LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Anderson University senior Kayson Boatner and sophomore Laken Maxwell were revealed as part of the 2022 Schutt Sports/NFCA DII National Player & Pitcher of the Year Top 50 awards list.
Boatner currently ranks first in the South Atlantic Conference in home runs (18), just five shy of AU's All-Time season record (22) and eight shy of breaking AU's All-Time career record, which stands at 63. The native of Phenix City, Ala., also ranks second in the SAC with 46 RBI and third in batting average (.455). Boatner has added 16 doubles to help boost her slugging percentage to 1.080 for the season.
Maxwell leads the SAC in ERA (1.60), ranks second in wins (15) and ranks second in strikeouts with 166 on the season. The native of Bowdon, Ga., is 19 strikeouts shy of AU's All-Time season strikeout total (184).
The Player of the Year award was created in 2015 to honor the outstanding athletic achievements among softball student-athletes throughout NCAA Division II. In 2019, the Association expanded the award to include a Player and Pitcher of the Year. The list is compiled and the award is voted on by the elected members of the NFCA Division II All-American Committee with one head coach representing each of the eight NCAA regions. To be eligible, a student-athletes' head coach must be a member.
The Top 25 finalists for the 2022 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division II National Player and Pitcher of the Year awards will be announced on May 5. A student-athlete does not have to be on the Top 50 list to be considered for the Top 25. The winner of each award will be announced on June 2, following the conclusion of the 2022 season.
2022 Schutt Sports / NFCA Division II Player & Pitcher of the Year Top 50
*Denotes returning NFCA All-American
Hannah Beatus, Grand Valley State*
Kristina Bettis, Drury
Kayson Boatner, Anderson
Sidney Booth, Northwest Nazarene*
Carly Chovanec, Illinois Springfield
Torri Chute, Augustana University*
Hannah Rose Corbin, Columbus State*
Savannah Coyle, Cal State San Marcos
Paige Donnelly, Cal State San Marcos
Kylie Emanuele, Mount Olive
Katlin Entrup, Concordia Irvine
Lexi Fair, Southern Indiana
Taylor Franco, Lubbock Christian
Lydia Goble, Grand Valley State
Emily Harris, Carson Newman
Micaela Harris, Cal Poly Humboldt
Teala Howard, West Florida*
Hannah Hudson, West Virginia Wesleyan
Taylor Lambert, Pittsburg State
Brooke Larsen, Chico State *
Hannah Marsteller, Shippensburg*
Gia Martin, Auburn Montgomery
Megan Massa, Concordia Irvine
Laken Maxwell, Anderson
Jacee Minter, Central Oklahoma
Andrea Morales, Rogers State*
Erika Morris, Concordia Irvine
Cheyenne Nelson, Florida Tech
Jamie Odlum, Minot State
Matisen Onefrei, Texas A&M-Kingsville
Jenna Osikowicz, Seton Hill
Emily Otto, Texas A&M University-Commerce
Mary Pardo, Augustana*
Ashley Perez, UT Tyler*
Lauren Rakes, Lenoir-Rhyne
Tymber Riley, Arkansas Tech
Hannah Rose, University of Charleston
Ruby Salzman, West Texas A&M*
Paxton Scheurer, Angelo State
Ziara Shreter, Adelphi
Bayli Simon, UT Tyler
Kenzee Smith, UIndy*
Leah Sohm, Carson Newman
Olivia Stansbury, McKendree
Kaitlyn Stufft, Georgian Court
Brylynn Vallejos, San Francisco State*
Mackenzie Ward, Minnesota State*
Amanda Weyh, Lindenwood
Tia Williams, Nova Southeastern
Zoe Willis, Georgia Southwestern
