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Softball Brandon Sans

Schutt Sports, NFCA Names Winstead To Freshman Top 25

WILMINGTON, North Carolina – Hard-throwing pitcher Emily Winstead is among the Top 25 student-athletes in the running for the 2022 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I Freshman of the Year award.

Winstead is the first Seahawk in the program's 38-year history to appear on the nationally acclaimed list. UNCW joins 11 other programs with first-time representatives on the ballot this season.

The 5-8 right-hander has dazzled in her debut, striking out 138 batters as head coach Kristy Norton's staff ace. Winstead needs just two more punchouts to reset the freshman class benchmark.

"Being a part of this list of amazing freshmen athletes across the country is a culmination of Emily's life work on her craft," said Norton, now in her 10th season as the Seahawks' skipper. "She has been dedicated to the development of her game since before committing to UNCW. It is a well-deserved honor for such a fierce competitor."

Winstead earns the honor following a dominant 13-strikeout effort, matching her career-high, against Charleston last weekend. The righty tossed her seventh complete game and second shutout to blank the Cougars, 1-0. Winstead owns three of the top five single-game strikeout performances in UNCW history.

The Bunn, N.C, product has recorded a 1.90 ERA across 99.1 innings this season and limited opponents to a .184 batting average. Winstead's 9.7 strikeouts-per-seven innings clip rank fifth in the nation among freshman qualifiers.

Winstead has twice been named the Colonial Athletic Association's Softball Pitcher of the Week and was selected the female recipient of the Newcomer of the Year award at UNCW's awards banquet on Wednesday night.

The Top 25 list will be trimmed to 10 candidates on May 12 followed by the announcement of three finalists on May 26. The 2022 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year will be announced on June 1 prior to the start of the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla.

The National Fastpitch Coaches Association is a professional growth organization for fastpitch softball at all levels of play from high school and college to professional and international competition. Established in 1983, the NFCA serves to grow the game of softball through education, events, awards, and networking opportunities for members.

The Seahawks continue their season this weekend against Elon with a noon doubleheader on Saturday followed by a Sunday noon matinee at Boseman Field.

2022 NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Top 25
Emily Winstead – UNCW
Jordy Bahl - Oklahoma
Mac Barbara – San Diego State
Megan Bloodworth – Alabama
Jada Cecil, UC San Diego
Ella Chancey – Charlotte
Jessica Clements – Cal Poly
Alyssa Costello – Stony Brook
Mya Dodge - Northern Iowa
Michaela Edenfield - Florida State
Brooke Ellestad - St. Thomas
Bri Ellis - Auburn
Kendra Falby - Florida
Tatum Kresley - UMES
Jane Kronenberger - Notre Dame
Emma Lemley - Virginia Tech
Grace Loftin – UNCG
Jackie Masone - Drexel
Kya Matter - UMBC
Cori McMillan - Radford
Savannah Pola - UCLA
Sierra Sacco - Louisiana Tech
Cydney Sanders - Arizona State
Emma Schutter - Dayton
Koko Wooley – Texas A&M
 
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Players Mentioned

Emily Winstead

#13 Emily Winstead

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5' 8"
Freshman
R/R

Players Mentioned

Emily Winstead

#13 Emily Winstead

5' 8"
Freshman
R/R
P