NCAA Division 1 SoftballApr 18, 2016 by Sarah Hoffman
2016 Freshman of the Year Watchlist
2016 Freshman of the Year Watchlist
2016 may be the year of the freshmen. Rookies across the league have been putting up big numbers, with some not only leading their teams in batting average,
2016 may be the year of the freshmen. Rookies across the league have been putting up big numbers, with some not only leading their teams in batting average, ERA and stolen bases, but also their conferences and even the entire NCAA! Take a look at our list of the 15 best freshmen of 2016, and tell us who you think is the best.
Position Players
The lefty is batting .389 this season with 34 RBIs and four home runs. As a freshman, Lorenz is among the top 10 in the SEC in batting average, and trails only Kayli Kvistad for the top batting average on Florida’s team. She is also one of only two Gators to boast an on OB% of over .500.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/FloSoftball/status/703055378414596096" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
This lefty is batting .437 on the season, which gives her the highest batting average of any freshman on our list. More importantly, she leads both Oklahoma State and the Big 12 in batting average. She also has 27 RBIs and five home runs on the season. Lynch has the second-most hits (55) in the Big 12, and she is tied for third in the Big 12 with 38 runs.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/CowgirlSB/status/717420990641209344" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
The Oklahoma rookie has five home runs on the season and has already driven in 23 runs while batting .365. She ranks in the top 10 in the Big 12 in batting average, and is third in the Big 12 in runs with 37. Most amazingly, she has only struck out three times in 130 at-bats, making her the 17th-most-difficult batter to strikeout in all of Division I softball.
Some thought Ali Wester would play in the shadow of her older All-American sister, Karley, but the younger Wester has certainly made her mark as a freshman.
Batting .427 during her freshman campaign with 28 RBIs with 17 stolen bases, Ali ranks in the top five in the ACC in batting average and is second only to her All-American sister in hits in the ACC with 50.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/FloSoftball/status/701196448998658049" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
The third of our sisters on the list, Shay is the younger sibling of Nebraska slugger MJ Knighten, and she is following in her footsteps.
Another one from Oklahoma’s talented freshmen class, Knighten is batting .411 on the season with 38 RBIs and nine home runs. Her slugging percentage of nearly .700 puts her second only to senior Erin Miller in Oklahoma's lineup. She also boasts the Sooners' highest batting average, which ranks second in the Big 12.
Expect the Aggies’ top freshman to continue leaving her mark on the base paths while menacing opposing catchers for the remainder of the season.
The slapper boasts a .384 batting average and 10 RBIs on the season, but most impressively, she leads all Division I players with 48 stolen bases. Could she break the career record of 257 stolen bases set by Georgia’s Nicole Barber from 2001-2004? We’ll have to wait three more years to see.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/AggieSoftball/status/699325283673845760" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
The Razorbacks seem to have a legitimate power hitter in freshman Ashley Diaz.
The right-handed infielder is hitting .400 on the season, and leads all freshmen on our list with 40 RBIs and 12 home runs. Like Lorenz, Diaz has a top-10 SEC batting average and leads the Razorback offense with the highest average. Remarkably, Diaz is tied for fourth in the whole SEC conference for home runs.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/RazorbackSB/status/716764261851107328" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
The Tennessee lefty is batting .373 with 18 RBIs and 10 stolen bases so far this season. Her 38 runs rank her third among her teammates, and she has the third-highest batting average on the team as well.
As a freshman, Lunderman is one of the best players on the Ole Miss roster this season.
