LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Following her MVP performance at the Peach Belt Conference Tournament, University of North Georgia senior Courtney Poole has been named the Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Pitcher of the Year, the coaches' association announced Wednesday afternoon. It is the second time this season that Poole has earned the honor and third overall in her career.
"We are excited for all of the national recognition that Courtney has received and she deserves every bit of it," said head coach Mike Davenport. "She has a tremendous work ethic and it has shown in her improvement ever year in her time here at UNG. Courtney has made her mark in the school, conference, and national record books and we couldn't be more proud to call her a Nighthawk."
Poole closed out the regular season helping the Nighthawks claim their third Peach Belt Conference title and a bid to the NCAA Division II Softball Tournament. Highlighted by a no-hitter in the tournament, the senior righty went 5-0 with a 0.48 ERA, four shutouts and 21 strikeouts, while holding her opposition to a .141 batting average. Poole ends the regular season with a 49-2 record on the year with a 0.62 ERA and 406 strikeouts.
After twirling a pair of shutouts against Montevallo (11 IP, 6 K, 6 H) to close out the regular season, Poole silenced Francis Marion in the first round of the PBC tournament. The Watkinsville native struck out two and walked one for her fourth no-hitter of the season and sixth of her career. On the final day of the tournament, the PBC tournament MVP tossed 13 innings, which included a two-hit, nine-strikeout shutout in the title-game victory against USC-Aiken.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/4/392764/courtney-poole-named-louisville-sluggernfca-national-pitcher-of-the-year