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1. Callie Nunes, Concordia Irvine
Nunes tied for the Division II statistical lead with 33 wins in the circle in 2019, adding 266 strikeouts and a 1.34 ERA. She dominated the competition, collecting four no-hitters including one that gave head coach Crystal Rosenthal her 500th career win. Nunes owns 555 career strikeouts, and in just two seasons with the Eagles; she is a 2-time All-American and has twice been named the PacWest Pitcher of the Year. With two years still in front of her, she remains one of the nation’s best in the circle.
2. Jennifer Leonhardt, Southern Indiana
Two years removed from leading USI to the National Championship, enters her senior year with her name already etched throughout the program’s record books. The Eagles’ career leader in victories and strikeouts, with 76 wins and 711 punchouts to her credit, Leonhardt also ranks in the top ten in program history in an additional four statistical categories. A three-time All-American, she was a unanimous all-conference honoree last year and also owns a career .317 career batting average with 138 hits and sixty runs scored on the offensive side of the ball.
3. Abbey Fortin, Adelphi
The former LIU-Post star, Fortin was one of three ex-Pioneers to transfer to Adelphi following their former program’s dissolution. Fortin owns a .320 career batting average over her first three seasons, was the East Coast Conference’s Rookie of the Year as a freshman in 2017, and was an All-American as a sophomore in 2018. While her new squad are already a solid program, Fortin’s bat will be a big one to slide into the Panthers’ lineup.
4. MaKray Odom, Trevecca Nazarene
A three-year starter for the Trojans, Odom finished the A three-year starter for the Trojans, Odom finished the 2019 season with a .565 batting average, with one hundred hits on the year. Her average ranked second in all of Division II and is the top mark for a returning player in 2020. Odom scored fifty-nine runs, scoring twenty-three and collecting thirteen extra base hits. She recorded fifty stolen bases, setting program and Great Midwest Athletic Conference single-season records.
5. Shelby Booker, Alabama-Huntsville
Booker began her career impressively in 2018 with a .365 batting average and thirty RBIs, but posted even greater numbers a year later, finishing the 2019 campaign with a .444 average, eighty hits, and sixty runs scored, as well as a .510 on-base percentage and forty-three stolen bases. A sharp, young, budding star, Booker led her team in seven statistical categories and figures to be a major piece of the UAH batting order.
6. Liz Pautz, Winona State
After transferring from Division I Green Bay after the 2018 season, Pautz put up stellar numbers as a sophomore in 2019. She posted a 20-3 overall record, collecting 224 strikeouts in just over 150 innings of work in the circle. Her impressive stat line included allowing just twenty-two extra base hits, pitching seven shutouts, and reaching double-digit strikeouts on eight different occasions. She finished the year ranked second in the nation with a 0.88 ERA and earned All-American honors after the season.
7. Courtney Barnhill, Angelo State
A three-time all-conference honoree, Barnhill is one of the most exciting hitters in the Lone Star Conference. She batted .396 a season ago, collecting seventeen doubles and twelve home runs and scoring fifty-four runs. She added fifty-six RBIs and twenty-four stolen bases, finishing in the top five in the conference in six different statistical categories.
8. Brenna Busby, Cameron
Busby leads active players with forty-four career home runs, and has increased her power numbers in every season of her career, including nineteen longballs in 2019. She recorded a .353 batting average a season ago, leading the team with a 1.193 OPS on the year. A three-time all-Region selection, Busby was named an All-American in 2019 and also led the team with twenty-nine stolen bases on the year.
9. Annmarie Torres, Colorado Mesa
Torres has earned All-American honors in each season of her career, but was named a first-team selection in 2019 for the first time in her career. She earned the conference Player of the Year award after batting .458 on the season, with a .587 on-base percentage and sixty-eight RBIs. She led the conference in four statistical categories, and ranked in the top five in an additional four categories. She finished fifth in all of Division II in on-base percentage and RBIs.
10. Brie Dunckel, Oklahoma Christian
After following head coach Shanon Hays from Colorado Christian, Dunckel was named the Most Valuable Player in the Heartland Conference championship tournament and earned first-team all-conference honors. She batted .373 on the season, collecting two home runs and eighteen RBIs. She notched a .482 on-base percentage, scored forty-six runs, and registered twenty-three stolen bases. A former junior college conference Player of the Year, Dunckel should shine in the OCU lineup in her senior season.
