Smith, Johns Named Top 10 Finalists For NFCA Player of the Year

5/15/2018 | Softball

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of North Georgia sophomore pitchers Amber Johns and Kylee Smith were named top 10 finalists for the 2018 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division II National Player of the Year award as announced by the NFCA national office Tuesday afternoon.

Johns, a sophomore from Powder Springs, Georgia, is a perfect 18-0 in 29 appearances this season. She has struck out 112 batters in 110 innings with batters hitting just .146 against her this season. She has the third-best ERA in Division II at 0.76.

Smith, a sophomore from Suwanee, Georgia, is 33-1 in 39 games in the circle, compiling three saves as well. She has the second most strikeouts in the nation with 303 punch outs to just 39 walks. With batters hitting just .128 against her this season, her ERA is the second best in the nation at 0.66.

This is the fourth season in a row that UNG has had a student-athlete on the top 10 list and the second consecutive year that two Nighthawks have earned the distinction. The award was created in 2015 to honor the outstanding athletic achievement among softball student-athletes throughout Division II. North Georgia’s Courtney Poole was the inaugural winner of the award.

The award winner will be announced on June 4.