Story Courtesy of MAC Sports Information
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Miami University softball freshman infielder Karli Spaid (Chicago, Ill./Lane Technical) is among a list of 15 student-athletes who remain in the running for the 2021 NFCA / Schutt Sports Division I National Freshman of the Year, the Association revealed on Thursday morning. The winner will be announced prior to the start of the 2021 NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.
Spaid, who primarily plays second base for the RedHawks, has been a key part of a historic run for Miami Softball. She currently is tied for the program's single-season home run record with 14 and runs scored record with 51, which both rank among all-time MAC single-season leaders. She owns a .410 batting average—which would rank third on Miami's single-season list—a team-leading .893 slugging percentage, and has amassed 50 hits, including 11 doubles and three triples to go along with 39 RBI. She also leads the RedHawks in stolen bases with 18 on 19 attempts. Spaid was honored as the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player of the Week in late March.
The RedHawks set a program record for wins, picking up their 42nd on Wednesday, May 12, and won the program's second-consecutive Mid-American Conference regular-season crown, doing so with five games remaining on the regular-season slate. Miami (42-8; 32-2 MAC) will represent the MAC in the NCAA Tournament next weekend. As a team, the RedHawks have already broken MAC single-season records for runs (384), RBI (363) and doubles (101) and are closing in on the home run record with 78. The team's current .342 batting average also would be a conference record.
The NFCA / Schutt Sports Division I National Freshman of the Year award was created in 2014 to honor outstanding athletic achievement among Division I freshmen softball student-athletes. To be eligible, student-athletes must be nominated by their member head coach. With the cancellation of last year's season due to COVID-19, eligible candidates hail from the 2020 and 2021 freshman classes. Due to having two full freshman classes for the award, an additional five players have been added to the traditional top 10.
This year's 15 finalists hail from 14 different universities and represent 11 NCAA Division I conferences from across the nation. No. 1 University of Oklahoma from the Big 12 Conference was the lone program with two honorees – Jayda Coleman and Tiare Jennings.
The Southeastern Conference led the way with three nods, while the Big 12 and Pac-12 had two representatives apiece. The Atlantic 10 Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference, Colonial Athletic Association, Mid-American Conference, Northeast Conference, Southland Conference, The Summit League and Western Athletic Conference all earned one recognition.
At the time of the release, five finalists have been named their conference's freshmen of the year. Clemson's Valerie Cagle was voted the first-ever Player and Freshman of the Year in the ACC. Stephen F. Austin's Shaylon Govan captured Southland Hitter of the Year honors, while South Dakota State's Tori Kniesche and Saint Francis' (Pa.) Grace Vesco took home Pitcher of the Year accolades in the Summit and NEC, respectively.
On May 27, the three finalists will be released. The 2021 NFCA / Schutt Sports Division I National Freshman of the Year trophy will be presented on June 1.
In 2021, the NFCA will award National Freshman of the Year honors to a student-athlete from NCAA DI, NCAA DII, NCAA DIII and NAIA. For more information about all NFCA Awards, visit nfca.org.
