Courtesy of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association

TYLER, Texas — The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) is proud to announce that Christopher Newport University's Kaitlyn Hasty has been selected as the 2019 recipient of the Schutt Sports/NFCA Division III National Freshman of the Year award. 

Hasty, a third baseman from Chesapeake, Va., finished her first collegiate season for the Captains last week in the NCAA Super Regionals. Over 42 games, she hit .403 with 24 runs, 50 hits, seven doubles, a triple, 19 homers, and 58 runs batted in. 

She currently ranks second nationally in Division III in home runs, trailing only the University of Lynchburg's Mackenzie Chitwood's 21. Earlier this season, Hasty was chosen as both the Capital Athletic Conference Player and Rookie of the Year recipient. 

Last year's Freshman of the Year winner was University of Texas at Tyler catcher Ashley Perez, and in 2017, Virginia Wesleyan University pitcher Hanna Hull won both Freshman of the Year and the first of two Schutt Sports/NFCA National Player of the Year honors. 

Virginia Wesleyan pitcher Kandis Kresinske won the inaugural Freshman of the Year award in 2016.

The Schutt Sports/NFCA Division III National Freshman of the Year and the NFCA Division III All-America softball teams are selected by eight NCAA Division III head coaches representing each of the eight NCAA regions. Those honorees were recognized on Wednesday during the NCAA Division III Championship banquet at the Herrington Patriot Center on the University of Texas at Tyler campus. 

Schutt Sports/NFCA Division III National Freshman of the Year winners

2019 — Kaitlyn Hasty, 3B, Christopher Newport University

2018 — Ashley Perez, C, University of Texas at Tyler

2017 — Hanna Hull, P, Virginia Wesleyan University

2016 — Kandis Kresinske, P, Virginia Wesleyan University