Today we’re melding two things into one:  we’re running the news out of the NFCA on the Top 10 Freshman Finalists and also using this Throwback Thursday to look back last year to our interaction with three of those who made the final list.

First, the news…

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The National Fastpitch Coaches Association is pleased to announce the top 10 finalists for the inaugural NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year trophy, which will be presented prior to the start of the 2014 NCAA Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla.

With the Association searching for innovative ways to promote the sport of softball, the NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year award grew from an idea to honor outstanding athletic achievement among freshman softball student-athletes throughout Division I.

Each of this year’s 10 finalists represents a different university, while the group hails from six Division I leagues across the country. The Southeastern Conference led the way with three overall selections, while the Pac-12 Conference and Big Ten Conference both garnered a pair of inclusions. The Atlantic Coast Conference, Big West Conference and Sun Belt Conference all earned a single nod.

On Thurs., May 22, the list of 10 finalists will be trimmed to the final three. The inaugural NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year trophy will be presented during a live ceremony on May 27 prior to the opening of the annual Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla.

NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year – Top 10 Finalists

Annie Aldrete – DP/C – Tennessee
Megan Betsa – P – Michigan
Kasey Cooper – 3B – Auburn
Tori Finucane – P – Missouri
Sara Groenewegen – P/IF – Minnesota
Haley Hayden – OF – Louisiana-Lafayette
Sierra Hyland – P/DP – Cal Poly
Katiyana Mauga – RF – Arizona
Delaney Spaulding – SS – UCLA
Karley Wester – OF – Notre Dame

 

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And now how we crossed paths with three of them:

*** Megan Betsa – we saw her last year when she guested for the Beverly Bandits and helped the Illinois club make it to the final four of the PGF Nationals.

Here’s the interview we did with her and her teammate from the Atlanta Vipers who also guested for the Bandits, CaraMia Tsirigos…

*** Tori Finucane – we watched Tori play in the Team NJ Classic last summer as she pitched for NJ Intensity; here’s a photo (granted, far-away!) of her in action…

 

*** Delaney Spaulding – finally, after watching top teams and players last summer, especially at the PGF Nationals in Huntington Beach, Calif., we put together a “Summer All-Star Team.”  Leading that group was Delaney, who had a spectacular nationals run; here’s the text from the write-up…

SS Delaney Spaulding (Team Mizuno-Stith, 2013)—UCLA

The best position player I saw all year, she has National Team talent and will be a dominant player for the Bruins based on what I saw all summer.  Delaney led the PGF Premier tournament with five home runs and 15 RBI and they came in key times against the best pitchers in the country.  My vote for the No. 1 player in the 2013 class.