MADISON, S.D. – The North Star Athletic Association announced its final edition of the Softball Players of the Week Tuesday, following the conclusion of the NSAA Postseason Conference Tournament held in Dickinson, N.D. last weekend. Erin Sharpe of Bellevue (Neb.) was selected to the Player of the Week for the second straight week. Hanna Dunnigan of Jamestown (N.D.) was chosen as the Pitcher of the Week.
North Star Athletic Association Softball Player-of-the-Week
Erin Sharpe – Bellevue (Neb.) – 5’9″ – Sophomore – Third Baseman/Pitcher – Bosque Farms, N.M. – Sharpe was 7-of-14 at the plate for a batting average of .500 as No. 23-ranked Bellevue (Neb.) went 4-2 in the NSAA Conference Tournament, earning runner-up honors. She also recorded a slugging percentage of 1.000 during the tournament after hitting two home runs and a double. Sharpe also reached base by a walk nine times and drove in three runs. In three pitching appearances, she posted an earned run average of 0.00 in 12 2/3 innings. Sharpe tossed a perfect game in BU’s 1-0 game 2 victory over Jamestown (N.D.) in the NSAA Softball Championship best-of-three series. She only gave up five hits and issued no walks during the tournament.
North Star Athletic Association Softball Pitcher-of-the-Week
Hanna Dunnigan – Jamestown (N.D.) – 5’11” – Senior – Pitcher – Regina, Sask. Canada – Dunnigan was stellar in pitching circle, helping lead Jamestown (N.D.) to their first-ever North Star Softball Postseason Tournament Championship, as the Jimmies finished the tournament with a 5-1 record. In the winner-take-all championship game, she struck out a tournament-high 14 batters to defeat top-seeded Bellevue (Neb.) 2-1 and earn an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament. Dunnigan posted an earned run average of 1.48 in six pitching appearances, holding her opponents to a .157 batting average and led the tournament with 36 strikeouts. She allowed 16 hits in 28 1/3 innings of work. Dunnigan also recorded four wins in the postseason tournament.
