By Chad Waller, Director of Communications and Sports Information

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Denee’ Crawford of Belhaven (Miss.) has been tabbed as the NAIA National Softball Player of the Week and Caroline Sagrera of Spring Hill (Ala.) has been named the NAIA National Softball Pitcher of the Week, the national office announced Tuesday. The duo was chosen based on their performances from April 1 – 7 out of a pool of conference player of the week selections among 21 conference/independent/unaffiliated groupings.

Crawford, a 5-foot-6 junior third baseman from Silsbee, Texas, was a key piece to No. 16 Belhaven’s 3-1 week against nationally-recognized competition. She hit .727 (8-for-11) with five runs scored, tallied 10 RBI and four home runs. Of her eight base hits, seven went for extra bases. In the 6-1 win over No. 6 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) April 5, she cranked a school-record tying two homers in a 3-for-3 effort. She had at least one roundtripper in three-of-four games. In the two-game series April 6 with Faulkner (Ala.), who is in the “receiving votes” category in the latest Top 25 poll, she compiled four hits, scored three times and batted in six runs.

On the season, Crawford leads the team in three major categories: batting average (.430), home runs (9) and RBI (39). She ranks fifth in the NAIA in RBI per game (1.5) and 19th in the nation in home runs and total RBI.

Sagrera, a 5-foot-7 freshman from Baton Rouge, La., posted 27 strikeouts and won both ends of a road twinbill at No. 22 Mobile (Ala.) April 6. In game one, she (pictured top left) had a no-hitter through five innings and allowed just five total base runners in the 6-0 shutout. She went 7.0 innings, allowed two hits and struck out 15. In the nightcap, she tossed an eight-inning complete game 1-0 blanking. She fanned 12 batters and allowed five hits with no walks.

She currently leads the NAIA with 247 strikeouts on the year and holds a 20-3 record with a 1.29 ERA.

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

Player Nominees: Jasmin Dresser, Concordia (Calif.); Lydia Budke, Ottawa (Kan.); Lynsey Keith, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.); Ashley Shannon, Houston-Victoria (Texas); Shelby Kindelin, Bellevue (Neb.); Jessica Roper, Cumberland (Tenn.); Taylor Jones, Northwood (Texas); Brooke Sampson, Doane (Neb.); Brittany Hill, Dakota State (S.D.); Genna Trippett, West Virginia Tech; Jessica Grochala, Grand View (Iowa); Sam Rich, Southeastern (Fla.); Shelby Anderson, Williams Baptist (Ark.); Heidi Warmelink, Cornerstone (Mich.); Shauna Collins, Oregon Tech; Kari Kviten, Berea (Ky.); Hannah Gardner, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.); Drew Wright, Oklahoma City; Mercedes Norfork, Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.); Jessica Ewen, Bethel (Ind.); Alexis Chumbler, Reinhardt (Ga.); Alyssa Holland, Menlo (Calif.).

Pitcher Nominees: Courtney Young, Concordia (Calif.); Lenzie Boring, Evangel (Mo.); Megan Carter, Houston-Victoria (Texas); Jessica Sheldon, Central Baptist (Ark.); Ciara Fraher, Southwest (N.M.); Jenna Swain, Indiana Southeast; Daria Leid, Kansas Wesleyan; Taylor Norman, West Virginia Tech; Karisa Hendrix, Williams Baptist (Ark.); Sydney White, Southern Oregon; Heidi Warmelink, Cornerstone (Mich.); Jennifer Whitehead, William Penn (Iowa); Allie Chapman, Shawnee State (Ohio); Heather Knoop, Warner (Fla.); Taylor Erlenbusch, Hastings (Neb.); Chancli Connatser, Milligan (Tenn.); Caitlin Santefort, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.); Natalie Newell, Bethel (Ind.); Sarah Elizabeth Cousar, Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.); Katera Eltsosie, Lubbock Christian (Texas); Katie Bell, Simpson (Calif.).

2013 Softball Weekly Honors (Pitcher; Player):
Week 1 (March 12): Caitlin Santefort, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.); Latainna Eltsosie, Lubbock Christian (Texas)
Week 2 (March 19): Katie Cotta, Concordia (Calif.); Stephanie Nippert, Corban (Ore.)
Week 3 (March 26): Ashley Suter, Concordia (Ore.); Kate Santos, Concordia (Ore.)
Week 4 (April 2): Erin Greenwood, Baker (Kan.); Kristen Bodyk, Peru State (Neb.)
Week 5 (April 9): Caroline Sagrera, Spring Hill (Ala.); Denee’ Crawford, Belhaven (Miss.)