelmans, Concordia - 1-0, SHO, 3 H, 3 K; Kyra Lair, West Texas A&M – perfect game vs. UT Permian Basin (program-record 18 K); Morgan McLane, Goldey Beacom – 1-0, 0.00 ERA, H, 10 K, 2 BB, 6 IP; Sam Pederson, Missouri Western – 2-0, 1.10 ERA, 20 K, 3 BB, 19 IP; Ellie Auaethem, McKendree – 3-0, 3 CG, 24 K, 1.00 ERA, 21 IP; Samantha Richards, Valdosta State – 6-0, 4 CG, 2 SHO, 31.1 IP, 1.34 ERA, 40 K, 4 BB, .180 opp. BA; Joni Russell, Hillsdale – 3-0, 0.47 ERA, 36 K, 4 BB, 19 IP; Madison Wright, West Alabama – 2-0, 0.50 ERA, 11 K, BB, 14 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
