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NICOLE PURTELLNicole Purtell, a native of Centreville, VA, graduated from Shepherd University with three degrees in five years. In May of 2022, Purtell graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration as well as a Bachelor of Science in Sociology with a concentration in Criminal Justice. During her academic career as an undergraduate she was awarded multiple academic rewards. The most prestigious award she received was Shepherd University’s highest academic honor, being named a McMurran Scholar. Purtell was also inducted in the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective multidisciplinary collegiate honor society. Finally, Purtell was named the first three-time Academic All-American. Nicole decided to capitalize on the extra year of athletic eligibility given by pandemic and play a fifth year of softball for Shepherd University while pursing in Master in Business Administration.
In Nicole’s freshman campaign, she was the starting third baseman as well as a supporting arm for the pitching staff. She was second in batting average (.321), in RBIs (29), and led the team in runs scored (45). |
In 2019, Shepherd University’s softball team made history by winning NCAA Division II Regionals, continued on to be one of top sixteen teams in the country, and had the opportunity participate in NCAA Division II Super Regionals. Due to the pandemic, the next full season occurred in 2021.
In 2021, Nicole appeared and started in all 40 games where she had the team-best batting average (.443), amount of hits (55) in 127 at-bats. Purtell had the team-best in runs scored (50) and runs batted in (23). She had the highest amount of doubles (13), triples (4), walks (25), base percentage (.529), and stolen bases (24). She was selected as PSAC East Athlete of the Week, rewarded First Team All-PSAC East, CoSIDA First Team Academic All-District, NFCA First Team All-Atlantic Region, D2CCA First Team All-Atlantic Region, and named on the Top 30 List of 2021 Schutt Sports/NFCA National Player & Pitcher of the Year. In her 2021 season, she was named NFCA Second Team All-American, D2CCA Honorable Mention All-American, and CoSIDA Second Team Academic All-American. With that, Purtell became the first All-American Softball Player for Shepherd University as well as the first Academic All-American.
In 2022, Nicole appeared and started in all 39 games leading the team in batting average (.426), hits (55) in 129 at-bats. She recorded the team-best runs scored (36), runs batted in (24), doubles (10), and triples (5). Purtell paced the team with highest on-base percentage (.492), stolen bases (14), and walks drawn (17). She was selected as PSAC East Athlete of the Week, rewarded First Team All-PSAC East, CoSIDA First Team Academic All-District, D2CCA Second Team All-Atlantic Region, and CoSIDA Third Team Academic All-American.
In Nicole’s final year at Shepherd University, she etched her name in the history books. In 50 games, she batted a team and personal best batting average (.451), hits (78) in 173 at-bats. Purtell lead the team in runs scored (56), runs batted in (47), and doubles (19). With this, Nicole was able to break seven records at Shepherd University. Nicole currently holds the records for single season hits (78), single season doubles (19), single season runs scored (56), single season total bases (119), career runs scored (192), career hits (266), and career total bases (386). She was named to 2023 Tucci/NFCA Division II Player and Pitcher of the Year Watchlist, First Team All-PSAC East, CSC Academic All-District, NFCA First Team All-Atlantic Region, D2CCA First Team All-Atlantic Region, D2CCA Second Team All-American, NFCA Third Team All-American, and CSC First Team Academic All-American. Nicole is extremely proud of her accolades, but it is important to her to mention how much her teammates, coaches, and family contributed. She would not have been able to achieve anything without them.
Prior to college, Purtell was a 4-year varsity starter, 2-year team captain, and 3-time Offensive Player of the Year for Centreville High School from 2014 -2018. During her high school career, she earned All-District, All-Region, All-Met honors. Purtell was also named 2017 Conference Player of the Year, then 2018 First Team All-Conference Pitcher.
Softball ran in the family for Nicole! Purtell’s two older sisters have been paving the way for her for as long as she could remember. All three of them played travel softball with SYA Xplosion their entire travel career starting at 8 years old all the way to college where each one of them continued to play softball at a collegiate level! Nicole and her sisters were lucky enough to be led by their father who was their travel coach their entire career.
