MADISON, S.D. – The North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) announced its second installment of the softball Players-of the-Week Monday. Valley City State (N.D.) swept the weekly honors for the second straight week. Emily Smith was selected as the Pitcher-of-the-Week, while her teammate Sierra Crocker was chosen as the Player-of-the-Week.
North Star Athletic Association Softball Pitcher-of-the-Week
Emily Smith – Valley City State (N.D.) – 5’7” – Senior – pitcher – La Prairie, Manitoba, Canada – Smith went 2-0 record for the week in the pitching circle as Valley City State (N.D.) went 3-1 record in the PC Dome Classic. She did not allow a run and struck out 25 batters in 11 innings. In Saturday’s win against Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.), Smith recorded 14 out of the 15 outs by strikeout. She totaled 25 strikeouts in the tournament, including nine strikeouts in VCSU’s 6-0 shutout against Jamestown (N.D.).
MADISON, S.D. (playnorthstar.com) – Valley City State University seniors Joelle Aiello and Emily Smith were honored by the North Star Athletic Association on Monday after helping lead the Viking softball team to a 3-1 record this past week.
Emily Smith was selected as the NSAA Pitcher of the Week, while Joelle Aiello was chosen as the Player of the Week.
Aiello batted .357 with a .929 slugging percentage over four games this weekend. She collected a double, two triples and her first career home run. She also scored four runs and drove in four – playing a key role in eight of VCSU’s 13 runs on the weekend. Defensively, Aiello was perfect in 13 chances in the middle-infield positions.