Indiana University Athletics
Kern Named USA Softball Player of the Year Finalist
4/19/2023 2:30:00 PM | Softball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana softball freshman Taryn Kern is named a Top-25 finalist for 2023 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, the organization announced on Wednesday.
Kern leads the nation in home runs (18) and is at the top of the leaderboard for most home runs in a single season after defeating IU Hall of Famer and Gold Medalist Michelle Venturella's record. She is also chasing Venturella's RBI record of 65 in a single season and needs only three RBI to move into the second slot.
The San Jose, Calif., native leads the team with a .417 batting average with 48 hits. She is the front runner in the Big Ten in seven categories: slugging percentage (1.000), OBS (.597), OPS (1.597), RBI (50), home runs (18), walks (32) and hit by pitch (14). The rookie also ranks is second in conference in batting average (.430) and runs scored (46).
Kern is one of two freshmen named to the list. The Top-25 will be narrowed down to the Top 10 on May 3 with the Top 3 finalist being announced on May 17.
TOP-25 PLAYER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
Jordy Bahl Oklahoma P/OF Sophomore
Kayla Beaver Central Arkansas P Redshirt Junior
Rachel Becker Oklahoma State IF Graduate Maya
Brady UCLA UTL Redshirt Junior
Valerie Cagle Clemson P/UTL Redshirt Junior
NiJaree Canady Stanford P Freshman
Erin Coffel Kentucky IF Junior
Jayda Coleman Oklahoma OF Junior
Megan Faraimo UCLA P Redshirt Senior
Montana Fouts Alabama P Graduate
Alex Honnold Missouri OF Junior
Tiare Jennings Oklahoma IF Junior
Taryn Kern Indiana University IF Freshman
Baylee Klingler Washington IF 5th Year
Kayla Kowalik Kentucky C Graduate
Kelly Maxwell Oklahoma State P Redshirt Senior
Nicole May Oklahoma P Junior
Sydney McKinney Wichita State IF Senior
Kiki Milloy Tennessee OF Senior
Maddie Penta Auburn P Junior
Ashley Rogers Tennessee P Graduate
Kathryn Sandercock Florida State P Senior
Alex Storako Oklahoma P Redshirt Senior
Alana Vawter Stanford P Senior
Skylar Wallace Florida IF Redshirt Junior
UP NEXT
The Hoosiers will face the Rutgers Scarlet Knights with a three-game series in Piscataway. The first pitch is set for 3 p.m. ET on Friday.
Follow Indiana Softball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
#GoIU
Kern leads the nation in home runs (18) and is at the top of the leaderboard for most home runs in a single season after defeating IU Hall of Famer and Gold Medalist Michelle Venturella's record. She is also chasing Venturella's RBI record of 65 in a single season and needs only three RBI to move into the second slot.
The San Jose, Calif., native leads the team with a .417 batting average with 48 hits. She is the front runner in the Big Ten in seven categories: slugging percentage (1.000), OBS (.597), OPS (1.597), RBI (50), home runs (18), walks (32) and hit by pitch (14). The rookie also ranks is second in conference in batting average (.430) and runs scored (46).
Kern is one of two freshmen named to the list. The Top-25 will be narrowed down to the Top 10 on May 3 with the Top 3 finalist being announced on May 17.
TOP-25 PLAYER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
Jordy Bahl Oklahoma P/OF Sophomore
Kayla Beaver Central Arkansas P Redshirt Junior
Rachel Becker Oklahoma State IF Graduate Maya
Brady UCLA UTL Redshirt Junior
Valerie Cagle Clemson P/UTL Redshirt Junior
NiJaree Canady Stanford P Freshman
Erin Coffel Kentucky IF Junior
Jayda Coleman Oklahoma OF Junior
Megan Faraimo UCLA P Redshirt Senior
Montana Fouts Alabama P Graduate
Alex Honnold Missouri OF Junior
Tiare Jennings Oklahoma IF Junior
Taryn Kern Indiana University IF Freshman
Baylee Klingler Washington IF 5th Year
Kayla Kowalik Kentucky C Graduate
Kelly Maxwell Oklahoma State P Redshirt Senior
Nicole May Oklahoma P Junior
Sydney McKinney Wichita State IF Senior
Kiki Milloy Tennessee OF Senior
Maddie Penta Auburn P Junior
Ashley Rogers Tennessee P Graduate
Kathryn Sandercock Florida State P Senior
Alex Storako Oklahoma P Redshirt Senior
Alana Vawter Stanford P Senior
Skylar Wallace Florida IF Redshirt Junior
UP NEXT
The Hoosiers will face the Rutgers Scarlet Knights with a three-game series in Piscataway. The first pitch is set for 3 p.m. ET on Friday.
Follow Indiana Softball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
#GoIU
Players Mentioned
IF
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