Rounding Third Softball

After 25 years leading the program Stetson Head Coach Frank Griffin has announced his retirement. Griffin compiled a record of 761-552 while coaching the Hatters winning a pair of ASUN regular-season championships, two tournament titles, and appeared in the NCAA Postseason twice. The longtime coach retires with 981 total career victories placing him 26th on the NCAA’s all-time coaching wins list.

Binghamton Head Coach Michelle Johnston has stepped down from her position. Johnston spent 12 seasons coaching the Bearcats and won a school-record 251 games while capturing three American East Championships and advancing to the NCAA Postseason in 2015.

USA Softball has announced the list of athletes invited to participate at the 2021 U-18 Junior Women’s National Team (JWNT) Selection Trials to be held June 22-25 at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex in Oklahoma City, OK. Those athletes selected for a spot on the 2021 U-18 JWNT roster will compete at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 World Cup in Peru and the Junior Pan American Games in Columbia later this summer and fall.

The list of invited athletes include:

Reese Atwood

Addison Barnard

Hannah Becerra

Maci Bergeron

Brooke Blakenship

Alyssa Brito

Valerie Cagle

Jayla Castro

Raelin Chafflin

Tatum Clopton

Erin Coffel

Maddie Erickson

Brianna Evans

Kinsey Fielder

Megan Grant

Avery Hodge

Rylee Holtorf

Alissa Humphrey

Olivia Johnson

Teagan Kaven

Ashton Maloney

Mac Morgan

Kennedy Powell

Joecellia Roberts

Keagan Rothrock

Audrey Schneidmiller

Mia Scott

Regan Shockey

Paige Sinicki

Haidyn Sokoloski

Karli Spaid

Keely Williams

Violet Zavodnik

The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) has announced the three finalists for the 2021 NFCA/Schutt Sports Division I National Freshman of the Year. The award honors outstanding athletic achievement among Division I freshmen softball student-athletes. The winner will be announced on June 1 prior to the start of the Women’s College World Series.

The three finalists are:

Valerie Cagle, Clemson

Jayda Coleman, Oklahoma

Tiare Jennings, Oklahoma

RTS will be in Fayetteville starting tomorrow for the Super Regional matchup between No. 6 national seed and nationally ranked No. 5 Arkansas, and No. 11 seed and nationally ranked No. 9 Arizona. Game 1 starts at 6 pm CST Friday. Follow RTS on Twitter @Rounding3rdSB for real-time in-game updates throughout the weekend from Bogle Park.

Husson University Infielder Kenzie Dore has been named the 2021 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division III National Freshman of the Year. Dore hit .455 with 30 runs, 45 hits, eight doubles, three triples, four homers and 38 RBI, plus 14 walks, five steals and just seven strikeouts in 115 plate appearances. Husson finished the season 29-3 and 16-0 in North Atlantic Conference play while reaching the finals of the NCAA Bangor Regional.

Mike Smith will be returning as head coach at California Baptist University RTS has confirmed.

Smith coached the Lancers for eights seasons between 2004-2011 building an NAIA powerhouse and winning a National Championship in 2009. He last coached between 2015-2019 turning the program at Ole Miss from the SEC bottom-dweller, to national contender. The Rebels appeared in the NCAA Postseason four straight seasons, the programs first ever NCAA appearances, and made two Super Regional appearances in 2017 and 2019. Ole Miss won the the 2017 SEC Tournament Title which was also a first in program history. Before his stint at Ole Miss, Smith spent 2011-2014 at McNeese State where he led the Cowgirls to the Southland Conference Championship in 2013 and 2014.

California Baptist will be in their last probational year in Division I as a member of the WAC in 2021-22 after making the transition from Division II. Current head coach Bill Baber, a longtime confidant and assistant of Smith, will remain on the Lancer coaching staff.

