by By Chad Waller, Director of Communications and Sports Information
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Summer Leitka (Seminole Nation of Oklahoma) of Science & Arts (Okla.) has been named the NAIA National Softball Pitcher of the Week and Kayla Ritzdorf of Midland (Neb.) has been named the NAIA National Softball Player of the Week, the national office announced Tuesday. Leitka and Ritzdorf were selected based on their performances from April 20 – 26, and were chosen out of a pool of conference, independent and unaffiliated group winners.
Softball Player of the Week
Summer Leitka, Science & Arts (Okla.)
5-4, So., P, Norman, Okla.
• Had a perfect 7-0 week for the Drovers in tossing 44.1 innings. She totaled 63 strikeouts.
• She allowed only four earned runs and eight walks.
• Broke the single-season Science & Arts strikeouts record on April 26 against Texas Wesleyan. She accomplished the feat against the second batter of the game in the 8-3 win with her 256th strikeout. Currently, she stands with 268.
• In two games, she struck out over 10 batters and broke her record for most strikeouts in a game twice in the week. Her strikeout high on the week was 14 in the 3-1 victory over SAGU (Texas) on April 25.
• In that effort over SAGU, Leitka twirled a six-inning no-hitter.
• On the NAIA statistical list, she ranks No. 1 in total innings pitched (200.00), No. 2 in wins (26), No. 4 in ERA (1.12), No. 5 in opponent batting average (0.152) and No. 8 in batters struck out per nine innings (9.38).