The starting shortstop’s .385 batting average is the best on the team. She also has 18 RBIs and 15 stolen bases, but most impressively is third in the SEC with 56 hits. As if her offensive numbers weren't enough, she knows how to flash some leather, too.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/FloSoftball/status/718960781623078912" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Vines is currently batting .366 and has 23 RBIs with 16 stolen bases on the year. Her 35 runs on the season are just three behind Leach, and the outfielder only has three errors on the season.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/Vol_Softball/status/704434025893666816" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
[polldaddy poll="9389810"]
Pitchers
If Barnhill weren’t a Gator, she would easily be the ace on staff. Being a part of the country’s best pitching staff means Barnhill’s 1.38 ERA is the highest on Florida’s team, but it's still good enough for top 10 in the SEC. The freshman right-hander has 128 strikeouts in 81 innings so far this season and remains undefeated with a 14-0 record. Impressively, opposing batters are hitting a miserable .139 against her.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/GatorsSB/status/720402605092941824" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
On a staff with Carley Hoover and Allie Walijasper, Sydney Smith has the lowest ERA by nearly a run.
Smith has a .74 ERA through 57 innings on the season with 52 strikeouts. Her 8-2 record is also the best on LSU’s team, and opposing batters are only managing a .191 average against the righty.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/LSUsoftball/status/721822496673177602" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
The right-handed power pitcher easily leads all freshman pitchers with 170 strikeouts, and ranks No. 15 among all pitchers in the NCAA in strikeouts. She’s also seen the most action of any freshman pitcher on the list with 135 innings pitched. So far on the season, she is 15-6 with a 2.90 ERA and is holding opposing batters to a .194 batting average.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/FloSoftball/status/706599381550518272" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
She also boasts a SEC-top-10 ERA at 1.25 through 67 innings and has 54 strikeouts while holding opposing batters to a .157 batting average.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/Auburn_Softball/status/720351230715949056" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
The freshman boasts a 1.07 ERA — the lowest of all Bulldog pitchers. Through 52 innings, Bass has 43 strikeouts and is holding opposing batters to a .185 batting average.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/UGASoftball/status/717867561778618368" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
[polldaddy poll="9389813"]
Position Players
Amanda Lorenz
She was ranked FloSoftball’s 2015 Hot 100 No. 1 player, and for good reason.The lefty is batting .389 this season with 34 RBIs and four home runs. As a freshman, Lorenz is among the top 10 in the SEC in batting average, and trails only Kayli Kvistad for the top batting average on Florida’s team. She is also one of only two Gators to boast an on OB% of over .500.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/FloSoftball/status/703055378414596096" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Taylor Lynch
The Cowgirls’ freshman infielder has solidified herself as one of the best on our list.This lefty is batting .437 on the season, which gives her the highest batting average of any freshman on our list. More importantly, she leads both Oklahoma State and the Big 12 in batting average. She also has 27 RBIs and five home runs on the season. Lynch has the second-most hits (55) in the Big 12, and she is tied for third in the Big 12 with 38 runs.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/CowgirlSB/status/717420990641209344" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Sydney Romero
Being the kid sister of one of the greatest college softball players ever has not stopped Sydney from having her own breakout freshman season.The Oklahoma rookie has five home runs on the season and has already driven in 23 runs while batting .365. She ranks in the top 10 in the Big 12 in batting average, and is third in the Big 12 in runs with 37. Most amazingly, she has only struck out three times in 130 at-bats, making her the 17th-most-difficult batter to strikeout in all of Division I softball.
Ali Wester
Some thought Ali Wester would play in the shadow of her older All-American sister, Karley, but the younger Wester has certainly made her mark as a freshman. Batting .427 during her freshman campaign with 28 RBIs with 17 stolen bases, Ali ranks in the top five in the ACC in batting average and is second only to her All-American sister in hits in the ACC with 50.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/FloSoftball/status/701196448998658049" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Shay Knighten
The third of our sisters on the list, Shay is the younger sibling of Nebraska slugger MJ Knighten, and she is following in her footsteps.
Another one from Oklahoma’s talented freshmen class, Knighten is batting .411 on the season with 38 RBIs and nine home runs. Her slugging percentage of nearly .700 puts her second only to senior Erin Miller in Oklahoma's lineup. She also boasts the Sooners' highest batting average, which ranks second in the Big 12.