University of Indianapolis Pitcher Kenzee Smith has been named the 2021 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division II National Freshman of the Year. Smith posted a 23-3 mark in the circle with a 1.21 ERA and 173 strikeouts over 167.1 innings of work for the Greyhounds. UIndy finished the 2021 season 46-8 and advance to the NCAA DII Midwest Regional Finals.

The best eight collegiate softball teams in the country won’t be the only ones descending on Oklahoma next week. USA Softball has announced that the Women’s National Team will play a set of exhibition games against the USSSA Pride starting next week in the Sooner State. Team USA will play in Stillwater on June 2, 6, and 7 at Cowgirl Stadium. On June 4 the Red, White, and Blue will compete at The Mecca of Softball at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. The USWNT and the Pride will play at 11 am CST that morning before the evening session of the Women’s College World Series.

The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) has announced the 2021 Division II All-Americans. The teams, voted on by the DII All-American Committee, is made up of 54 student-athletes from 43 different programs.

First Team

P, Morgan Perry, Saint Anselm College

P, Mackenzie Ward, Minnesota State University, Mankato

P, Kenzee Smith, University of Indianapolis

C, Shanna McBroom, West Texas A&M University

1B, Hannah Marsteller, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

2B, Sydni Hawkins, Missouri Western State University

3B, Alyssa Herrera, Georgian Court University

SS, Nicole Pennington, Valdosta State University

OF, Lauren Wedman, Colorado Mesa University

OF, Kendall Cornick, Augustana University

OF, Ruby Salzman, West Texas A&M University

UT-P, Hannah Rose Corbin, Columbus State University

DP or UT-Non-P, Lauryn Henderson, Academy of Art University

At-Large-C, Faith Willenbrock, Millersville University of Pennsylvania

At-Large-1B, Tatum Brummitt, University of North Carolina at Pembroke

At-Large-P, Kylee Smith, University of North Georgia

At-Large-UT-P, Ellie Smith, Colorado Mesa University

At-Large-C, Bailey Byers, Malone University

Second Team

P, Ashley Mickschl, Augustana University

P, Abbey Busby, Palm Beach Atlantic University

P, Ally Muller, Adelphi University

C, Ashley Perez, University of Texas at Tyler

1B, Mahina Sauer, Southern Nazarene University

2B, Sam Catron, Hillsdale College

3B, Nicole Purtell, Shepherd University

SS, Margaret Simmons, University of North Georgia

OF, Rajene Bowe, Dominican College

OF, Shelby Robb, Metropolitan State University of Denver

OF, Allie Miller, Auburn University at Montgomery

UT-P, Sidney Booth, Northwest Nazarene University

DP or UT-Non-P, Kylee Leonhardt, Lenoir-Rhyne University

At-Large-DP or UT-Non-P, Izzy Starr, Humboldt State University

At-Large-P, Callie Nunes, Concordia University Irvine

At-Large-SS, Tatum Dow, Western Washington University

At-Large-OF, Taylor Shingler, Maryville University of St. Louis

At-Large-P, Kali Crandall, Oklahoma Christian University

Third Team

P, Ali Shenefield, Rollins College

P, Payton Foster, University of Texas at Tyler

P, Hannah Beatus, Grand Valley State University

C, Kat Donzella, West Liberty University

1B, Molly Cobb, Auburn University at Montgomery

2B, Kiley Robb, Valdosta State University

3B, Teala Howard, University of West Florida

SS, MaKray Odom, Trevecca Nazarene University

OF, Mary Pardo, Augustana University

OF, Courtney Barnhill, Angelo State University

OF, Caitlyn Canady, Columbus State University

UT-P, Ava Fitzmaurice, University of New Haven

DP or UT-Non-P, Torri Chute, Augustana University

At-Large-3B, Kaitlyn Weis, Northwest Missouri State University

At-Large-UT-P, Morgan Hill, Valdosta State University

At-Large-1B, Jenna Lipowski, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

At-Large-P, Andrea Morales, Rogers State University

At-Large-OF, Gabrielle Simms, University of the Sciences