NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - In a season filled with numerous "firsts," the Christopher Newport University softball program added another Friday afternoon, when senior first baseman Kaitlyn Hasty was named the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Schutt Sports Division III National Player of the Year. 

The honor came just 72 hours after the Captains won their first National Championship. Keith Parr's team defeated Trine University on Tuesday in Salem, Va., to capture their first crown in the 38-year history of the CNU softball program.

"Kaitlyn has been one of the most-feared hitters in the country since she joined our program four years ago," Parr said. "She has continued to grow and develop due to her incredible work ethic , desire, and yearning to be the absolute best. Her accomplishments, essentially in just over three seasons due to our shortened 2020 season, will be remembered and celebrated for years to come. We are so happy for her to receive this prestigious honor, especially knowing it comes after the greatest team accomplishment ever, the National Championship."  

Hasty, from Chesapeake, becomes the first CNU National Player of the Year after becoming the first three-time All-American in CNU softball history on May 24th. She has been instrumental in the success of the program since her arrival in 2019, when she was named the National Freshman of the Year.

The power-hitting anchor in the third spot of the order helped lead the Captains to a 47-1 record, and along the way led the nation in home runs with 19 and set a new program career mark with 53 long balls. Her final career round-tripper came on Monday, the go-ahead grand slam in the fifth inning of the opening game of a best-of-three championship series against Trine. The monster shot over the left field fence broke a 2-2 tie and propelled Christopher Newport to a 6-3 victory over the Thunder. It was Hasty's first long ball since her blast in a victory over fourth-ranked Salisbury on May 6th in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Tournament at Captains Park.

For the season, Hasty batted .414 with 33 runs, 53 hits and 12 doubles, and led the country with 19 homers and 67 RBI. She ranked second nationally in slugging percentage (.953), had a .532 on-base percentage and a 1.485 OPS, drawing 28 walks and striking out just 16 times in 128 at-bats.

In the aftermath of Tuesday's celebration in Salem, CNU Head Coach Keith Parr and Assistant Coach Wayne Vick informed Hasty and the rest of the Captains that uniform number 27, worn by Hasty since her arrival in the program, would never be issued again. A formal ceremony to retire the number will likely be held at a home game at Captains Park sometime during the 2023 season.

The Western Branch High School product earned Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III Player of the Week honors on March 15, when she hit .700 with two doubles, three walks, four homers and 11 RBI. She previously earned All-Region and All-America honors in 2019 and 2021.

Christopher Newport was the top-ranked team in the nation for the final eight weeks of rankings heading into the post-season. The Captains won their first 23 games before falling at Averett University in the second game of a doubleheader on March 27th. CNU responded after the loss, setting a new school record for consecutive wins by claiming their final 24 games, including ten in the NCAA tourney, to capture the National crown.

Hasty led a group of seven seniors in the CNU lineup, including two fifth-year seniors, that advanced to the NCAA Tournament each season of their careers. The Captains have now played in the last 15 NCAA Tournaments, and 19 in program history. 

Click HERE for release from NFCA.