By Travis Rae, Communications and Sports Information Intern

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Katie Cotta of Concordia (Calif.) has been tabbed as the NAIA National Softball Pitcher of the Week and Amanda Neumann of Bellevue (Neb.) has been named the NAIA National Softball Player of the Week, the national office announced Tuesday. The duo was chosen based on their performances from April 22 – 28 out of a pool of conference player of the week selections among 21 conference/independent/unaffiliated groupings.

Cotta earns her second Pitcher of the Week award of 2013, with the first coming on March 19. Cotta threw two no-hitters, her eighth and ninth of the season, to lead the Eagles to their second-straight Golden State Athletic Conference/California Pacific Athletic Conference Tournament championship. For the week she pitched 12 innings, struck out 29, walked one, and picking up two wins.

Cotta started the week by throwing a no-hitter against William Jessup (Calif.) on April 25. In that contest she struck out 13. Cotta continued her dominating week two days later in championship game as she struck out 16, while only walking one in a 3-0 victory over Simpson (Calif.). Cotta leads the NAIA in ERA (.160), strikeouts per nine innings (18) and is third in earned runs allowed (3) and tenth in wins (20).

Neumann helped the Bellevue to a 7-1 week last week, as she hit .444 with six home runs and 15 RBI. In an 8-0 victory over York (Neb.) on April 27, Neumann was 3-for-3 with all of her hits were homeruns. She also drove in four of the eight runs in the game.

Neumann leads the nation in total doubles (22), sixth in runs batted in per game (1.4), seventh in total runs batted in (63), eighth in home runs (15). She is second on the Bruins with a .383 batting average for the season.

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

Player Nominees: Emily Maresh, Peru State (Neb.); Katlin White, Martin Methodist (Tenn.); Marley Moehrig, Houston-Victoria (Texas); Bethany Armstrong, Northwood (Texas); Erica Fitzgerald, Corban (Ore.); Sarah Frerichs, St. Ambrose (Iowa); Lexi Popma, Aquinas (Mich.); Travatia Bowden, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.); Denee' Crawford, Belhaven (Miss.); Brooke Sampson, Doane (Neb.); Shelby Tucker, Southwestern (Kan.); Bryttany Van Vliet, Indiana Wesleyan; LeeAnn Lopez, Oklahoma City; Ashley Morran, Point Park (Pa.); Justine Phillips, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.); Kim Breyfogle, Park (Mo.); Cj Browder, South Carolina Beaufort; Hannah Mccloud, Virginia Intermont; Caitrin Debaun, Concordia (Calif.).

Pitcher Nominees: Hannah Wilbur, Oklahoma Baptist; Jordan Johnson, Morningside (Iowa); Caroline Ezell, Martin Methodist (Tenn.); Megan Spence, Northwood (Texas); Amy Greenough, Corban (Ore.); Kathryn Brown, St. Ambrose (Iowa); Jennifer Garcia, Bethany (Kan.); Jordan Hood, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.); Katy Adair, Belhaven (Miss.); Shelby Kindelin, Bellevue (Neb.); Bree Crampton, Madonna (Mich.); Emily Bryant, Southeastern (Fla.); Kate Reese, Point Park (Pa.); Erica Zachrich, Bethel (Ind.); Lindsay Stotler, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.); Kaily Purtle, Park (Mo.); Aubrey Utley, Central Methodist (Mo.); Micalah Sacre, Virginia Intermont.

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.)
Week 6 (April 16): Sarah Elizabeth Cousar, Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.); Caroline Sicht, William Woods (Mo.)
Week 7 (April 23): Cassie Daniels, Auburn Montgomery (Ala.); Emily Gwaltney, Marian (Ind.)
Week 8 (April 30): Katie Cotta, Concordia (Calif.); Amanda Neumann, Bellevue (Neb.)