LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Burlington’s (Mass.) Cece Imbimbo South Williamsport’s (Pa.), Alizabeth Schuler, Auburn’s (Va.) Kirsten Fleet and Perry’s (Iowa) Lydia Olejniczak were named 2023 MaxPreps/NFCA National High School Players of the Week. The quartet garnered recognition for games played June 5-11.

East Region

Imbimbo twirled a pair of complete games, including a two-hit shutout of Pembroke on June 5. For the week, she struck out 29, allowed a run on five hits and walked two batters. In the shutout, Imbimbo fanned 14 and issued one walk. On June 7, she tossed a two-hitter versus Shepherd Hill ando surrendered a run with 15 punchouts and a free pass. Additionally, she was 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored against the Rams.

North Region

Schuler was 4-for-6 (.667) at the plate with a double, home run and seven RBI in a pair of victories last week. She also tossed eight innings of shutout ball, which included a five-inning shutout (eight strikeouts) versus Bristol. At the plate, Schuler went 3-for-3 with a long ball, five RBI and three runs scored against Newport. She added  a double and two RBI in the win over Bristol.

South Region

Fleet  was instrumental in Auburn capturing the 2023 VHSL Class 1 state title. Over the course of three starts, Fleet was 3-0 with two shutouts, including a no-hitter in the state semifinals against Buffalo Gap, and 36 strikeouts in 21 innings of work. In the 1-0 semifinal win over the Bison, the senior hurler fanned 14 batters and walked two. Fleet followed that up a day later with a one-hit shutout of Rye Cove in the title game, punching out nine Eagles and issuing one free pass. In the quarterfinal victory over Eastside, she surrendered a run on four hits with 13 strikeouts. Fleet also contributed at the plate with two solo homers, two RBI and two runs scored.

South Central Region

Olejniczak was 6-for-9 (.667) with two doubles, a home run, four RBI and five runs scored. She drew five walks which contributed to her .786 on-base percentage and slugged 1.222 in three games. Olejniczak’s long ball came in a win against South Hamilton. She was 2-for-2 in that contest with a double, two walks, two RBI and four runs scored. She also was 3-for-3 with a RBI in a 4-3 victory over Nevada.

MaxPreps.com, the official high school statistical provider of the NFCA, provides all statistics for the NFCA High School Player of the Week award. To nominate a player for the award, the coach must enter his or her athlete's game stats into MaxPreps.com by Sunday evening to be eligible for that week’s award.

Winners are announced on NFCA.org every Monday during the spring campaign with a player from each of five separate MaxPreps’ high school regions being selected. 

MaxPreps is a free stat tool that is available to high school coaches across the country and is one of the most recognized and respected high school athletics websites on the internet. Coaches who enter their team’s stats on MaxPreps will not only be nominating their players for this award, but they will be getting their team’s information out to thousands of high school sports fans, as well as college coaches across the country.

To obtain a coach’s login, please contact: coachsupport@maxpreps.com or call (800) 329-7324 x1. To enter a team’s stats on the MaxPreps website, please click here.

The NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded coaches polls and All-America awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from podcasts to awards, to in-person events and National Convention. 

Learn more about the NFCA and consider joining our lineup of over 6,700 coaches today! 

MaxPreps/NFCA High School Softball Players of the Week