LA GRANDE, Ore. – The tournament for Lord Stanley’s Cup may be underway, but Corban University’s Stephanie Nippert scored the preverbal natural hat trick as she has been named Cascade Collegiate Conference Softball Player of the Year for the third-straight year after a vote of the league’s head coaches.
The senior from Rocklin, Calif. leads the nation in homers (27) and runs batted in (76). She also leads the CCC, batting average (.448), slugging percentage (1.091), on-base percentage (.608), runs scored (69), total bases (156), walks (58) and steals (22).
Nippert is currently in a race with Christen Krichner of Central Baptist (Ark.) for the NAIA career home run record. With both Corban and Central Baptist ending their conference tournament runs in their respective tournaments, The Warrior first baseman narrowly leads Kirchner by two with 80 career round-trippers. Both teams will wait for the NAIA National office to announce the 40-team National Tournament field to see if either player will continue their long ball battle.
Nickayla Skinner of The College of Idaho was selected as CCC Pitcher of the Year. The junior from Mountain Home, Idaho leads the CCC with 23 wins with Oregon Tech’s Taylor Schmidt. She is also tops in earned run average (1.78), innings pitched (204 2/3) and strikeouts (222).
After hitting .376 with a conference-high 19 doubles, Concordia shortstop Taylor Copher was selected as Newcomer of the Year by the CCC head coaches. The freshman from Sandy, Ore. also led all conference players with 67 hits on the season.
Leading his team to its first-ever CCC title and a program-best 40-win season, Corban University’s Nathan Ohta was awarded his first Coach of the Year award after a vote of his peers. The Warriors are currently ranked a season-best No. 8 in the latest NAIA coaches’ poll.
2013 All-Cascade Collegiate Conference Softball Team and Honors
Player of the Year: Stephanie Nippert, 1B, Sr., Corban
Pitcher of the Year: Nickayla Skinner, Jr., College of Idaho
Newcomer of the Year: Taylor Copher, SS, Jr., Concordia
Coach of the Year: Nathan Ohta, Corban
|
Name |
School |
Year |
Pos. |
Hometown |
|
Courtney Castronovo |
Corban |
Jr. |
OF |
Keizer, Ore. |
|
Brittany Chestnut |
Corban |
Sr. |
OF |
Newport, Ore. |
|
Shauna Collins |
Oregon Tech |
Jr. |
SS |
Roseburg, Ore. |
|
Taylor Copher |
Concordia |
Jr. |
SS |
Sandy, Ore. |
|
Alyssa Davis |
Oregon Tech |
Fr. |
2B |
Hillsboro, Ore. |
|
Sarah Jackson |
Eastern Oregon |
Jr. |
1B |
Helena, Mont. |
|
Laura Luther |
Concordia |
Jr. |
1B |
Vancouver, Wash. |
|
Alexis Macias |
College of Idaho |
So. |
1B |
Stockton, Calif. |
|
Molly Mills |
College of Idaho |
Sr. |
OF |
Burley, Idaho |
|
Stephanie Nippert |
Corban |
Sr. |
1B |
Rocklin, Calif. |
|
Jess Plummer |
Oregon Tech |
Sr. |
3B |
Eugene, Ore. |
|
Kate Santos |
Concordia |
So. |
C |
Gladstone, Ore. |
|
Taylor Schmidt |
Oregon Tech |
Sr. |
P |
Medford, Ore. |
|
Chelsea Schriber |
Corban |
Sr. |
P |
Tillamook, Ore. |
|
Nickayla Skinner |
College of Idaho |
Jr. |
P |
Mountain Home, Idaho |
|
Ashley Suter |
Concordia |
Sr. |
P |
Tigard, Ore. |
|
Tobey Varney |
Concordia |
Sr. |
3B |
Woodinville, Wash. |
|
Sydney White |
Southern Oregon |
Fr. |
P |
Clovis, Calif. |
Honorable Mention: Katie Aden, Concordia; Sara Coates, Oregon Tech; Lauren Robinson, Northwest; Gabby Stover, Northwest Christian; Rachel Strong, College of Idaho; Stephanie Vandenbusch, Southern Oregon.
2013 Gold Glove Award Winners
Pitcher: Alex Hillmick, Jr., Eastern Oregon
Catcher: Kate Santos, So., Concordia
First Base: Laura Luther, Jr., Concordia
Second Base: Alyssa Davis, Fr., Oregon Tech
Shortstop: Erica Fitzgerald, Sr., Corban
Third Base: Molly Mills, Sr., College of Idaho
Outfield: Katie Aden, Jr., Concordia
Outfield: Robin Gawlista, Sr., Concordia
Outfield: Chynna Sandhop, Sr., Corban