By: Sam Knehans, Communications & Sports Information Intern

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Bree Crampton of Madonna (Mich.) has been named the NAIA Softball National Pitcher of the Week and Abbey Wilmes of Grand View (Iowa) has been selected as the National Player of the Week, the national office announced Tuesday. Crampton and Wilmes were selected based on their performances from March 24 – 30 and were chosen out of a pool of conference, independent and unaffiliated group winners.

Crampton, a New Baltimore, Mich., native, went 3-0 on the week, striking out 25 batters and allowing just two hits over 14 innings pitched. The junior opened her week with an 8-0 five-inning shutout of NCAA Division III Albion (Mich.) on March 28, striking out 10 batters in the contest. She then threw her second perfect game of the season against Siena Heights (Mich.) on March 29—again striking out 10 over five innings in the first game of a double-header—before coming back to pitch in game two, striking out seven in four innings of work. For the week, Crampton did not allow a run and held opposing batters to a .045 batting average.

On the season, Crampton ranks among the top 25 nationally in strikeouts per nine innings (3rd, 11.25), walks allowed per nine innings (6th, .60), total strikeouts (12th, 113), saves (16th, 2), earned run average (19th, 1.09) and total walks allowed (24th, 6).

Wilmes, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, helped Grand View to a 7-1 record on the week. The sophomore hit .579, accumulating 11 hits in 19 at-bats. She had four doubles and four home runs on the week, scoring nine runs and driving in 16. Her best performance came in the Vikings’ 10-2 win over Mount Mercy (Iowa) on March 30 in the first game of a double-header. Wilmes went 2-for-3 with two home runs, two runs and four RBIs in the game. On the heels of Wilmes’ performances last week, Grand View stayed perfect (6-0) in Midwest Collegiate Conference play.

On the year, Wilmes ranks among the top 25 nationally in fielding percentage (1st, 1.000) and slugging percentage (22nd, .839).

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

The next NAIA National Softball Players of the Week will be announced April 8.

Player Nominees: Brittany Edelen, Missouri Baptist; Randi Wimpy, Reinhardt (Ga.); Ryan Norton, Simpson (Calif.); Destiny Turner, College of Idaho; Hannah Shaffer, Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio); Brianna Grayson, Dickinson State (N.D.); Shelby Kuryllo, Vanguard (Calif.); Betsy Reimer, Nebraska Wesleyan; Katie Williams, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.); Savannah Crittenden, Houston-Victoria (Texas); Lydia Budke, Ottawa (Kan.); Ashley Morran, Point Park (Pa.); Abbi Goedde, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.); Ashley Gigax, Bellevue (Neb.); Courtney Van den Bussche, Jamestown (N.D.); Aleia Murphy, Bacone (Okla.); Annie Combs, Oklahoma Baptist; Alexa Da Rosa, Mobile (Ala.); Jessica Matias, St. Thomas (Fla.); Amber Getty, Davenport (Mich.).

Pitcher Nominees: Andrea Chessor, Missouri Baptist; Kimberly Robinson, Milligan (Tenn.); Paris Hallums, Simpson (Calif.); Cassidy Olson, Oregon Tech; Virginia McAndrews, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.); Natalie Newell, Bethel (Ind.); Reba DePriest, Biola (Calif.); Bailey Hendrix, Briar Cliff (Iowa); Katie Ricklefs, Benedictine (Kan.); Nicole Schmidt, Ashford (Iowa); Gabby Markham, Ottawa (Kan.); Megan Dyer, Point Park (Pa.); Taylor Wroe, Campbellsville (Ky.); Jessica Sheldon, Central Baptist (Ark.); Jennifer Whitehead, William Penn (Iowa); Emily Snow, Jamestown (N.D.); Sylver Collins, Bacone (Okla.); Kelcie Wolf, Mid-America Christian (Okla.); Jessica Paris, Belhaven (Miss.); Lauren West, Southeastern (Fla.).

2014 Softball Weekly Honors (Player, Pitcher):
Week 1 (March 18): Hannah Gardner, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.); Nicole Nonnemacher, Saint Xavier (Ill.)
Week 2 (March 25): Annette Merjano, Concordia (Calif.); Lucy Baldovino, Concordia (Ore.)
Week 3 (April 1): Abbey Wilmes, Grand View (Iowa); Bree Crampton, Madonna (Mich.)