LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bridgeport’s Mya Jones and Saint Leo’s Kayla Betts 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 April 17-23.
Over eight games last week, Jones batted .688 (22-for-32) with four doubles, pair of home runs, 15 RBI, .706 on-base percentage and 1.000 slugging percentage. She recorded seven multi-hit games, including three four-hit efforts. In a doubleheader sweep of Dominican, Jones went 8-for-10 with two doubles, two homers and six RBI, four of those coming in game one. She was a perfect 4-for-4 with four more RBI in game one versus Pace. The rookie third baseman also had the game-winning base hit in a win over then-No. 25 Wilmington. She’s hitting .432 on the season and leads the CACC with 52 RBI.
Betts went 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a save in three appearances last week. She fanned 23 batters and walked just two over 11 innings of work. Betts twirled a five-inning perfect game in the series opener against Eckerd. The junior hurler struck out 13 and issued a pair of walks in the victory. Betts came on in relief in the final two games to secure wins for the Lions. In game two, she fanned all three Tritons in the seventh to earn the save. Betts entered in the third inning of the finale and tossed five innings of scoreless relief (4 hits) with seven punchouts to earn the victory. She improved to 21-2 on the season with a 0.51 ERA and 243 strikeouts to just 21 walks in 151.2 innings of work.
The Division II weekly awards are voted on by the NFCA Division II Top 25 Committee.
Selected Top Performances
Payton Doiron, Bentley – 1-1, 0.40 ERA, 5 H, R, 24 K, .091 opp. BA 17.2 IP; Paige Donnelly, Cal State San Marcos - .538, 7 H, 3 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 4 R, 3 BB, 1.231 SLG, .625 OBP; Tatum Goff, UT Tyler – 2-0, 0.58 ERA, 6 H, ER, .146 opp. BA, 13 K, 12 IP; Daniella Guerrera, San Francisco State - .526, 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 4 R, 4 RBI, 2 BB, HBP, 1.000 SLG, .591 OBP, SB; Alex Hare, Saint Leo - .900, 9 H, 3 2B, 3 RBI, SB, 1.200 SLG; Kayleigh Jones, Oklahoma Baptist – 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 19 K, 5 BB, SHO, 12 IP; Katie Korstrom, Azusa Pacific - .429, 6 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 5 R, 6 BB, 2-1, 1.24 ERA, 13 K, 2 SHO; Talon LaClair, Lenoir-Rhyne - .733, 11 H, 4 2B, 3B, HR, 11 RBI, 8 R, hit for the cycle and set a program record with 10 RBI in one game; Sara Llamas-Howell, Rogers State – 3-0, 0.33 ERA, 8 K, 21 IP; Colby McClinton, Biola - .588, 10 H, 2B, 3B, 6 R, 6 RBI, SB; Bridgett Morales, Rogers State - .429, 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, .455 OBP; Ellie Quaethem, McKendree – 2-0, 0.37 ERA, 27 K, 10 H, 19 IP, SHO; Mareena Ramirez, Western Washington – 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 CG, SHO, 7 H, 12 K, BB, 14 IP; Adi Reese, Oklahoma Baptist - .667, HR, 6 RBI, 1.333 SLG; Hanna Rose, Charleston - .545, 6 H, 2 2B, 2 HR, 5 R, 2 RBI, 3 SB; Madison Walter, King – 3-0, 0.67 ERA, 12 K, 3 BB, 21 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
