The Adams State College Grizzlies softball team has received votes in National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s Division II Top 25 poll for the first time the ASC’s NCAA Division II era (1993-Present). The Grizzlies, who opened up their 2011 campaign with a 4-1 start at the second annual Desert Stinger Classic in Las Vegas, Nevada this past weekend, received eight votes, according to the poll, the NFCA’s first weekly regular season poll, that was released on Wednesday.
In addition to that news, ASC senior utility player Jaycee Lovato (Northglenn, Colo.) has been named as the NFCA Division II National Player of the Week for the games that were played from Feb. 7-13, 2011.
The NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll is voted on by 16 NCAA Division II head coaches, two representing each of the eight NCAA regions. The Blazers of Valdosta State (Ga.) went 2-0 in the first two weeks of play and held on to their No. 1 ranking that they received in the preseason poll.
Meanwhile, The Augustana (S.D.) Vikings, a team the Grizzlies lost 11-0 on Saturday night made their poll debut of the season as they jumped from the receiving vote s category up to No. 14.
Lovato, who was named as the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference/Rawlings Player of the Week, had a big week as she went 8-for-16 (.500) with eight runs scored, 14 RBI, one double, three homers, a walk and a stolen base. She also finished the week with a 1.125 slugging percentage and a .529 on-base percentage. Eight of Lovato’s 14 RBI came on Friday night when she hit a two-run homer and grand slam to tie ASC’s NCAA Division II era record for home runs in a game while breaking the Grizzlies’ NCAA Division II era record for most RBI in a game.
Lovato and pitcher Sarah Lindquist were also were named the Rocky Mounatin Athletic Conference/Rawlings Player and Pitcher of the Week.
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