After hanging up the cleats, Nicole feels a strong pull to give back to the game that gave her everything. Purtell has history working for multiple SYA softball clinics, softball clinics for Shepherd University, and conducting private lessons for younger softball players. Her methods are focused on providing guidance in hitting, fielding, and pitching in the efforts to develop her players to be the best they can be! Nicole has so much knowledge from pitching, fielding, and hitting for 18 competitive years that she can’t wait to provide that knowledge to the younger generation of softball players.
She is currently based in Centreville, VA. After graduating with her Master in Business Administration in May of 2023, Nicole is looking forward to her next stage in life as a young adult in the work force. With Purtell’s passion for the game plus her drive to be the best on and off the field, she is excited to provide the tools of success to as many softball players as possible!
In 2021, Nicole appeared and started in all 40 games where she had the team-best batting average (.443), amount of hits (55) in 127 at-bats. Purtell had the team-best in runs scored (50) and runs batted in (23). She had the highest amount of doubles (13), triples (4), walks (25), base percentage (.529), and stolen bases (24). She was selected as PSAC East Athlete of the Week, rewarded First Team All-PSAC East, CoSIDA First Team Academic All-District, NFCA First Team All-Atlantic Region, D2CCA First Team All-Atlantic Region, and named on the Top 30 List of 2021 Schutt Sports/NFCA National Player & Pitcher of the Year. In her 2021 season, she was named NFCA Second Team All-American, D2CCA Honorable Mention All-American, and CoSIDA Second Team Academic All-American. With that, Purtell became the first All-American Softball Player for Shepherd University as well as the first Academic All-American.
In 2022, Nicole appeared and started in all 39 games leading the team in batting average (.426), hits (55) in 129 at-bats. She recorded the team-best runs scored (36), runs batted in (24), doubles (10), and triples (5). Purtell paced the team with highest on-base percentage (.492), stolen bases (14), and walks drawn (17). She was selected as PSAC East Athlete of the Week, rewarded First Team All-PSAC East, CoSIDA First Team Academic All-District, D2CCA Second Team All-Atlantic Region, and CoSIDA Third Team Academic All-American.
In Nicole’s final year at Shepherd University, she etched her name in the history books. In 50 games, she batted a team and personal best batting average (.451), hits (78) in 173 at-bats. Purtell lead the team in runs scored (56), runs batted in (47), and doubles (19). With this, Nicole was able to break seven records at Shepherd University. Nicole currently holds the records for single season hits (78), single season doubles (19), single season runs scored (56), single season total bases (119), career runs scored (192), career hits (266), and career total bases (386). She was named to 2023 Tucci/NFCA Division II Player and Pitcher of the Year Watchlist, First Team All-PSAC East, CSC Academic All-District, NFCA First Team All-Atlantic Region, D2CCA First Team All-Atlantic Region, D2CCA Second Team All-American, NFCA Third Team All-American, and CSC First Team Academic All-American. Nicole is extremely proud of her accolades, but it is important to her to mention how much her teammates, coaches, and family contributed. She would not have been able to achieve anything without them.
Prior to college, Purtell was a 4-year varsity starter, 2-year team captain, and 3-time Offensive Player of the Year for Centreville High School from 2014 -2018. During her high school career, she earned All-District, All-Region, All-Met honors. Purtell was also named 2017 Conference Player of the Year, then 2018 First Team All-Conference Pitcher.
Softball ran in the family for Nicole! Purtell’s two older sisters have been paving the way for her for as long as she could remember. All three of them played travel softball with SYA Xplosion their entire travel career starting at 8 years old all the way to college where each one of them continued to play softball at a collegiate level! Nicole and her sisters were lucky enough to be led by their father who was their travel coach their entire career.
After hanging up the cleats, Nicole feels a strong pull to give back to the game that gave her everything. Purtell has history working for multiple SYA softball clinics, softball clinics for Shepherd University, and conducting private lessons for younger softball players. Her methods are focused on providing guidance in hitting, fielding, and pitching in the efforts to develop her players to be the best they can be! Nicole has so much knowledge from pitching, fielding, and hitting for 18 competitive years that she can’t wait to provide that knowledge to the younger generation of softball players.
She is currently based in Centreville, VA. After graduating with her Master in Business Administration in May of 2023, Nicole is looking forward to her next stage in life as a young adult in the work force. With Purtell’s passion for the game plus her drive to be the best on and off the field, she is excited to provide the tools of success to as many softball players as possible!
