Sanford Named Finalist For Schutt Sports NFCA NAIA Freshman of the Year
Erik Holth, CBC Sports Information Director & Brian Stanley, Director of Communications, NFCA
Louisville, Ky. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association began awarded NAIA postseason honors today, and a Central Baptist softball player was amongst the honorees. Savannah Sanford was one of six finalists selected by the NFCA for Freshman of the Year.
Sanford had an outstanding season, batting .485 with four home runs, 31 RBIs, 13 doubles, a triple, 22 runs scored and a team-high 49 hits. She ranked first in the American Midwest Conference in batting average, eighth in the conference in hits, fourth in doubles, tied for 10th in RBIs, second in on base percentage at .532 and fifth in slugging at .752 while earning first-team All-AMC honors.
Congratulations to Savannah for this honor!
Here is the original release:
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Six finalists, one from each of the NFCA's NAIA regions, have been selected by the Association's NAIA All-America Committee for the 2022 Schutt Sports / NFCA NAIA National Freshman of the Year award.
Central Baptist's Savannah Sanford (Region I), Southeastern's Riley Sanders (Region II), Bellevue's (Neb.) Reese Floro (Region III), Science & Arts of Oklahoma's Sophie Williams (Region IV), Central Methodist's Mykala Johnico (Region V) and Marian's Olivia Stunkel (Region VI) are in the running for the award, which will be announced on June 8.
The award honors the outstanding athletic achievement among freshman softball student-athletes throughout NAIA. To be eligible, student-athletes must come from an NFCA member institution.
Sanders (The Sun Conference), Floro (North Star Athletic Conference), Williams (Sooner Athletic Conference), and Johnico (Heart of America) earned conference freshman or newcomer of the year accolades. Stunkel was tabbed the Crossroads League Pitcher of the Year. All six honorees were named to their respective league's all-conference first teams.
Reinhardt's Emily Loveless was tabbed the inaugural winner of the award in 2021.
2022 Schutt Sports/NFCA NAIA National Freshman of the Year Finalists
Region I – Savannah Sanford, Central Baptist College
Region II – Riley Sanders, Southeastern University
Region III – Reese Floro, Bellevue University (Neb.)
Region IV – Sophie Williams, University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma
Region V – Mykala Johnico, Central Methodist University
Region VI – Olivia Stunkel, Marian University Indianapolis