LOUISVILLE, Ky.---  Humboldt State University’s utility player Izzy Starr has been named to the 2021 Schutt Sports/NFCA DII Player and Pitcher of the Year Top 30 list.  She is one of thirty student-athletes that have been selected as finalists for this prestigious honor. The winners will be announced following the conclusion of the 2021 season.

 The award was created in 2015 to honor the outstanding achievements among softball student-athletes throughout NCAA Division II.  In 2019, the Association expanded the award to include a Player and Pitcher of the Year.  To be eligible, student-athletes must be nominated by their member head coach. With the cancellation of last year’s season due to COVID-19 and a higher percentage of eligible candidates, an additional five players have been added to the traditional top 25.

 Starr has batted .468 in the Lumberjacks’ 14 games this season.  She has posted a .957 slugging percentage and a .468 on-base percentage.  She has hit safely in 11 of HSU’s 14 games while only striking out once in 47 at-bats.  The Lumberjack sophomore leads the team with her six home runs while driving in 15 runs and scoring 13 runs.  Of her 22 hits, six are home runs, three doubles and one a triple.  Starr has 45 total bases and.

 The Top 10 finalists, consisting of players and pitchers, will be announced on May 18 with the 2021 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division II Player and Pitcher of the Year revealed on June 3.

 Past Winners

2020 – No awards due to COVID-19
2019 (Player) – Julia Seader, LIU Post
2019 (Pitcher) – Allison Lipovsky, Grand Valley State

Player of the Year
2018 – Kylee Smith, North Georgia
2017 – Coley Ries, Minnesota State
2016 – Lindsay Butler, Wayne State University
2015 – Courtney Poole, North Georgia

 2021 Schutt Sports / NFCA Division II Player & Pitcher of the Year Top 30

Tatum Brummitt, Senior, University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Bailey Byers, Senior, Malone University

Hannah Rose Corbin, Sophomore, Columbus State University

Kendall Cornick, Senior, Augustana University

Kali Crandall, Sophomore, Oklahoma Christian University

Tatum Dow, Junior, Western Washington University

Payton Foster, Sophomore, University of Texas at Tyler

Sydni Hawkins, Junior, Missouri Western State University

Alyssa Herrera, Freshman, Georgian Court University

Teala Howard, Junior, University of West Florida

Anna Kasner, Senior, Western Washington University

Hannah Marsteller, Sophomore, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Shanna McBroom, Graduate, West Texas A&M University

Andrea Morales, Senior, Rogers State University

MaKray   Odom, Graduate, Trevecca Nazarene University

Nicole Pennington, Junior, Valdosta State University