April 20, 2010

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Karisa Hendrix of Williams Baptist (Ark.) has been named the NAIA National Softball Pitcher of the Week and California Baptist’s Ashley Boyd has been tabbed the NAIA National Softball Player of the Week, the National Office announced Tuesday. Hendrix and Boyd were selected based on their performances from April 12 - 19. The pair was chosen out of a pool of conference player of the week selections.

Hendrix was one unearned run away from throwing 41 scoreless innings in six American Midwest Conference victories last week. The freshman threw five complete games, recording 47 strikeouts and issuing only four bases on balls. She owns a 1.27 ERA in 23 games played with a record of 15-4 in the circle.

During her rookie campaign, the Cherokee Village, Ark., native has limited opponents to just a .143 batting average and is only giving up 4.63 hits per seven innings played.

Boyd hit .600 (9-for-15) for the week, with a slugging percentage of 1.467. She had 22 total bases, drove in eight runs, scored eight times and slammed four home runs en route to a 4-0 mark last week for the Lancers against a pair of top-10 opponents. Three of the pitchers the senior shortstop faced had not given up a home run all season. With a sweep of fifth-ranked Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.), California Baptist clinched the Golden State Athletic Conference title.

The Downey, Calif., native is ranked among the top-10 nationally in four statistical categories: fifth in total bases (125) and total runs scored (56), sixth in home runs (16) and eighth in slugging percentage (.933).

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

The final Player of the Week announcement will be on April 27.

Pitcher Nominees: Jennifer Costa, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.); Sarah Burns, Belhaven (Miss.); Kayla Duke, Indiana-Southeast; Niki Helms, Warner (Fla.); Katlin White, Martin Methodist (Tenn.); Tasha Rotramel, Houston - Victoria (Texas); Maria Staton, Ohio Dominican; Ashley Wilburn, Oklahoma City; Dawn Villegas, Lady of the Lake (Texas); Brandi Richards, Auburn Montgomery (Ala.); Becca Smith, Mount Mercy (Iowa); Sara Jane Webster, Dickinson State (N.D.); Jess Irwin, Madonna (Mich.); Rachel Ratcliffe, Southwestern (Kan.); Holly Tomaszewski, Taylor (Ind.); Hallie Niewold, Judson (Ill.); Nicole Goodrich, Peru State (Neb.); Ashley Harbarger, Notre Dame (Ohio); Alysia Wittmaack, Nebraska Wesleyan; Anna Smith, Rio Grande (Ohio); Sidney Burns, Milligan (Tenn.); Emma Holden, California Baptist; Stephani Fairclough, Holy Names (Calif.); Renee Santos, Concordia (Ore.).

Player Nominees: Caitlin Gidcumb, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.); Taylor Ryal, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.); Lindsay Garchinski, Warner (Fla.); Karina De Los Santos, Martin Methodist (Tenn.); Courtney Pettit, Houston - Victoria (Texas); Jennifer Baker, Ohio Dominican; Tyanna Helton, William Penn (Iowa); Debbie Fuller, Fisher (Mass.); Kaitlyn Bourg, Lady of the Lake (Texas); Kendra Kassonie, Cedarville (Ohio); Haley Stehouwer, Davenport (Mich.); Angie Maue, McKendree (Ill.); Judy Barber, William Carey (Miss.); Janessa Penner, Minot State (N.D.); Emily Ethington, Asbury (Ky.); Jennifer England, Campbellsville (Ky.); Emily Maresh, Peru State (Neb.); Hernanza Ruiz, Lee (Tenn.); Lauren Bodfield, Nebraska Wesleyan; Katie Boocher, Bethel (Ind.); Ashley Nicolich, Bethany (Kan.); Latainna Eltsosie, Lubbock Christian (Texas); Gina Loflin, Union (Ky.); Kayde Schaefer, Oregon Tech; 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.)
Week 4: Anyibell Ramirez, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.); Lateah Lucero, Texas Wesleyan
Week 5: Jennifer Costa, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.); Jordan Reynolds, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)
Week 6: Karisa Hendrix, Williams Baptist (Ark.); Ashley Boyd, California Baptist