LOUISVILLE, Ky. — University of North Georgia softball standouts Stephanie Hartness and Courtney Poole have both been named to the 2016 Schutt Sports NFCA Division II National Player of the Year Top 25 List. The award, in its second year of existence, recognizes the most outstanding softball player in the NCAA Division II ranks. Poole won the award last season after a record-breaking season.
Hartness has had a tremendous impact in her first season in Dahlonega, helping the Nighthawks win their third straight Peach Belt Conference Championship. The junior leads the league in batting average (.459), on-base percentage (.521), runs scored (51), hits (79, and total bases (123), and her .715 slugging percentage and 17 doubles both rank second in the league. The Niceville, Florida native is the third toughest batter in the nation to strikeout among hitters with at least 100 at bats, having only struck out twice this season.
Poole, who is one of just five players to make the Top 25 list for a second consecutive year, has found a way to improve on last year's incredible season having better marks in nearly every category as compared to the same point last season. The senior has lowered her earned run average from 0.96 at this point last season to 0.64 in 2016. She has 12 more wins, one less loss, an opponent batting average that is 20 points lower, and has 120 more strikeouts. The Watkinsville native leads the NCAA -- in all divisions -- in victories and ranks second in both strikeouts and shutouts. Her 0.64 ERA ranks second in DII and is the lowest among pitchers with at least 150.0 innings pitched.
North Georgia and Humboldt State were the only two programs to land multiple players on the list. The Peach Belt Conference landed a total of three players on the list with Montevallo's Kelsey Vining earning a spot.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/4/390417/ungs-hartness-and-poole-named-to-nfca-national-player-of-year-top-25