LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of North Georgia freshman right hander Kylee Smith has been named the Louisville Slugger National Pitcher of the Week by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, the organization announced on Wednesday. It is the first national honor for the Suwanne native.
Smith, who was an All-State pitcher at North Gwinnett High School a year ago, has busted on to the collegiate scene in impressive fashion with an 11-1 record thus far. She’s collected 91 strikeouts in just 76.1 innings pitched while allowing only 53 hits. Her strikeout and win totals both lead the Peach Belt Conference and her 0.92 earned run average is second best in the league.
“We’re very excited and proud of Kylee and the way she’s performed thus far this season,” head coach Mike Davenport said. “She joins a prestigious group of UNG pitchers that have earned many honors on the national level throughout the years and we hope she continues to carry that torch throughout her four years in Dahlonega.”
Last week at the Diamond9 Citrus Classic in Orlando, Florida, Smith went 3-0 in the circle for the fourth-ranked Nighthawks, including a complete game two-hit shutout of Spring Hill, marking the first time the Badgers had been shutout this season. The freshman went the distance again on Sunday picking up the win against No. 8 Saint Leo allowing just five hits without surrendering an earned run. She also earned her first career save, coming in to close the door in Saturday’s win over Eckerd.
This marks the second consecutive week that a freshman from the Peach Belt Conference has won the honor as Flagler’s Ally Marcano was tabbed NFCA National Pitcher of the Week just seven days ago. It is also the third straight year that UNG has had a player named National Pitcher of the Week by the NFCA as former All-American Courtney Poole was honored twice last season and once in 2015.
The Nighthawks will return to action at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium on Friday, March 3, hosting Lincoln Memorial in a doubleheader that is set for a 1 p.m., start.
