Smith named Schutt Sports/NFCA Player of the Year finalist

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Ten finalists have been selected for the 2019 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division II National Player and Pitcher of the Year awards, and University of North Georgia pitcher Kylee Smith is on the list for a third straight year.

It marks the fifth straight season a student-athlete from North Georgia has been named to the list and the third time for the junior who won the Player of the Year award a year ago. This is the first year that a Pitcher of the Year will be awarded.

Other former Nighthawks that have been on the finalist list include Courtney Poole, who won the inaugural award in 2015, and Stephanie Hartness in 2016.

The two award winners will be announced on May 30 following the conclusion of the Division II Softball Championship.

The 10 finalists includes:

Emily Benson, Sr., First Base, Western Washington University

JoBi Heath, Sr., Third Base, University of Central Oklahoma

Sara Keeny, Sr., Outfield, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Allison Lipovsky, Sr., Pitcher, Grand Valley State University

Callie Nunes, So., Pitcher, Concordia University Irvine

MaKray Odom, Jr., Shortstop, Trevecca Nazarene University

Christa Reisinger, Sr., Outfield, Truman State University

Julia Seader, Sr., Catcher, Long Island University Post

Kylee Smith, Jr., Pitcher, University of North Georgia

Ann Marie Torres, Jr., First Base, Colorado Mesa University