LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association and Diamond Sports are pleased to announce the 2016 Diamond Sports Catchers of the Year.
Repeat selections Louisiana-Lafayette’s Lexie Elkins and Reinhardt’s Randi Wimpy highlight a list of 10 student-athletes who garnered the distinction of top catcher from each of the Association’s member divisions NCAA (Divisions I, II and III), NAIA, NJCAA (Divisions I, II and III), Cal JC, NWAC and high school.
A committee comprised of head coaches in each of the 10 divisions determined the winner of their respective award. The winners of the 2016 Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year award are as follows:
NCAA Division I
Lexie Elkins – Senior – Louisiana-Lafayette
A three-time NFCA All-American selection (first team the past two years) and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 National Pro Fastpitch Draft, Elkins became the first Ragin’ Cajun to finish a season with a .500-plus average (.509). She led the nation in batting average, slugging percentage (1.130) and home runs per game (0.51), which powered the No. 1 home run hitting (1.96 per game) and slugging (.622) team in Division I. In addition, Elkins launched 19 home runs, knocked in 49, scored 42 times and drew 28 free passes for a .607 on-base percentage. Nominated for the 2016 NCAA Woman of the Year, Elkins was the first individual in Sun Belt history to win Student-Athlete of the Year honors a third straight time and was also recognized as the state of Louisiana’s Hitter of the Year. Along with her monstrous offensive numbers, she committed just one error behind the dish for a .996 field percentage.
NCAA Division II
Haley Hodges – Junior – Southern Indiana
Hodges, an NFCA, D2CAA and Hero Sports first-team All-American, set single-season school records for home runs (22), RBIs (72), walks (45), and runs scored (58). Along with leading the nation in slugging percentage (1.000) and ranking third in home runs, the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Player of the Year led the league in batting average (.458), on-base percentage (.578), runs scored, RBIs, and walks. Additionally, Hodges was recognized for her work in the classroom as she was named second-team Academic All-America by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Hodges is the first Screaming Eagle and first student-athlete from the GLVC to garner this distinction.
NCAA Division III
Elaine Walker – Freshman – Aurora University
A first-team NFCA All-American, Walker wrapped up her first collegiate softball season posting a team-leading .470 batting average with 11 doubles, two triples, seven home runs, 39 runs batted in and 32 runs scored. She added a .711 slugging percentage and .497 on-base percentage. In helping the Spartans to a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) regular season title and appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament, Walker was named a NFCA Great Lakes region First-Team All-Region performer, the NACC Position Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and First-Team All-Conference. She is the first Spartan and student-athlete from the NACC to earn this honor.
NAIA
Randi Wimpy – Senior – Reinhardt University
A two-time NFCA and three-time NAIA All-American, Wimpy was second on the RU squad in all three of the triple crown categories. She posted a .429 batting average with 10 home runs, 64 RBI, and a .537 on-base percentage. Her 21 doubles ranked her 10th and her RBI total was 11th-best in the NAIA. A three-time Appalachian Athletic Conference Player of the Year, Wimpy is the first back-to-back winner from the NAIA and second two-time selection (Megan Daly- Bethel-1997 & 99).
NJCAA Division I
Amber Landry – Sophomore – Tyler Junior College
Landry, a first-team NFCA and NJCAA DI All-American, led the squad with 81 RBI, which ranked 12th in NJCAA DI. She also was second on the squad with 13 long balls, hit .405, recorded 83 hits, doubled 17 times and posted .461 on-base and .698 slugging percentages. Continuing her collegiate softball career at LSU-Alexandria in the fall, Landry is the first Apache to earn this honor.
NJCAA Division II
Maddie Hansen – Freshman – Kirkwood Community College
Hansen, a first-team NFCA and NJCAA DII All-American, hit .455 with 20 home runs and 93 RBI, ranking her seventh and third, respectively, in NJCAA DII. The Ball State signee added 19 doubles and 78 runs, while posting .506 on-base and .832 slugging percentages. Hansen is the second Eagle joining the company of Jena Malmen (2011) as the other honoree from Kirkwood.
NJCAA Division III
Lynnsie Collins – Freshman – Rowan College at Gloucester College
Collins garnered NFCA NJCAA Division III All-American honors in her first season of collegiate softball. She hit .458 with 66 hits, 18 doubles (11th in NJCAA III), 43 RBI and 30 runs scored. Collins led Rowan Gloucester with 25 walks and was second on the squad with her 18 doubles and .515 on-base percentage. Strong defensively behind the dish, she committed just one error from a .996 field percentage. She is the first Roadrunner student-athlete to garner this accolade.
Cal JC
Harlee Donovan – Sophomore – College of San Mateo
Donovan, a first-team NFCA All-American, was named California Community College Fastpitch Coaches Association (3CFCA) Player of the Year. Hitting .433, she tied for the state lead with 66 runs scored, tied for second with 17 home runs and fourth with 62 RBI. Donovan, who signed with Southern Oregon University, also doubled 14 times and owned the third-best slugging percentage at .950. She is the second straight Bulldogs to take home the award, joining former teammate Leilani Aki (2015) as the only two recipients from San Mateo.
NWAC
Darian Lindsey – Freshman – Mt. Hood Community College
Helping Mt. Hood to a Northwest Athletic Conference Championship, Lindsey garnered NFCA All-American honors after hitting .477 with 73 hits, 22 doubles, three triples, 14 home runs, 46 RBI and 68 runs scored. She was second in the league with 32 stolen bases and struck out just seven times in 175 plate appearances. Lindsey becomes the third award winner from Mt. Hood, joining former Saints Courtney McCarthy (2013) and Holly Judith Rossman (2006).
High School
Bailey Hemphill – Senior – St. Thomas Moore Catholic (La.)
Hemphill, a USA Today top-three recruit that is suiting up for Alabama in the fall, helped her program to a state quarterfinal appearance. The NFCA first-team All-American slugger batted .560 with 12 of her 28 hits leaving the yard for an astronomical 1.380 slugging percentage. Respected for her hitting prowess, Hemphill walked 49 times and struck out just once, which attributed to her .778 on-base percentage.
