TOURNAMENT PROGRAM February 28-March 1, 2020
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TOURNAMENT PROGRAM February 28-March 1, 2020 2020 NFCA NAIA LEADOFF CLASSIC 1 2 2020 NFCA NAIA LEADOFF CLASSIC TABLE OF CONTENTS 2020 NFCA NAIA LEADOFF CLASSIC INFORMATION Seventeen teams are poised to compete in the 2020 NFCA NAIA NFCA Official Sponsors . Inside Cover Leadoff Classic this weekend at the South Commons Complex in NFCA Official Convention Sponsors . Inside Cover Columbus, Ga., host site of the 2020 NAIA Softball World Series. NFCA Partners . Inside Cover Tournament Schedule . 5 Highlighting the field are 2019 NAIA Softball World Series NFCA Strikeout Cancer . 6 participants Georgia Gwinnett College and University of Mobile as About the NFCA . 7 well as six more programs – Brenau University, Campbellsville #NFCAday . 8 University, Indiana Wesleyan University (Saturday only), University NFCA Education . 16 of Rio Grande, Truett McConnell University and William Carey NFCA Camps . 22 University - that qualified for the NAIA’s Opening Round. NFCA Leadoff Classics . 26 Additionally, Thomas More University, which is in its first season of NAIA softball, was a NCAA Division III Regional finalist in 2019. TEAM INFORMATION Brenau & Bryan . 9 Bryan College, College of Coastal Georgia, Georgetown College, Campbellsville & Coastal Georgia . 11 Lawrence Technological University, Southeastern University, Rein- Georgetown & Georgia Gwinnett . 13 hardt University, Thomas University and Warner University complete Lawrence Tech & Mobile . 15 the 2020 field. Reinhardt & Rio Grande . 19 Overall, seven programs finished the 2019 season ranked in the Southeastern & Thomas . 21 final NAIA Softball Coaches Top 25 Poll led by national semifinalist Thomas More & Truett McConnell . 23 Georgia Gwinnett at No. 4 and Mobile at No. 7. Finishing inside the Warner & William Carey . 24 top 20 were No. 13 Indiana Wesleyan, No. 14 Campbellsville and Indiana Wesleyan . 25 No. 18 Truett McConnell. Rounding out the ranked teams are No. 21 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS William Carey and No. 23 Rio Grande. Brenau finished just outside Easton . 4 the top 25 receiving 78 points. HitTrax . 10 Fifteen teams finished above .500 with 11 programs posting 30- Triple Crown Sports . 12 plus triumphs. Mobile led the way with a 53-win campaign. while Traveling Teams . 14 Georgia Gwinnett (45), Indiana Wesleyan (44) and Truett-McConnell Pocket Radar . 17 (42) each cracked the 40-win plateau. FieldTurf . 17 Teams will each play a pre-determined schedule over three days USA Softball . 18 with 15 of the teams playing five games, Bryan will play four, includ- Rapsodo . 20 Turface . 20 ing a doubleheader on Saturday against Indiana Wesleyan. Mizuno . 25 2020 NFCA NAIA LEADOFF CLASSIC 3 4 2020 NFCA NAIA LEADOFF CLASSIC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE Friday, February 28 Saturday, February 29 10:00 AM 10:00 AM Field 1 - Rio Grande v Bryan* Field 1 - Brenau v Rio Grande* Field 3 - Georgetown* v Southeastern Field 3 - Mobile v Coastal Georgia Field 4 - Thomas More* v Truett McConnell Stadium - Campbellsville v Warner* NOON NOON Field 1 - Bryan* v Warner Field 1 - Rio Grande* v Campbellsville Field 2 - William Carey v Rio Grande* Field 2 - Truett McConnell v Coastal Georgia* Field 3 - Lawrence v Georgetown* Field 3 - Warner v Mobile* Field 4 - Brenau v Thomas More* Field 4 - Brenau v Georgetown* Stadium - Southeastern v Mobile* Stadium - William Carey v Thomas More* 2:00 PM 2:00 PM Field 1 - Mobile* v Campbellsville Field 1 - Reinhardt v Lawrence Tech* Field 2 - Georgia Gwinnett v Warner* Field 2 - Thomas More v Southeastern* Field 3 - Lawrence Tech v Thomas* Field 3 - Truett McConnell v Georgia Gwinnett* Field 4 - Truett McConnell v William Carey* Field 4 - Thomas v Georgetown* Stadium - Coastal Georgia* v Reinhardt Stadium - Bryan* v Indiana Wesleyan 4:00 PM 4:00 PM Field 1 - Coastal Georgia* v Brenau Field 1 - William Carey v Lawrence Tech* Field 2 - Thomas v Reinhardt* Field 2 - Southeastern* v Reinhardt Stadium - Campbellsville v Georgia Gwinnett* Field 3 - Warner v Brenau* Field 4 - Thomas v Georgia Gwinnett* Stadium - Bryan* v Indiana Wesleyan Sunday, March 1 9:00 AM 11:00 AM Field 1 - Rio Grande* v Thomas Field 1 - Mobile v Rio Grande* Field 2 - Coastal Georgia v Campbellsville* Field 2 - Georgia Gwinnett v William Carey* Field 3 - Lawrence Tech v Southeastern* Field 4 - Reinhardt v Thomas More* Stadium - Georgetown v Truett McConnell* Home team is listed second * Denotes 3rd Base Dugout 2020 NFCA NAIA LEADOFF CLASSIC 5 6 2020 NFCA NAIA LEADOFF CLASSIC ABOUT THE NFCA Established in 1983, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) is the professional growth organization for fastpitch softball coaches from all competitive levels of play. The national office, located in the Crescent Hill community of Louisville, Ky., moved to the Bluegrass State in 2012 . Although collegiate coaches comprised the majority of the organization’s membership in the early days, today they are joined by high school, travel ball, professional and international coaches, along with umpires, clubs, companies and fans of fastpitch softball. Growing from 40 members in 1983 to over 5,800 today, the NFCA boasts members from all 50 states and several international countries. There are many services offered to the member- ship. Highlighted by the All-America teams, the awards program is about recognizing student-athletes for their athletic and academic prowess and coaches for their contributions both on and off the field. NFCA QUICK HITS Education is one of the NFCA’s highest priorities. Established . 