LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Cal State East Bay senior outfielder Jaynie MacDonald and North Georgia junior Courtney Poole were named the Louisville/Slugger NFCA Division II National Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively for games played over Feb. 23-March 1.
MacDonald batted .417 (8-17) with a double, five home runs, eight RBI and six runs scored in five games as the Pioneers went 3-2 last week, including two wins over then-No. 19 Humboldt State. The Salinas, Calif. native slugged 1.412 and homered in three straight at bats spanning two games against Humboldt State, which included two long balls with three RBI in 7-5 triumph over the Jacks. Recording the game-winning round tripper in the series opener, MacDonald also generated three two-hit contests and scored twice in three games en route to a CCAA Player of the Week honors.
“Jaynie is a special student-athlete,” said Cal State East Bay head coach Barbara Pierce. “She is the first one at practice and the last one to leave. She always does the little things and the things no one else wants to do. She had a monster week, and it was well earned through the hard work she puts in every day at practice and in the gym.”
Poole, a native of Powder Springs, Ga., had a hand in five of North Georgia’s six wins last week as she went 4-0 with a save and highlighted the week by tossing her first perfect game and the second in program history. The Peach Belt Pitcher of the Week allowed just one run (0.30 ERA) on 11 hits, struck out 34 with just one walk and held opponents to a .132 batting average in 23.1 innings of work. In her perfect game, she struck out five and retired all 15 batters she faced in the five-inning win over Tiffin. Poole also struck out nine in a five-inning win over Union and capped off her week fanning 12 in a complete game victory over Pfeiffer.
“It’s a great honor to be named National Pitcher of the Week by the NFCA,” Poole said. “I could not have done it without the help of my teammates. It was a team effort that led to our success last week.”
“Courtney worked really hard through the fall and it is great to see her hard work paying this season,” UNG head coach Mike Davenport said. “She is shouldering much of the load for us in the circle and I’m very proud of the way she has carried herself and stepped up as a team leader. We’re thrilled the NFCA is recognizing her performance.”
Player of the Week
March 4 – Jaynie MacDonald (Cal State East Bay)
Feb. 25 – Ashley Walker (Winona State)
Feb. 18 – Nicole Nobbe (Cal State San Bernardino)
Pitcher of the Week
March 4 – Courtney Poole (North Georgia)
Feb. 25 – Shea Coats (Oklahoma Christian)
Feb. 18 – Caitlyn Calhoun (Valdosta State)
Selected Top Performances
Barry’s Alayna Gallagher was a perfect 6-for-6 and reached base safely in all nine plate appearances with four runs and two stolen bases on her way to Sunshine State Player of the Week honors… Morgan Dufour of St. Edward’s clocked in with a .625 batting average, two home runs, including a grand slam, nine RBI and five runs against then No. 17 Emporia State to claim Heartland Player of the Week accolades… Gulf South Pitcher of the Week, Kelly Robey of Union, went 2-1 with a 0.59 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 16 innings of work… Kim McMillan of North Georgia was selected Peach Belt Player of the Week after batting .588 with two doubles, two home runs, six RBI, six runs and three stolen bases… Northern Sun Pitcher of the Week, Minot State’s Mindy Lorimor, earned three wins while allowing just five hits and one earned run in 15 innings of work at the West St. Paul Dome Tournament… North Alabama’s Brittany Gillison collected Gulf South Player of the Week honors after batting .692 (9-13) with a double, two home runs, seven RBI and six runs scored… Eckerd’s Amber Hay, the Sunshine State Pitcher of the Week, notched a pair of complete game wins over Florida Southern, including a 12-inning shutout (9K) in a 1-0 win and finished with 14 strikeouts in 19 innings pitched… CCAA Pitcher of the Week, Amanda Llerena of Sonoma State, tossed a no-hitter and finished 3-0 with 0.37 ERA, 15 strikeouts and held opponents to a .095 batting… Carson-Newman’s Bre Lockett took home a SAC Player of the Week plaudit after batting .875 (7-8) with a double, triple, two RBI and a 1.750 slugging percentage… Conference Carolinas Player of the Week, Jena Reisanauer of Belmont Abbey, batted .545 with a double, two home runs (grand slam) and seven RBI, while picking up a win in relief in the circle… Dixie State’s Nicole Chavez was named Co-PacWest Player of the Week after batting .529 (9-17) with three doubles, a home run and eight runs scored… Florida Tech’s Taylor Smith was 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA, which included a complete-game shutout against then-No. 22 Tampa and finished with eight strikeouts and one unearned run allowed in 11 innings of work… Carley Tysinger of Catawba went 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA and 41 strikeouts in three complete-game wins (21 IP) to garner SAC Pitcher of the Week recognition.