NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Kaitlyn Hasty was named the NCAA Division III Honda Athlete of the Year finalist for Softball Wednesday by Executive Director Chris Voelz of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA). Hasty, a recent CNU graduate from Chesapeake, is now designated as one of 11 finalists for the prestigious DIII Honda Athlete of the Year. The award will be voted on in the next week in national balloting among one thousand NCAA member schools as part of the CWSA program, which is now in its 46th year.

Hasty was named the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA)/Schutt Sports DIII National Player of the Year after leading the Captains to their first-ever National Championship and final record of 47-1. The Western Branch High School product became the program's first National Player of the Year and is the first three-time All-American in CNU softball history.
 
The first baseman led the nation in home runs with 19 and set a new program career mark with 53 round-trippers. For the season, Hasty batted .414 with 33 runs, 53 hits and 12 doubles, and led the country with 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.
 
"Kaitlyn has been one of the most-feared hitters in the country since she joined our program four years ago," Head Coach Keith 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 post-season honors, especially knowing they come after the greatest team accomplishment ever, the National Championship."

All Honda Sports nominees from DIII and DII are finalists for the prestigious 2022 Honda Athlete of the Year in their respective divisions, presented in a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on June 27, 2022, in downtown Los Angeles. The Honda Award finalists are recognized in 11 DIII and DII NCAA-sanctioned sports; cross country, basketball, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, volleyball, and track & field. CNU's Riley Cook is also in the field of 11 finalists, representing women's soccer.

The CWSA, entering its 46th year, has honored the nation's top NCAA women athletes for their superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service.  Since commencing its partnership in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women's athletics programs.