The season is almost here and we are looking at the Fastpitch News Preseason Top 50 NCAA DI Softball Pitchers. The list was derived from numerous statistics to formulate a total score. The statistics used were; ERA, Hits per seven innings, shutouts, strikeouts and strikeouts per seven innings. We will breakdown our top 10 for you and list the rest of the players.
1. Leanna Pittsenbarger, Eastern Kentucky – Senior
She may not have been the first person that came to mind, based on our criteria she came out on top. In 2014 she was named to the NFCA All-Region Team and was All-OVC. Statistically she had a strong season posting a 1.35 ERA with 297 strikeouts. Pittsenbarger also had 11 shutouts and is second nationally among returning pitcher in hits per seven innings at 3.29. Look for another strong season from her in 2015.
2. Cheridan Hawkins, Oregon – Junior
Hawkins was a big part of the success the Ducks had in 2014 and will play an even bigger role this year and they look to capture a national title. The NFCA All-American captured just about every award she could also earning All-Conference, All-Region and Pac-12 Pitcher of the year honors. She won 35 games behind 12 shutouts and a 1.66 ERA. Hawkins averaged 9.3 strikeouts per game ending the season with 330.
3. Farish Beard, South Alabama – Senior
By all accounts Beard had an All-American year, but came up a bit short. She did earn All-Region and conference honors though. She was in the top five nationally in three of the five categories we used here. Beard posted 224 strikeouts and a 1.23 ERA in 2014. Her strikeouts per seven were 9.5 and she only allowed an average of 3.4 hits per seven innings. She should carry a bigger load this season with Hannah Campbell graduating.
4. Miranda Kramer, Western Kentucky – Senior
Kramer transfers into WKU from IPFW where she spent her first three seasons. In 2014 she was the Summit League Pitcher of the Year, second team NFCA All-Region and first team All-Conference. Of the returning pitchers she led the country in strikeouts with 332 and 11.5 per seven innings which ranks her second among returning pitchers. She has a new home but she should be able to produce similar results.
T5. Sydney Gouveia, Loyola Marymount – Junior
Gouveia may not have the overall stats that some of the other have but that was because her season ended early due to an injury. She still had enough innings and appearances to make it into our list. Prior to her injury she had an amazing 0.74 ERA and 11.2 strikeouts per seven innings. She also only gave up an average of 2.65 hits per seven innings. Those are some great numbers and if she is back at 100% this year she should be among the nation’s best pitchers.
T5. Sierra Hyland, Cal Poly – Sophomore
Hyland had about as good as a freshman year as you could hope for earning Big West Pitcher of the Year, Freshman Pitcher of the Year, The NFCA All-Region Team and a finalist for NFCA Freshman of the Year. As a freshman she posted a 1.51 ERA with 263 strikeouts and won 26 games for the Mustangs. Another interesting stat is that in those 26 wins 13 were shutouts.
7. Lacy Waldrop, Florida State – Senior
Many may be wondering why the 2014 National Player of the year sits at this spot. Remember these are simply based on statistics. There is no personal opinion placed into these. Waldrop is one of the more dominate pitchers in the game. As you can imagine when you win the National Player of the year, you also win just about every other award you are eligible for. Waldrop did just that. On the season she posted a 1.13 ERA with 287 strikeouts. Expect similar results again this year and the Seminoles look to win a National Championship in 2015.
8. Laura Messina, Central Connecticut State – Senior
Another player many may not be aware of is Messina who put together a solid season in 2014. The now senior posted a 1.47 ERA with 266 strikeouts. She was named the NEC Pitcher of the Year as well as All-NEC. She finished the season in the top 20 in almost every one of the criteria we used.
9. Chelsea Wilkinson, Georgia- Junior
There was no shortage of awards for Wilkinson in 2014 earning the following; Second Team NFCA All-American, Named to NFCA All-Region First Team, Named SEC Tournament Most Valuable Player, Named to the All-SEC Team, and Named to the SEC All-Tournament team. Mostly due to her 2.10 ERA and 300 strikeouts.
10. Jailyn Ford, James Madison – Junior
Ford was another pitcher that racked up accolades including; NFCA Second Team All-America (first All-American in program history), CAA Pitcher of the Year, First Team All-CAA, NFCA First Team All-Region and CAA All-Tournament Team. Statistically she had a good season as well with a 1.26 ERA and 233 strikeouts.
Full List Below
| Rank | First | Last | School |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leanna | Pittsenbarger | Eastern Ky. |
| 2 | Cheridan | Hawkins | Oregon |
| 3 | Farish | Beard | South Ala. |
| 4 | Miranda | Kramer | IPFW |
| 5 | Sydney | Gouveia | Loyola Marymount |
| 5 | Sierra | Hyland | Cal Poly |
| 7 | Lacey | Waldrop | Florida St. |
| 8 | Laura | Messina | Central Conn. St. |
| 9 | Chelsea | Wilkinson | Georgia |
| 10 | Jailyn | Ford | James Madison |
| 10 | Nicole | Sleith | Robert Morris |
| 10 | Shelby | Turnier | UCF |
| 13 | Haley | Chambers | SIUE |
| 14 | Sara | Groenewegen | Minnesota |
| 14 | Kiana | Quolas | Coastal Caro. |
| 16 | Krista | Menke | North Dakota St. |
| 17 | Erica | Nunn | South Fla. |
| 18 | Emily | Weiman | North Carolina St. |
| 19 | Jamie | Allred | McNeese St. |
| 20 | Kelsey | Kessler | Kansas |
| 20 | Samantha | Messer | Fla. Atlantic |
| 20 | Kelsey | Stevens | Oklahoma |
| 23 | Christina | Hamilton | La.-Lafayette |
| 24 | Savannah | Jo Dorsey | Ohio |
| 24 | Kate | Poppe | Villanova |
| 26 | Amanda | McDowell | Savannah St. |
| 27 | Ally | Carda | UCLA |
| 28 | Megan | Betsa | Michigan |
| 28 | Kristen | Wood | Northwestern |
| 29 | Valerie | Cassell | Col. of Charleston |
| 29 | Lauren | Haeger | Florida |
| 29 | Mollie | Hanson | Samford |
| 32 | Sydney | Littlejohn | Alabama |
| 33 | Bailey | Erwin | Tulsa |
| 34 | Allison | Cukrov | Stony Brook |
| 34 | Kylee | Studioso | Central Ark. |
| 36 | Jordan | Wallace | La.-Lafayette |
| 37 | Taylor | Deason | Chattanooga |
| 37 | Kelsey | Nunley | Kentucky |
| 39 | Emily | Kenyon | Columbia |
| 40 | Laura | Ricciardone | Harvard |
| 40 | Lexi | Shubert | USC Upstate |
| 42 | Mckenna | Bull | BYU |
| 42 | Macauley | Flint | Weber St. |
| 42 | Delanie | Gourley | Florida |
| 45 | Jillian | Compton | Fresno St. |
| 46 | Ashley | Anderson | Lipscomb |
| 46 | Emma | Johnson | Kent St. |
| 48 | Jessica | Burroughs | Florida St. |
| 49 | Lexi | Betancourt | Charlotte |
| 50 | Jordan | Dixon | Marshall |
| 50 | Rachel | Smith | McNeese St. |
