2024 CSE D2 Midseason Players of the year
At the end of last softball season, College Sports Evaluation created a method of making All-American selections based solely on objective data with the aim of highlighting athletes who deserve to be highlighted, regardless of where they attend school. The only factor considered in the All-American selections is in-game data analyzed by CSE’s Data & Analytics Team.
The CSE All-American rankings are based on FIP (pitching) and wRAA (offense) and are adjusted to account for strength of schedule. As there are many more games to be played, CSE has taken this into account by utilizing prediction algorithms to project these metrics to the end of the season, based on a standard 50-game schedule. The numbers shown are all projected numbers for the end of the 2024 regular season, utilizing data as of 3/28/24.
- aFIP is Adjusted Fielding Independent Pitching. This stat considers only what the pitcher can control (Ks, HRs, BBs, & HBPs) and doesn’t account for above or below-average defensive play behind the pitcher. The adjustment made to FIP considers the average offensive rating of their opponents. Offensive rating is determined by the average number of runs scored. If pitchers play against teams with an above-average offensive rating, their FIP would improve.
- awRAA is Adjusted Weighted Runs Above Average. This calculates how many runs a player has contributed to on an offense, compared to the national average of zero. The adjustment made to wRAA takes into consideration the average defensive rating of their opponents. Defensive rating is determined by the average number of runs allowed. If a player plays against teams with an above-average defensive rating, their wRAA would improve.
The players selected had the best-projected numbers for the end of the season.
2024 CSE D2 MIDSEASON RUN CREATOR OF THE YEAR
Diana Murtha – Corner IF – West Texas A&M
Diana Murtha has been dominating at the Division 2 level holding video game-type numbers with just one month left in the regular season. The Nevada native leads all of Division 2 in many offensive categories including walks (37), batting average (.573), slugging percentage (1.293), and perhaps most impressive, on-base percentage (.701) all while playing in arguably one of the most challenging conferences – The Lone Star Conference. Murtha has led the West Texas A&M Buffaloes to consistent top 2 regional rankings and has them at the top of the NFCA coaches poll rankings. While she gets on base 70% of the time, she also leaves behind some carnage as she rounds the bases. Murtha currently has 30 extra-base hits with 14 of them being homeruns and 50 RBI. In likely her swan song season, Murtha has the Buffs primed to make the next step of reaching the DII WCWS.
2024 CSE D2 MIDSEASON PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Grace Glanzer – P – Augustana (SD)
Grace Glanzer transferred to Augustana last summer and has looked like her old form when she won the Summit League Pitcher of the Year with South Dakota State in 2022. She ranks 8th in ERA (.84) and 4th in WHIP (.73) while leading the nation in FIP (1.45) after a strength of schedule adjustment. Glanzer currently leads all Northern Sun pitchers in ERA and FIP and has Augustana in a close second in team pitching. Augustana as a team has improved their team era by almost a full 2.00 points, a feat that is very difficult to accomplish over one season. Surely Glanzer has a lot to do with this accomplishment. Grace features a dangerous movement profile that generates a swing and miss 25% of the time according to according to an aggregation of data taken from Augustana games on the NCAA website. Glanzer and the Vikings look like dark horse candidates to take home the NSIC crown and potentially reach a regional this season.
Want to see more data insights from CSE?!
Transfer Portal Rankings
College Sports Evaluation’s Data & Analytics Team has compiled, analyzed, and ranked in-game data for every athlete in the Transfer Portal. Get clear insights into athletes that have currently been competing at the D1 or D2 level (other division levels coming soon).
CSE College Coach Portal
The CSE College Coach Portal is a platform built for college coaches to search, filter, securely save, and track the progress of the data on college rosters, prospect camps, athletes in the Transfer Portal, and any other youth athlete in the CSE database.
