Central Baptist College

Central Baptist's Kirchner selected NAIA Player of the Year

Central Baptist College softball coach Jason Anderson knew he had a good player in Christen Kirchner.

He couldn’t predict she would be that good. Kirchner, who has batted in the high .400s or .500 the last two seasons, has been named NAIA softball Pitcher of the Year.

“I knew the talent was there; I had high expectations for her but no one has those high expectations for anyone” said Anderson, whose Lady Mustangs have compiled a 109-58 record the last two seasons.

CBC won a National Christian College Athletic Association title last season with a 52-1 record. The school was a provisional member of the NAIA last year but was ineligible for postseason competition or honors.

“She had a great freshman year, hitting in the high .400s and 16 home runs,” Anderson said. “I consider her a two-year All-American because she would have made it if we were able to have such honors.”

CBC, whose 57-7 season ended in the regional pool semifinals at the NAIA National Championships last week at Gulf Shores, Ala., completed its first year as an full NAIA member. Three Lady Mustang players, including Kirchner, made the first team, one earned second-team honors and another received honorable mention honors.

“To have three first-team members and five players overall and the Player of the Year in our first year is huge, big, big time,” Anderson said. “It’s a great honor to have that much respect for our program and our school in general.”

Kirchner, a sophomore from Bryant, led the nation in almost every hitting category. She was first in the NAIA in batting average (.545), total hits (102), RBI (86) and total bases (209). She ranked second in home runs (25), doubles (26) and slugging percentage (1.118). She hit safely in 57 of 64 games played and started the season on a 17-game hitting streak. She was part of a Lady Mustang squad that led the NAIA in batting average (.423), hits per game (12.2), home runs per game (2.3) and run-s scored per game (9.6).

She also helped the Lady Mustangs to smash an team NAIA home run record for a season with 135. 

“I knew she had the numbers, but you never know since I know sometimes politics get involved in those things involving players from teams who have been top-ranked teams for years,” Anderson said. “Christen wasn’t the only player with good numbers, but from top to bottom, she had the best numbers, in my opinion.”

She originally signed with CBC, then spent a semester at Dominican College in New York before transferring back to CBC.

Central Baptist's Kirchner selected NAIA Player of the Year ...

Central Baptist College softball coach Jason Anderson knew he had a good player in Christen Kirchner.

He couldn’t predict she would be that good. Kirchner, who has batted in the high .400s or .500 the last two seasons, has been named NAIA softball Pitcher of the Year.

“I knew the talent was there; I had high expectations for her but no one has those high expectations for anyone” said Anderson, whose Lady Mustangs have compiled a 109-58 record the last two seasons.

CBC won a National Christian College Athletic Association title last season with a 52-1 record. The school was a provisional member of the NAIA last year but was ineligible for postseason competition or honors.

“She had a great freshman year, hitting in the high .400s and 16 home runs,” Anderson said. “I consider her a two-year All-American because she would have made it if we were able to have such honors.”

CBC, whose 57-7 season ended in the regional pool semifinals at the NAIA National Championships last week at Gulf Shores, Ala., completed its first year as an full NAIA member. Three Lady Mustang players, including Kirchner, made the first team, one earned second-team honors and another received honorable mention honors.

“To have three first-team members and five players overall and the Player of the Year in our first year is huge, big, big time,” Anderson said. “It’s a great honor to have that much respect for our program and our school in general.”

Kirchner, a sophomore from Bryant, led the nation in almost every hitting category. She was first in the NAIA in batting average (.545), total hits (102), RBI (86) and total bases (209). She ranked second in home runs (25), doubles (26) and slugging percentage (1.118). She hit safely in 57 of 64 games played and started the season on a 17-game hitting streak. She was part of a Lady Mustang squad that led the NAIA in batting average (.423), hits per game (12.2), home runs per game (2.3) and run-s scored per game (9.6).

She also helped the Lady Mustangs to smash an team NAIA home run record for a season with 135. 

“I knew she had the numbers, but you never know since I know sometimes politics get involved in those things involving players from teams who have been top-ranked teams for years,” Anderson said. “Christen wasn’t the only player with good numbers, but from top to bottom, she had the best numbers, in my opinion.”

She originally signed with CBC, then spent a semester at Dominican College in New York before transferring back to CBC.

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