Tag: Rebecca Duran

Softball coaches named NAIA National Coaching Staff of the Year

OLLU softball coaches have been voted by their peers as the 2024 ATEC/NFCA NAIA National Coaching Staff of the Year after winning the NAIA national championship.

Under the direction of head coach Bruce Lennington, assistant coach Jody Armijo, pitching assistant Katrisha Arocha and student assistants Gilbert Alvarado and Rebecca Duran, the Saints (57-3) went on a perfect 7-0 run through the postseason to capture their first red banner at the 2024 NAIA Softball World Series in Columbus, Ga. It marked the second straight appearance at the World Series for the NAIA’s wire-to-wire No. 1 program. OLLU has combined for an 108-11 (.908) record the past two seasons, setting the program record for wins in each of those years. 

In its run to the school’s first-ever national title, OLLU recorded six shutouts (62 scoreless innings), which included a streak of five straight to open their postseason march. The Saints were not scored upon until the second inning of the national semifinal tilt against University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, a 4-3 win in eight innings, and capped off the season with their final shutout, 2-0 versus Jessup University. 

OLLU, a representative of Region II, was joined by Georgia Gwinnett College (Region I), Oklahoma City University (Region III), Jessup University (Region IV), Central Methodist University (Region V) and University of the Cumberlands (Region VI)   – as NAIA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year recipients.

Lennington, Armijo, Arocha, Alvarado and Duran will be recognized at the NFCA Awards Brunch on Dec. 7 at the 2024 NFCA Convention in Dallas.

Five Saints receive NFCA-NAIA All-Region honors

The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced the 149 student-athletes from 68 schools who comprise the 2023 NFCA NAIA All-Region teams.

Oregon Institute of Technology in Region IV led all schools with six players chosen for its region’s list, with four earning first-team recognition. Four schools — NAIA World Series participants Central Methodist (Region V) and Georgia Gwinnett (Region I), Our Lady of the Lake University (Region II) and Texas A&M-Texarkana (Region I) — had five selections each.

OLLU’s honorees include:

Cassandra Valdez – First Team
Madison Nunn – First Team
Rebecca Duran – Second Team
Madison Garza – Second Team

Joanna Gonzalez – Second Team

Eight Saints softball players named to RRAC All-Conference Team

The Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) announced the 2023 RRAC Softball All-Conference Team and Player of the Year awards on May 4. Coaches determined the selections, with those on the first team being eligible for NAIA All-America consideration at the completion of the season.

2023 RRAC Softball All-Conference Team

The Saints ended the regular season with a 28-0 RRAC record and are now 43-4 overall with a 34-game winning streak. The Saints – the NAIA’s No. 2 team, Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) – won three of five top awards of the year and placed six on the all-conference first team and one on the second team.

The Saints’ Cassandra Valdez won RRAC Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year awards for the second year. Head Coach Bruce Lenington was selected as Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season.  

OLLU’s Valdez, Joanna Gonzalez, and Madison Nunn received first-team honors for the third straight year. Joining them on the first team are Rebecca Duran, Madison Garza, and Ariel Montgomery. Caitlin Terrazas repeated as a second-team selection. Angela Ramirez was her team’s Champions of Character winner.

The following are current, significant stats (top five) for all the honorees:

RRAC Player of the Year and RRAC Pitcher of the Year – Cassandra Valdez: She dominated the circle with 21 wins and 291 strikeouts – both conference-bests. She was also third in the conference in ERA (1.53). As a hitter, Valdez batted .398 (fifth in the conference) with a conference-best 13 home runs and conference second-best 39 RBIs. Her other stats include first in runs (38), first in slugging percentage (.864), fourth in hits (47), fifth in batting average (.398)

RRAC Coach of the Year – Bruce Lenington: In his fourth year at OLLU, Lenington guided the Saints to a 43-4 mark for the season so far. OLLU leads the conference with 327 runs, 93 doubles, 64 home runs, 302 RBIs, 148 walks, .426 on-base percentage and .609 slugging percentage. The Saints are also first in strikeouts with 291. They are second in hits with 385, triples with 28, and batting average at .334. The Saints are second in innings pitched with 279.2 and in ERA at 1.70. Finally, the Saints are first in overall fielding percentage at .970.

Rebecca Duran – first in runs (38), fifth in hits (45), fourth in doubles (13)

Madison Nunn – first in RBIs (40), second in home runs (10), second in slugging percentage (.792), fifth in runs (35), first in fielding percentage (1.000)

Madison Garza – third in slugging percentage (.675), fourth in doubles (14)

Caitlin Terrazas – first in hit-by-pitch (19), third in home runs (8)

Joanna Gonzalez – fourth in putouts (207)

Ariel Montgomery – fourth in home runs (7), fourth in RBIs (35)

Angela Ramirez – 16-0 record