Keeli Milligan
Expect the Aggies’ top freshman to continue leaving her mark on the base paths while menacing opposing catchers for the remainder of the season.The slapper boasts a .384 batting average and 10 RBIs on the season, but most impressively, she leads all Division I players with 48 stolen bases. Could she break the career record of 257 stolen bases set by Georgia’s Nicole Barber from 2001-2004? We’ll have to wait three more years to see.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/AggieSoftball/status/699325283673845760" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Ashley Diaz
The Razorbacks seem to have a legitimate power hitter in freshman Ashley Diaz.
The right-handed infielder is hitting .400 on the season, and leads all freshmen on our list with 40 RBIs and 12 home runs. Like Lorenz, Diaz has a top-10 SEC batting average and leads the Razorback offense with the highest average. Remarkably, Diaz is tied for fourth in the whole SEC conference for home runs.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/RazorbackSB/status/716764261851107328" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Aubrey Leach
The Volunteers' second baseman has proven herself as one of the best freshman hitters in the SEC.The Tennessee lefty is batting .373 with 18 RBIs and 10 stolen bases so far this season. Her 38 runs rank her third among her teammates, and she has the third-highest batting average on the team as well.
Hailey Lunderman
As a freshman, Lunderman is one of the best players on the Ole Miss roster this season. The starting shortstop’s .385 batting average is the best on the team. She also has 18 RBIs and 15 stolen bases, but most impressively is third in the SEC with 56 hits. As if her offensive numbers weren't enough, she knows how to flash some leather, too.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/FloSoftball/status/718960781623078912" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Brooke Vines
Another Volunteer on the list, Vines' stats are comparable to her teammate, Leach, which make them a tough duo at the top of Tennessee’s lineup.Vines is currently batting .366 and has 23 RBIs with 16 stolen bases on the year. Her 35 runs on the season are just three behind Leach, and the outfielder only has three errors on the season.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/Vol_Softball/status/704434025893666816" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
[polldaddy poll="9389810"]
Pitchers
Kelly Barnhill
Her teammate Lorenz was FloSoftball’s No. 1 player of the 2015 class, but the No. 2 Barnhill could have easily taken that top ranking, and she’s proving that this season so far.If Barnhill weren’t a Gator, she would easily be the ace on staff. Being a part of the country’s best pitching staff means Barnhill’s 1.38 ERA is the highest on Florida’s team, but it's still good enough for top 10 in the SEC. The freshman right-hander has 128 strikeouts in 81 innings so far this season and remains undefeated with a 14-0 record. Impressively, opposing batters are hitting a miserable .139 against her.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/GatorsSB/status/720402605092941824" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Sydney Smith
On a staff with Carley Hoover and Allie Walijasper, Sydney Smith has the lowest ERA by nearly a run.
Smith has a .74 ERA through 57 innings on the season with 52 strikeouts. Her 8-2 record is also the best on LSU’s team, and opposing batters are only managing a .191 average against the righty.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/LSUsoftball/status/721822496673177602" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Meehra Nelson
This Oregon State Beaver may be the most dominant freshman pitcher on the list.The right-handed power pitcher easily leads all freshman pitchers with 170 strikeouts, and ranks No. 15 among all pitchers in the NCAA in strikeouts. She’s also seen the most action of any freshman pitcher on the list with 135 innings pitched. So far on the season, she is 15-6 with a 2.90 ERA and is holding opposing batters to a .194 batting average.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/FloSoftball/status/706599381550518272" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Makayla Martin
Auburn may have one of the largest pitching staffs in the country, but Martin has still managed to shine as a freshman.She also boasts a SEC-top-10 ERA at 1.25 through 67 innings and has 54 strikeouts while holding opposing batters to a .157 batting average.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/Auburn_Softball/status/720351230715949056" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Kylie Bass
She's holding her own on Georgia’s staff of four pitchers.The freshman boasts a 1.07 ERA — the lowest of all Bulldog pitchers. Through 52 innings, Bass has 43 strikeouts and is holding opposing batters to a .185 batting average.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/UGASoftball/status/717867561778618368" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
[polldaddy poll="9389813"]