LOUISVILLE, Ky. —Williams’ Sadie Leonard and Emory’s Ellie Zerr claimed the latest Division III Wilson/NFCA Pitcher and Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player of the Week honors of the 2025 season on Tuesday.
Junior right-hander Leonard went 4-0 in the circle this past week on the West Coast for the No. 13 Ephs, throwing four complete games and totaling 43 strikeouts. They tossed a one-hit shutout in a 3-0 victory at Pomona-Pitzer last Thursday and threw a two-hitter against Whittier on Friday.
Prior to that, California native Leonard fanned 10 in a victory over then-No. 6 Redlands on Tuesday, and struck out 13 over eight innings in an extra-inning triumph versus Chapman on Wednesday. For the week, they compiled a sparkling 0.72 earned-run average.
Meanwhile, sophomore utility player Zerr batted .636 (7-for-11) with five runs scored, a double, three homers (including a grand slam) and 10 runs batted in for the No. 21 Eagles in a three-game conference sweep of Carnegie Mellon.
The San Diego native had two hits and two RBI in the opener, went 1-for-2 with a homer in game two, and then exploded for two longballs, scored three runs and drove in seven in the series finale.
Other Top Performances
Katie Alger, Christopher Newport – 2-0, 0.70 ERA, 10 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 18 K; Raya Anderson, Simmons – .667 AVG, 2B, 2 3B, HR, 3 RBI; Katie Baydian, Brandeis – .556 AVG (10-for-18), 7 R, 4 2B, HR, 5 RBI; Sarah DeStefano, Moravian – 3-0, 0.33 ERA, 21 IP, 2 SHO, 5 BB, 13 K, plus .556 AVG, 3 2B, 3B, 8 RBI; Alaina Diaz, Augustana (Ill.) – .615 AVG (8-for-13), 3 R, 2B, HR, 6 RBI; Sydney Fleming, Williams – .428 AVG (12-for-28), 8 R, 5 HR, 11 RBI, had two- and three-homer games; Madisyn Fruge, Huntingdon – 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 K in victory over then-No. 13 Belhaven; Hannah Gore, Berry – 8 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 13 K; KaiLi Gross, Case Western Reserve – .545 AVG, 8 R, 2B, 3 HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 2 SB; Megan Heidelbauer, Simpson – .717 AVG (10-for-14), 7 R, 3 2B, walk-off homer, 8 RBI, 3 SB, 1.143 SLG; Annie Kay, Texas Lutheran – .571, 3B, 8 RBI, 9 SB (current national SB leader); Jillian Kelly, Chapman – 2-0, 2.15 ERA, 13 IP, 3 BB, 11 K, two-hit shutout vs. then-No. 12 Williams, also defeated then-No. 6 Redlands; Piper Kinney, Simmons – 2-1, 2.76 ERA, 12.2 IP, 3 BB, 21 K, no-hitter vs. Thomas; Shelby Koenig, Blackburn – perfect game versus Maranatha Baptist (struck out all 15 batters); Amanda Lanyon, Randolph-Macon – .533 AVG (8-for-15), 8 R, 2 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 3 SB; Olivia McClammy, Swarthmore – .526 AVG, 2 2B, HR, 9 RBI, set school career marks for runs and RBI; Kate McGrath, Plymouth State – five-hitter, 0 BB, 9 K in conference opener against Western Connecticut State; Alexis Michon, Trine – followed her perfect game last week with a no-hitter this week (7 IP, 0 BB, HBP, 15 K); Lexi Miskey, Case Western Reserve – 2-0, 0.70 ERA, 10 IP, 1 BB, 23 K, .091 BAA; Shayla Morgan, Moravian – .571 AVG, 6 R, 3B, 4 RBI, 6 SB; Anna Scarbrock, Centenary (La.) – 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 14 IP, 0 BB, 4 K; Lexi Schaaf, Bridgewater (Va.) – .571 AVG (8-for-14), 2B, 2 RBI, 23 PO, 1.000 FLD; Candace Slaw, Christopher Newport – .692 AVG, 7 R, 3 2B, 3B, 4 RBI, 3 SB; Kylie Stephens, Huntingdon – .500 AVG, 5 PO, OF assist; Kenna Strunsee, Wisconsin-Eau Claire – .667 AVG, 4 R, 2B, 3B, 4 RBI, 4 SB; Abby Touchet, Centenary (La.) – .533 AVG, 3 R, 2 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 2 BB, 0K in 15 AB; Benni Tucci, Western Connecticut State – .538 AVG (7-for-13), 2 R, 2 RBI, SB; Mackenzie Weaver, Pennsylvania College of Technology – 2-0, 1.11 ERA, 19 IP, 2 CG, 2 BB, 14 K, plus .400 AVG with six hits, 2 2B, 4 RBI; Keelie Wells, Plymouth State – .714 AVG, 2B, 2 RBI.
Winners are selected by the NFCA Division III Top 25 Committee, which has a representative for each of the 10 NCAA regions.
2025 Wilson/NFCA Division III National Pitcher of the Week
April 1 — Sadie Leonard, Williams, Jr., RHP, Tiburon, Calif.
March 25 — Gracie Ellis, Randolph-Macon, Sr., RHP, New Kent, Va.
March 18 — Darian Kanno, Hiram, Sr., RHP, Mililani, Hawaii
March 11 — Sarah DeStefano, Moravian, Jr., RHP, Ringoes, N.J.
March 4 — Gracie Ellis, Randolph-Macon, Sr., RHP, New Kent, Va.
2025 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III National Player of the Week
April 1 — Ellie Zerr, Emory, So., UT, San Diego, Calif.
March 25 — Paige Lathrop, Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Jr., OF, South Milwaukee, Wis.
March 18 — Brooke Greaver, Christopher Newport, Gr., 3B, Abingdon, Md.
March 11 — Candace Slaw, Christopher Newport, So., OF, Rappahannock, Va.
March 4 — Tristen Maddox, East Texas Baptist, Gr., SS, Mission, Texas
2025 NFCA Division III Top 25 Committee
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