LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – Second baseman/catcher Claire Oberdorf of the Marist softball team has been named to the 2016 Schutt Sports/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I National Freshman of the Year Top 25 List.
This season, Oberdorf is hitting .424 with three home runs, 24 RBIs and 22 runs scored in 30 games. She is also a perfect 13-for-13 in stolen-base attempts. Her batting average currently leads the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, and ranks 45th in the nation.
Oberdorf finished the 2015-16 season as the starting point guard on Marist’s women’s basketball team. Due to playing basketball, she did not play the first 10 games of softball season. Since making her softball season debut on March 11, Marist is 25-5, and Oberdorf has been named MAAC Rookie of the Week three times in six weeks. She has won the honor each of the last two weeks, and earned ECAC Rookie of the Week honors on April 13.
On May 12, the list will be trimmed to 10, while the top three finalists will be selected and released on May 25. The Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year trophy will be presented live on May 31 prior to the opening of the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.
Oberdorf is the first player from the MAAC to be named to this list in the award’s three-year existence.
Here is the full top 25:
Kelly Barnhill (Florida) | Pitcher
Ashley Diaz (Arkansas) | First Base
Ebonee Echols (Michigan State) | SS/2B (DP/OF)
Taty Forbes (Coastal Carolina) | Outfield
Sydney Golden (Cal State Fullerton) | Pitcher
Carsyn Gordon (Florida State) | OF/IF
Megan Hensley (Louisville) | P/OF/DP
Jessica Hughes (Fordham) | Second Base
Kelsey Horton (New Mexico State) | First Base
Shay Knighten (Oklahoma) | Infield
Amanda Lorenz (Florida) | Outfield
Hailey Lunderman (Ole Miss) | Shortstop
Taylor Lynch (Oklahoma State) | Third Base
Maggie MacBeth (Butler) | Second Base
Makayla Martin (Auburn) | Pitcher
Keeli Milligan (Texas A&M) | IF/OF
Meehra Nelson (Oregon State) | Pitcher
Hayley Norton (Saint Francis) | Outfield
Claire Oberdorf (Marist) | 2B/C
Sydney Romero (Oklahoma) | IF
Samantha Show (Texas A&M) | Pitcher
Sydney Smith (LSU) | Pitcher
Brooke Vines (Tennessee) | OF
Kyla Walker (Baylor) | DP/RF
Ali Wester (Notre Dame) | OF/IF
Marist is 32-8 overall and 7-1 in the MAAC. The Red Foxes have won nine straight game, and 19 of their last 20. Marist returns to action this weekend with road conference doubleheaders on Saturday at Monmouth and Sunday at Rider.