LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Valdosta State’s Aniston Gano and Pace’s Gisselle Garcia nabbed this week’s Division II Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player and Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week awards for their outstanding performances, April 15-21.
Gano keyed Valdosta State to a Gulf South series sweep of Christian Brothers. The senior from Lakeland, Fla. batted a team-best .636 (7-for-11) with two home runs, eight RBI and four runs scored. She homered twice and drove in five runs in game two, while going 3-for-3 with three RBI in the series opener. Gano brought her season home run and RBI totals to 18 and 60, respectively.
Garcia posted a 3-0 record with a 0.00 ERA and 48 strikeouts over four appearances and 27 innings of work. She fired a no-hitter against New Haven, striking out 17 and walking three. Garcia also went the distance in a 10-inning road victory over Southern Connecticut, surrendering an unearned run and punching out 14. The junior hurler added a three-hit complete game shutout with 11 strikeouts versus College of Staten Island. For the week, Garcia scattered 10 hits and held her opponents to a .122 batting average.
The above awards are voted on by the NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll Committee, which features two member coaches from each of the NCAA’s eight regions.
Selected Top Performances
Genesis Armendariz, UT Tyler - 2 APP / 2 GS, 2-0, 10.0 IP,5 H, 6 K, 1 ER, 0.70 ERA, 0 BB; Emilee Boyer, West Texas A&M - 3 GP/3 GS, .600 avg, 6 H, 2 HR, 1 BB, 1.200 OPS, .636 OBP, 3 R, 6 RBI; Preslee Christensen, Colorado Mesa - 1APP/1GS, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, Shutout, 2H, 3K, 0BB, 6 IP; Chloe Elliott, Charleston - 3 GS, 3-0 record, 0.39 ERA, 18 IP, 10 Hits, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 12 Ks, .167 Opp BA ; Makayla Garcia, UT Tyler - 3 GP / 3 GS, .571 AVG (4-for-7), .714 SLG, 1 2B 2 RBI .625 OB% 1-1 SB; Shelby Morse, Embry-Riddle - 2 App/2 GS, 0.64 ERA, 14 IP, 4 SO, 1 BB; Maggie Olaveson, Hillsdale - 4 GP/4 GS, .600 avg, 3 HR, 4 RBIs, 1.500 SLG; Miranda Pruitt, Colorado Mesa - 2GP/2GS, .600 avg, 2 2B's, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 3 BB; Adi Reese, Oklahoma Baptist - 5 GP/4 GS, .636 avg, 7 H, 5 R, 8 RBI, 3 2B, 1 HR, 2 BB, 1.182 SLG%, 2 SB, .714 OB%; Haleigh Thomas, Saint Leo - 2 App/2 GS, 2-0, 0.84 ERA, 12 SO, 5 BB, 8.1 IP / 3 GP/3 GS, .600 avg., 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 HBP, .600 SLG; Madelyn Vasquez, West Florida - 3 GP vs AUM: 5-9 (.556), 5 R, 1HR, 2 RBI; Montana Young, West Florida - Win vs No. 15 AUM: 7 IP, 2 ER, 4 SO.
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
