March 15, 2011

Contact: Chad Waller, NAIA Director of Sports Information & Media Services, cwaller@naia.org

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Anyibell Ramirez of Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) has been named the NAIA National Softball Pitcher of the Week and Tina Galinato of California Baptist has been NAIA National Softball Player of the Week, the National Office announced Tuesday. Ramirez and Galinato are the first honorees of the 2011 season based on their performances from March 7 - 13. The pair was chosen out of a pool of conference player of the week selections among 24 conference/independent/unaffiliated groupings.

Ramirez recorded six wins in seven decisions during the week, including wins over No. 20 Columbia (Mo.), No. 23 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) and No. 25 Mobile (Ala.) at the Gulf Shores Invitational March 11-13. In 33-1/3 innings, she allowed just four earned runs, three of which came in the extra innings against No. 18 Brenau (Ga.) on March 13. In the 4-0 win over Auburn Montgomery, Ramirez paired up with Morgan Paschall to no-hit the Senators.

The senior from Barinas, Venezuela, ranks nationally in the top-five in multiple categories including first in batters struck out per nine innings (18.34), second in total batters struck out (161), fourth in wins (12), fifth in hits allowed per nine innings (2.73) and opponents batting average (.092).

Galinato went 7-for-10 in four games last week, leading top-ranked California Baptist with 10 RBIs and 18 total bases. The outfielder hit three home runs on the week including a three-run shot that gave the Lancers an 8-0 victory in five innings over 13th-ranked Dickinson State (N.D.) on March 12. The same day, Galinato also hit a game-tying home run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning against British Columbia (B.C.).

The junior hailing from San Diego, Calif., is listed sixth in the Golden State Athletic Conference with six doubles on the year.

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

The next Player of the Week announcement will be on March 22.

Pitcher Nominees: Taylor Jones, Northwood (Texas); Aubrey Utley, Central Methodist (Mo.); Amber Daly, William Penn (Iowa); Ashley White, Aquinas (Mich.); Valerie Teter, Columbia (Mo.); Lauren Baker, Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.); Anna Ard, William Carey (Miss.); Jackie Imhof, Oregon Tech; Sidney Burns, Milligan (Tenn.); Kiara Boccia, SCAD Savannah (Ga.); Jordan Johnson, Morningside (Iowa); Devon Massengale, Peru State (Neb.); Kaci Crawford, Southern Nazarene (Okla.); Amanda Ashley, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.); Emma Holden, California Baptist; Bethany Sullivan, Indiana Southeast.

Player Nominees: Kristi Kelley, Lyon (Ark.); Jen Costa, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.); Emily Fuerst, Ottawa (Kan.); Taylor Jones, Northwood (Texas); Chelsea Sanders, Williams Baptist (Ark.); Brianne Rowley, William Penn (Iowa); Mallory Johnson, Georgetown (Ky.); Heather Odle, Virginia Intermont; Judy Barber, William Carey (Miss.); Kylee Rounsaville, Oklahoma City; Jenn Anderson, Indiana Tech; Shauna Collins, Oregon Tech; Jessaca Spears, SCAD Savannah (Ga.); Erin Bohlmann, Morningside (Iowa); Ashley Wohlers, Peru State (Neb.); Nicole Dimiceli, Judson (Ill.); Hanna Bettag, Indiana Southeast; Stephanie Pesqueira, Bethany (Calif.).