March 23, 2010

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Valerie Teter of Columbia (Mo.) has been named the NAIA National Softball Pitcher of the Week and Courtney Barber of Faulkner (Ala.) has been tabbed the NAIA National Softball Player of the Week, the National Office announced Tuesday. Teter and Barber were selected based on their performances from March 15-21. The pair was chosen out of a pool of conference player of the week selections.

Teter gave up just one unearned run on the week in three American Midwest Conference wins, including two shutouts, to help push Columbia’s record to 15-6, 4-0. The junior hurler fanned double-figure batters each contest and now has six games in which she has recorded 10-or more strike outs. In the second game against Harris-Stowe (Mo.), Teter entered the game when the Cougars were down 3-1. She struck out 10 batters and allowed just two hits.

A native of Bevier, Mo., Teter’s record stands at 10-5 with four saves in 13 appearances and carries a 1.46 ERA.

Barber went 11-for-15 (.733) at the plate in four wins for Faulkner last week to improve to 12-12. Eight of the first baseman’s hits sailed over the fence to push her home run total this season to 12. She finished the week with 13 RBI and scored 10 runs for the Eagles. Baber’s slugging percentage for the week was 2.333.

The senior from Montgomery, Ala., averages .571 home runs per game, to rank fourth nationally, and her 12 round trippers is listed fifth. Barber is ninth in total bases per game with 3.1.

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

The next Player of the Week announcement will be on March 30.

Pitcher Nominees: Paige Smith, Valley City State (N.D.); Brittany Fox, Tennessee Wesleyan; Tori Sizemore, Evangel (Mo.); Brooke Thomas, Union (Tenn.); Kelsey Dutton, McPherson (Kan.); Allison Horton, Campbellsville (Ky.); Maria Staton, Ohio Dominican; Tiffany Stritz, Lady of the Lake (Texas); Kayla Duke, Indiana-Southeast; Tasha Rotramel, Houston - Victoria (Texas); Cassidi Henderson, Oklahoma Baptist; Anna Ard, William Carey (Miss.); Brittany Bingham, Indiana Tech; Kelli Zache, Bethel (Ind.); Johana Gomez, Lee (Tenn.); Kristen Lefan, Webber International (Fla.); Kristen Zelenka, Point Park (Pa.); Megan Wingate, Doane (Neb.); Jalyn Shearer, St. Xavier (Ill.); Hannah Faria, Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.); Danielle Pulfrey, Concordia (Ore.).

Player Nominees: Cyndi Figol, Valley City State (N.D.); Olivia Rocha, Patten (Calif.); Lindsey Tuter, Ottawa (Kan.); Molly Anderson, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.); Amber Hayes, Union (Tenn.); Brianna Payne, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.); Tabitha Benson, Cumberlands (Ky.); Muriel Kelley, Ohio Dominican; Taylor Jones, Northwood (Texas); Allison Hinton, Houston - Victoria (Texas); Samantha Stringer, Columbia (Mo.); Miranda Drury, Asbury (Ky.); Casey Alexander, William Carey (Miss.); Colleen Dansart, Clarke (Iowa); Gina Loflin, Union (Ky.); Mandy Cripe, Bethel (Ind.); Alyssa Mangum, Peru State (Neb.); Kasey Keown, SCAD (Ga.); Christy Kobza, Doane (Neb.); Heather Brusokas, Davenport (Mich.); Charisse Colston, Notre Dame (Ohio); Kim Frazier, Lubbock Christian (Texas); Cameron Way, Concordia (Ore.); Caty Reeves, California Baptist.

2010 Composite Award Winners (Pitcher; Player) (Schedule):
Week 1: Anna Maness, Brenau (Ga.); Molly Knight, Asbury (Ky.)
Week 2: Valerie Teter, Columbia (Mo.); Courtney Barber, Faulkner (Ala.)