Blue Makes Finalist List for Inaugural NFCA Division I Freshman of the Year
April 17, 2014
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Gamecock pitcher Nickie Blue earned a spot on the inaugural National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division I Freshman of the Year top-25 finalist list, the organization announced Thursday.
Blue, a freshman from Longmont, Colo., leads the SEC with 36 appearances in the circle, and she tops the Gamecocks with a 15-6 record to go with five saves, the latter of which is also tied for the league lead. Posting a 2.94 ERA, Blue has struck out 85 batters in 126 innings. A ground-ball specialist, she’s only allowed 18 extra-base hits this season.
She has six complete games on the season, two coming in wins at nationally ranked foes. The first, at then No. 3/3 Arizona State, became the second win in South Carolina history at a top-five team’s park, while in her shutout of then No. 15/17 Georgia, she held the Bulldogs to a season-low three hits, and it’s the only time UGA, who is 22nd in NCAA Division I in runs per game, hasn’t scored this season.
With the Association always searching for innovative ways to promote the sport of softball, the NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year award was created from an idea to honor outstanding athletic achievement among freshmen softball student-athletes throughout Division I. Six SEC players are represented on the list, tied with the Pac-12 for the most on the listing.
On Thurs., May 8, the list will be trimmed down to the top 10 finalists, while the top 3 finalists will be selected and released on Thurs., May 22. The inaugural NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year trophy will be presented during a live ceremony on May 27 prior to the opening of the annual Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla.
South Carolina hosts No. –/24 LSU for a three-game series this weekend. Friday’s first pitch is set for 3 p.m. due to weather forecasts predicting rain on Friday night. Saturday’s game at 4 p.m. will be shown on ESPNU, while the Easter Sunday contest will start at 1 p.m. EDT at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.
NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year
Top 25 Finalists
Ali Aguilar – SS/2B – Washington
Annie Aldrete – DP/C – Tennessee
Maryssa Becker – P/1B – Louisville
Megan Betsa – P – Michigan
Nickie Blue – P – South Carolina
Jessica Burroughs – P – Florida State
Kristen Clark – OF – UCSB
Kasey Cooper – 3B – Auburn
Baylee Corbello – P/UTL – LSU
Tiarra Davis – P/UTL – Texas
Tori Finucane – P – Missouri
Hannah Flippen – 2B – Utah
Taylor Glover – CF/1B – Cal State Northridge
Chelsea Gonzales – 2B/DP – Arizona State
Sara Groenewegen – P/IF – Minnesota
Haley Hayden – OF – Louisiana-Lafayette
Sierra Hyland – P/DP – Cal Poly
Milly Martinet – RF – Campbell
Katiyana Mauga – RF – Arizona
Jill Roye – 1B/DP – Tulsa
Caroline Seitz – 3B – Mississippi State
Lexi Shubert – P – USC Upstate
Kylie Sorenson – SS/3B/P – Stanford
Delaney Spaulding – SS – UCLA
Karley Wester – OF – Notre Dame
