Senior Jen Boeve, an infielder for the Northwestern Raider softball team recently garnered the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) honor of “Player of the Week.” Boeve is the first Raider to earn this weekly honor of the season. A truly amazing recognition for Boeve, the NW softball team and the coaches with how well their season has gone so far, earning wins against four Division II teams in one weekend in the beginning of their season.
“That weekend was special because we truly played together as a team,” Boeve said.
During spring break, the softball team had many games which lead to multiple victories and Boeve’s recognition. They beat higher division teams, which is not something that comes easy to an NAIA team, unless they know how to work together, which is what our softball team has proven they can do. “Somebody stepped up in a big moment for us each game and we were able to play in a way that we had always been striving towards the three years before,” said Boeve.
Specifically in the game against Dickenson State, Boeve had a “huge two out base clearing triple to win” in the words of head coach Shane Bouman. “She has been one of the top hitters in the nation so far this season along with playing great defense, a very instinctive baserunner,” Bouman said.
The NW softball team is something very special due to five elements that the team believes in: defense, toughness, hustle, effort and attitude. Each element is a major accomplishment for the team.
Another thing that has helped Boeve earn this honor is some of the characteristics that she displays towards her team such as having a positive attitude and leading by example.
“I was really blessed and touched by how many people reached out to me after the GPAC honor,” says Boeve. “I just feel grateful to not only be a part of a program I love but that is full of people who go out of their way to love me back.”
The softball coaches also feel blessed to have many students like Boeve in the program and they are proud of their athletes and their accomplishments.
