Louisville, Ky. – A&M-Commerce freshman right fielder,
Magen Lynch, has been recognized as one of 25 candidates for Freshman of the Year from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) as announced Thursday.
Lynch leads the Lions with a .396 batting averaged with 44 hits with three doubles, one triple and a home run in 111 at bats accounting for 52 total bases. She carries .452 on-base percentage and has walked 11 times. Lynch has crossed home plate 32 times and has driven in 15 RBI.
She is currently in the midst of an eight-game on base streak and has recorded three hits in back-to-back games for the Lions in their inaugural 2015 season.
Behind the collaboration between the NFCA and its Division II Head Coaches Committee, the award – in its first year -- was created to honor the outstanding athletic achievement among freshmen softball student-athletes throughout Division II.
This year's 25 finalists hail from 23 different universities, while the group represents 15 Division II leagues across the nation, ranging coast-to-coast, from New York to California. Carson-Newman, out of the South Atlantic Conference (SAC), and Minnesota Duluth from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) each boast two finalists.
The SAC, Lone Star Conference and Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) picked up the most overall selections with three. The Heartland Conference, Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) and the NSIC each had two representatives. The PacWest, Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, California Collegiate Athletic Conference, Northeast 10, Gulf South Conference, Great American Conference (GAC), East Coast Conference and Peach Belt Conference had one finalist.
On Thurs., April 30, the list will be trimmed down to the top 10 finalists, while the top 3 finalists will be selected and released on Thurs., May 13. The inaugural NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year trophy will be presented during a live ceremony on May 20 prior to the opening of the Division II National Championship, which is being held in Oklahoma City, Okla. for the first time.
The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) is the professional growth organization for fastpitch softball coaches for all competitive levels of play. Founded in the early 1980s by collegiate softball coaches, today the organization also includes high school coaches, travel ball/club coaches and individuals who support the sport. Founded by coaches for coaches, the Association is built on strong values and continually instills within its members a deep sense of responsibility for developing programs that enrich the lives of all those involved.
In addition, the Association provides educational training; encourages sportsmanship and high standards of competition; promotes the sport both nationally and internationally; identifies and pursues issues relevant to the fastpitch coaching profession and provides a forum to discuss those issues; honors excellence through awards programs for coaches and players, and keeps members informed of current coaching techniques, equipment innovations and fastpitch news.
NFCA Division II National Freshman of the Year – Top 25 FinalistsJanessa Bassett | Dixie State | OF
Sydney Beuthien | Lubbock Christian | IF/OF
Carmen Byrd | Spring Hill College | 2B
Olivia Clark-Kittleson | Southern Indiana| OF
Lindsey Dean | Carson-Newman | RHP
Morgan Dufour | St. Edwards | 3B/SS/C
Mariangela Garcia | Western New Mexico | OF
Hanna Holland | Humboldt State | OF
Danielle Kranz | Carson-Newman | RHP
Magen Lynch | Texas A&M University-Commerce | OFBrandy Marlett | Angelo State | RHP
Brenna Martini | Adelphi | 3B
Brandy Morgan | Valdosta State | OF
Cailah Niles | Anderson (S.C.) | C
Zoe Pakes | Colorado Mesa | C
Jennah Perryman | Missouri-St. Louis | 3B
Emmie Robertson | Pittsburg State | RHP
Hannah Schmoll | Minnesota Duluth | OF
Paige Shifflett | Missouri Western | DP
Allie Smith | West Texas A&M | DP
Becky Smith | Minnesota Duluth | SS
Michelle Sorensen | Henderson State | RHP
ToniMarie Valeriano | Queens (N.Y.) | LHP/1B
Caitlin VanVleck | Emporia State | OF
Kelsey Vining | Montevallo | CF
Fans can follow all the action from the 2014-15 season on www.LionAthletics.com, through twitter @Lion_Athletics and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LionsAthletics.
