LOUISVILLE — As just announced by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, Saint Mary's freshman phenom third baseman Sam Buckley has been named one of the 25 finalists for the NFCA D1 Freshman of Year. Buckley is the lone WCC Student Athlete to make this distinguished list and is the first ever Gael to be a finalist for this award.
A true freshman out of Burbank, California, Buckley's numbers have been astonishing in her freshman campaign. The leading hitter in the WCC, Buckley boasts a 0.392 batting average, which would be seventh best in single season program history, if the season ended today.