March 30, 2010

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Tory Ferreira of California Baptist has been named the NAIA National Softball Pitcher of the Week and Olivet Nazarene’s (Ill.) Caitlin Gidcumb has been tabbed the NAIA National Softball Player of the Week, the National Office announced Tuesday. Ferreira and Gidcumb were selected based on their performances from March 22-28. The pair was chosen out of a pool of conference player of the week selections.

Ferreira tossed 17 innings to help lead the top-ranked Lancers (41-1) to three wins last week. The sophomore was perfect in five innings, striking out three, in an 11-0 win over Golden State Athletic Conference foe Vanguard (Calif.). She was in the circle for a 7-0 complete game shutout of Vanguard (Calif.), surrendering two hits, while striking out five and walking one. Ferreira’s lone earned run of the week came in 9-1 win against NCAA Division III Tufts (Mass.).

The hurler from Murrieta, Calif., ranks fifth nationally with .667 runs allowed per game and her 13 wins in the circle is listed ninth.

Gidcumb helped Olivet Nazarene improve to 20-2 after picking up four wins last week. The senior first baseman was a blazing .833 from the plate, slugging 1.417, going 10-for-12 with four doubles and one home run. Gidcumb drove in eight of the 46 RBIs for the Tigers and also scored eight times. On the base pads, she was successful taking a pair of bases. For her efforts, Gidcumb was awarded with the Olivet Nazarene University Invitational MVP award.

The Spring Valley, Ill., native ranks first nationally in doubles per game (.591) and putouts per game (9.591). Her 13 doubles and 10.279 chances per game are listed second.

For a complete listing of all the national statistical leaders, click here.

The next Player of the Week announcement will be on April 6.

Pitcher Nominees: Sarah Burns, Belhaven (Miss.); Aubrey Moss, Lindenwood (Mo.); MiLeah Walker, Indiana-Southeast; Katlin White, Martin Methodist (Tenn.); Dawn Villegas, Lady of the Lake (Texas); Karisa Hendrix, Williams Baptist (Ark.); Morgan Swanson, Morningside (Iowa); Jalyn Shearer, St. Xavier (Ill.); Hallie Minch, Madonna (Mich.); Ayla Serrano Iowa Wesleyan; Mandy Greenberg, Minot State (N.D.); MacKenzie Stramel, Sterling (Kan.); Brittany Gunther, Georgetown (Ky.); Maddie Monroe, Reinhardt (Ga.); Johana Gomez, Lee (Tenn.); Kelli Zache, Bethel (Ind.); Kristen LeFan, Webber International (Fla.); Katie Daniel, Shawnee State (Ohio); Nicole Russell, Maine-Presque Isle; Maria Staton, Ohio Dominican; Danielle Pulfrey, Concordia (Ore.); Sarah Bradley, St. Gregory's (Okla.); Jessica Cobb, Menlo (Calif.).

Player Nominees: Leah Riske, Simon Fraser (B.C.); Taylor Burt, Auburn Montgomery (Ala.); Christina Jaques, Belhaven (Miss.); Tamara Feb, Corban (Ore.); Amanda Carter, Valley City State (N.D.); Heather Shepherd, Indiana-Southeast; Karina De Los Santos, Martin Methodist (Tenn.); Alyssa Posadas, Lady of the Lake (Texas); Marissa Hoehn, Williams Baptist (Ark.); Katie Bachkora, Benedictine (Kan.); Meghan Tomlinson, Grand View (Iowa); Emily Masters, Sterling (Kan.); Tiana Gataivasa, Midland Lutheran (Neb.); Alex Jane Clemmons, Campbellsville (Ky.); Morgan Greenfield, Davenport (Mich.); Lindsey Booker, Reinhardt (Ga.); Lindsey Pesanka, Point Park (Pa.); Brittney Fisher, Bethel (Ind.); Kara Erwin, Bellevue (Neb.); Courtney Mienkina, SCAD (Ga.); Brittany Humphrey, Maine-Presque Isle; Samantha Wolfe, Ohio Dominican; DaVee Croy, Oklahoma Christian; Ashley Boyd, California Baptist; Mallory Blodgett, William Jessup (Calif.).

2010 Composite Award Winners (Pitcher; Player) (Schedule):
Week 1: Anna Maness, Brenau (Ga.); Molly Knight, Asbury (Ky.)
Week 2: Valerie Teter, Columbia (Mo.); Courtney Barber, Faulkner (Ala.)
Week 3: Tory Ferreira, California Baptist; Caitlin Gidcumb, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)