April 12, 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 tabbed as the NAIA National Softball Pitcher of the Week and Kelli Traffas of Bethany (Kan.) has been named the NAIA National Softball Player of the Week, the National Office announced Tuesday. Ramirez and Traffas are the fifth honorees of the 2011 season based on their performances from April 4 - 10. The pair was chosen out of a pool of conference player of the week selections among 24 conference/independent/unaffiliated groupings.

Traffas, a 5-9 freshman second baseman from Medicine Lodge, Kan., batted .583 (7-for-12) during a 4-0 week for the Swedes. She had impressive slugging numbers with five home runs, seven extra-base hits and 12 RBIs. She blasted two roundtrippers in two separate games, in the 12-4 win over Tabor (Kan.) on April 5 and the 9-0 triumph over St. Mary (Kan.) on April 9. She also scored seven runs in the winning efforts.

She stands with 12 homers on the year, which is 12^th in the country. Traffas also has posted totals of 42 RBIs and 12 doubles.

Ramirez, a 5-7 senior pitcher from Barinas, Venezuela, was involved in a 6-0 week for Lindsey Wilson, which included four wins and two saves. She allowed just one run and seven hits in 25-1/3 innings of work, while striking out 50 batters. She tossed three complete games, including two shutouts and in all three of those contests, she eclipsed the 10-strikeout barrier. One of her game highlights came against St. Catharine (Ky.) on April 7. In the 7-0 victory, she went 6.0 innings, fanned 12 batters and allowed just one hit.

On the season, she ranks first in the NAIA in strikeouts per nine innings (17.6) and total strikeouts (294). She also is second in ERA (0.56) and opponent batting average (0.099).

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

The next Player of the Week announcement will be on April 19.

Pitcher Nominees: Amanda Neumann, Bellevue (Neb.); Larisa Garcia, Northwood (Texas); Heather Oldham, Midway (Kay.); Ashley Renaldi, Ottawa (Kan.); Krystal Hathaway, Valley City State (N.D.); Aubrey Moss, Lindenwood (Mo.); Sam Cole, Davenport (Mich.); Lily Lavelle, Oklahoma City; Kayla Thornsberry, Cedarville (Ohio); MacKenzie Bowden, William Woods (Mo.); Emma Remy, Morningside (Iowa); Kaitlyn Grimail, Warner (Fla.); Brittany Balough, Lee (Tenn.); Katie Boocher, Bethel (Ind.); Keaton Kirk, Union (Tenn.); Baylea Wagener, Houston-Victoria (Texas); Katie Hannagan, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.); Falon Catalano, Union (Ky.); Makenzie Marchbanks, Corban (Ore.); Brenna Sandberg, Cal State-San Marcos; Taryn Devich, Azusa Pacific (Calif.).

Player Nominees: Amanda Neumann, Bellevue (Neb.); Jen Costa, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.); Hannah Godina, Our Lady of the Lake (Texas); Taylor Wade, Midway (Ky.); Christen Kirchner, Central Baptist (Ark.); Heather Brusokas, Davenport (Mich.); Kenleigh Ludlow, Cedarville (Ohio); Kacey Rehagen, Columbia (Mo.); Jordan Story, Waldorf (Iowa); Haylee Padgett, Warner (Fla.); Nicole Rodriguez, Lee (Tenn.); Ashley Hunter, St. Xavier (Ill.); Kaitlyn Dubois, Bethel (Ind.); Emily Castle, Pikeville (Ky.); Amber Hayes, Union (Tenn.); Megan Beckstead, Nebraska Wesleyan; Haley Williams, Reinhardt (Ga.); Porsha Ramos, Houston-Victoria (Texas); Priscilla FaGaines, Lubbock Christian (Texas); Amanda Stevenson, Dakota State (S.D.); Stephanie Nippert, Corban (Ore.); Brandi Andrews, Azusa Pacific (Calif.).

2011 Softball Weekly Honors (Player, Pitcher):

Week 1 (March 15): Tina Galinato, California Baptist; Anyibell Ramirez, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)

Week 2 (March 22): Annalee Carr, Belhaven (Miss.); Anna Ard, William Carey (Miss.)

Week 3 (March 29): Anna Frazee, Shorter (Ga.); Brandi Richards, Auburn Montgomery (Ala.)

Week 4 (April 5): Charisse Colston, Notre Dame (Ohio); Anna Ard, William Carey (Miss.)

Week 5 (April 12): Kelli Traffas, Bethany (Kan.); Anyibell Ramirez, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)