1983 It hosts an annual National Convention in December, Located . Louisville, Ky. (2012) conducts eight coaches clinics and provides Members . 5,849 (as of Jan. 31, 2020) in-person and online educational classes (NFCC) for Executive Director . Carol Bruggeman its members. The Association also runs collegiate President . Kate Drohan (Northwestern University) and high school tournaments and hosts skills and Phone . 502-409-4600 academic camps throughout the nation. Additionally, Email . [email protected] the NFCA works with USA Today in producing polls Websites . NFCA.org / NFCAevents.org for NCAA Division I and high school softball as well Social Media . @NFCAorg as compiling NCAA Division II and Division III national polls. NFCA STAFF Executive Director . Carol Bruggeman Director of Communications . Brian Stanley Director of Education & Program Development . Joanna Lane Director of Events & Convention Coordinator . Michelle Vasquez NFCA PURPOSE Director of Finances . Jamie Hazel TO SUPPORT FASTPITCH SOFTBALL Director of Marketing and Sponsorships . Emily Allard Director of Outreach & Creative Design . Annie Gordon COACHES IN THEIR QUEST FOR Director of Publications . Dave Hines EXCELLENCE, WHILE UNITING Membership Services Assistant . Paula Blumenschein TOGETHER TO ADVANCE THE SPORT WE Membership Services Specialist & Video Coord . Joni Schmidt LOVE. Special Projects . Kelley Fisher Intern . Saralyn Campbell 2020 NFCA NAIA LEADOFF CLASSIC 7 8 2020 NFCA NAIA LEADOFF CLASSIC BRENAU GOLDEN TIGERS NO. NAME YR POS B/T HOMETOWN HEAD COACH 1 Chloe Fambrough Jr. P R/R Watkinsville, Ga. 2 Shea Reagor So. IF R/R Acworth, Ga. Devon Thomas 3 Morgan Tyler Fr. OF R/R Bishop, Ga. 18th Season 4 Faith Grooms Jr. OF R/R Commerce, Ga. Under Devon Thomas’s transformational leadership, the 6 Maygan Loparo So. C/OF R/R Sugar Hill, Ga. Brenau team has become a perennial contender for top na- 7 Tabitha Morrison Sr. OF R/R Dawsonville, Ga. tional rankings, finishing No. 4 in the nation in 2012 and 8 Claire Fendig So. OF R/R Brunswick, Ga. No. 3 in 2013 preseason rankings. The Golden Tigers first 9 Brooke Wakenigg Jr. IF/P R/R Harris, Ga. broke into the NAIA Division I national rankings in 2006, 11 Alyssa Maisonet So. IF R/R Milner, Ga. 2007, and 2008– the only all-women’s colleges ranked. 12 Madison Oliver So. 3B R/R Gainesville, Ga. The team finished the 2009 season as SSAC regular-sea- 13 Caroline Mitchell Jr. P R/R Jefferson, Ga. son champs and No. 11 in the national after qualifying for 14 Shelton Kendrix Sr. IF/C R/R Jefferson, Ga. the national tournament. 17 Kasey Blair So. IF R/R Marietta, Ga. While at Brenau, Thomas has amassed a 524-184-1 19 Brooke Kibbe So. P R/R Hoschton, Ga. record as head coach. During his tenure, Thomas has 21 Cameron Dillard Jr. P R/R Lawrenceville, Ga. coached 54 All-Conference team selections, 67 22 Kaleigh Sullivan Jr. P R/R Columbus, Ga. All-Academic team selections, two All-Conference 24 Autumn Conaway Sr. IF R/R Guyton, Ga. freshman team selections, three conference Players of the 26 Karly Smith Jr. OF/C R/R Toccoa, Ga. Year, one divisional Player of the Year, three divisional 27 Erin Teaney So. IF R/R Miamisburg, Ohio Pitchers of the Year , three conference Freshman of the 44 Steffanie Redmon So. IF/P R/R Lula, Ga. Year, one divisional Freshman of the Year, two NAIA All-Region Selections, five NFCA All-Americans, five Graduate Assistant Coach: Chelsea Dale NAIA All-Americans and two National Tournament All-Tournament Team Selections. He also coached the 2017 NAIA National Pitcher of the Year Kathleen “Eli” Daniel. BRYAN LIONS NO. NAME YR POS B/T HT HOMETOWN HEAD COACH 2 Destiny McSwain So. 2B/OF R/R 5-0 Knoxville, Tenn. 3 Mackenzie Nichols Fr. C/UT R/R 5-8 Etowah, Tenn. Mark Ritchhart 4 Hannah O’Shields Sr. C/UT R/R 5-8 LaFayette, Ga. 3rd Season 5 Leslie Beecham Sr. OF R/R 5-7 Knoxville, Tenn. Mark Ritchhart is entering his third season as the Head 6 Stephanie Blevins Fr. P R/R 5-2 Soddy Daisy, Tenn. Coach of the Bryan Lion’s Softball program. 7 Maryah Sober So. 3B R/R 5-9 Sweetwater, Tenn. In the 2018-19 season, the Lady Lions finished with a 8 Shannon White So. OF L/R 5-6 Charlotte, Tenn. 20-28 overall record, going 13-13 in conference games.