NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Christopher Newport University pitcher
Jamie Martin was honored again Tuesday for her outstanding performances last Saturday in the circle for the Captains. Martin, who was named the Pitcher of the Week in the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference, was voted the National Pitcher of the Week by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).
Martin was spectacular in the Captains' doubleheader sweep of then-No. 1 Salisbury on Saturday at Captains Park. The victories have moved Christopher Newport up four places to the third spot in this week's NFCA Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll.
Martin, a junior lefthander from Lorton, Va., struck out eight in a complete-game four-hitter in game one, and later fanned two in one inning of relief to close out the nightcap for her first save of the season. For the two games, Martin walked two and allowed just four hits and one earned run over 10 innings in the circle. She improved her record to 10-1 and now has an earned run average of 0.85. She has struck out 93 batters in 66 innings, while walking just nine this season.
The victories over the Sea Gulls were the second and third wins for the Captains over a top-ranked team this season. Christopher Newport knocked off Trine on March 3rd when the Thunder was the top team team in the country, 5-4 in both teams' final contest at the NFCA Division III Leadoff Classic.
Martin, who has been named the Pitcher of the Week in the C2C five straight weeks and seven times in all this season, joins her teammate
Kate Alger on the National Pitcher of the Week stage. Alger received the honor back on March 12th.
Christopher Newport, ranked seventh in the country last week and now the third-ranked team in the country, will be the top seed in the upcoming Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Tournament. The Captains will host the action at Captains Park beginning this Friday, May 10th. Second-seeded Salisbury will play third-seeded Mary Washington at 2:00 p.m. Friday, with the winner of the game playing the Captains at 5:00 p.m. Friday. The three-team, double elimination tourney will continue on Saturday, May 11th, and Sunday, May 12th, if necessary.
The new weekly poll from the NFCA:
NFCA Division III Top 25 Softball Coaches Poll – May 7, 2024
| Rank |
Team |
Points |
2024 Record |
Previous |
| 1 |
Linfield (10) |
250 |
38-0 |
2 |
| 2 |
East Texas Baptist |
240 |
35-2 |
3 |
| 3 |
Christopher Newport |
230 |
28-5 |
7 |
| 4 |
Salisbury |
220 |
34-3 |
1 |
| 5 |
Trine |
210 |
36-3 |
4 |
| 6 |
Berry |
200 |
41-4 |
5 |
| 7 |
Case Western Reserve |
190 |
32-6 |
10 |
| 8 |
Virginia Wesleyan |
180 |
33-7 |
11 |
| 9 |
Texas Lutheran |
170 |
31-3 |
12 |
| 10 |
Belhaven |
160 |
37-6 |
6 |
| 11 |
Randolph-Macon |
150 |
31-5-2 |
8 |
| 12 |
Wisconsin-Oshkosh |
140 |
36-2 |
18 |
| 13 |
Pfeiffer |
130 |
41-2 |
13 |
| 14 |
Huntingdon |
120 |
33-6 |
9 |
| 15 |
Rowan |
110 |
32-7 |
14 |
| 16 |
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
100 |
32-3-1 |
15 |
| 17 |
Tufts |
90 |
31-6 |
16 |
| 18 |
Bethel |
80 |
28-8 |
17 |
| 19 |
Wisconsin-Stevens Point |
70 |
31-5 |
19 |
| 20 |
Husson |
60 |
32-4 |
NR |
| 21 |
Calvin |
36 |
30-8 |
24 |
| 22 |
Transylvania |
27 |
31-8 |
25 |
| 23 |
Dominican |
25 |
35-5 |
21 |
| 24 |
Central |
19 |
28-9 |
20 |
| 25 |
Mount Union |
17 |
32-6 |
22 |
Others receiving votes: Wisconsin-Whitewater 12, Rochester 11, St. John Fisher 2 and SUNY New Paltz 1.
Dropped out: Ramapo and WashU.
