University of Southern Indiana junior pitcher Jennifer Leonhardt (Louisville, Kentucky) has been named a top 25 finalist for the 2019 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division II National Player & Pitcher of the Year Award in an announcement by the National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association Thursday afternoon.
An All-American as both a freshman and a sophomore, Leonhardt is currently 18-6 with a 1.22 ERA, four saves, a .178 opponent batting average and 198 strikeouts. She has 11 complete-game shutouts in 2019 and has combined on two other shutouts.
In GLVC play, Leonhardt is 9-3 with three saves, a league-best 0.55 ERA, a .166 opponent batting average and 111 strikeouts.
Leonhardt’s ability hasn’t been limited to the pitcher’s circle. She is currently hitting .387 with 10 doubles, a triple, a home run and a team-high tying 30 RBIs. She has a league-best 14 sacrifices, including 10 sacrifice bunts and four sac flies.
A three-time Great Lakes Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week, Leonhardt was named the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II Pitcher of the Week earlier this month following her efforts in USI’s wins over Truman State University, William Jewell College and Rockhurst University.
Leonhardt is one of two GLVC players on the Schutt Sports/NFCA Division II Player & Pitcher of the Year Top 25 list and one of four from the Midwest Region. Joining Leonhardt from the GLVC is Truman State senior outfielder Christa Reisinger, while the Midwest Region also was represented by Grand Valley State University senior pitcher Allison Lipovsky and Trevecca Nazarene University junior shortstop MaKray Odom.
The No. 22 Screaming Eagles, who are currently 31-15 overall and 17-5 in GLVC play, concludes the regular season this weekend as they travel to Romeoville, Illinois, to take on Lewis University Friday at 1 p.m. in a GLVC doubleheader and to Indianapolis, Indiana, to take on No. 13 University of Indianapolis Sunday at 11 a.m. (CDT).
2019 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division II Player & Pitcher of the Year Top 25
Emily Benson, Western Washington University, Senior, First Base
Shelby Booker, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Sophomore, Third Base
Rosa’Lynn Burton, Wilmington University, Junior, Outfield
Georgia Capell, Tarleton State University, Sophomore, Outfield
Jordan Davis, Rollins College, Senior, Outfield
Makaleigh Dooley, University of Tampa, Senior, Pitcher
JoBi Heath, University of Central Oklahoma, Senior, Third Base
Teala Howard, University of West Florida, Freshman, Utility
Sara Keeny, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Senior, Outfield
Jordyn Kleman, Winona State University, Junior, Pitcher
Jennifer Leonhardt, University of Southern Indiana, Junior, Pitcher
Allison Lipovsky, Grand Valley State University, Senior, pitcher
Peyton Mills, Harding University, Senior, Outfield
Kylee Moore, West Texas A&M University, Senior, First Base
Callie Nunes, Concordia University Irvine, Sophomore, pitcher
MaKray Odom, Trevecca Nazarene University, Junior, Shortstop
Emily Otto, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Sophomore, Pitcher
Christa Reisinger, Truman State University, Senior, Outfield
Rhiannon Sassman, University of West Florida, Senior, Third Base
Julia Seader, Long Island University Post, Senior, Catcher
Kylee Smith, University of North Georgia, Junior, Pitcher
AnnMarie Torres, Colorado Mesa University, Junior, First Base
Brylynn Vallejos, San Francisco State University, Freshman, outfield
Lani Van Zyl, Winona State University, Senior, Shortstop
Natalie Willis, Newberry College, Senior, Shortstop
