« Softball 2014

Nicole Sappingfield

School
Michigan
Position
Outfield
Major
Comparative Literature
AVG
.405
R
52
H
70
FLD%
.972
RBI
22

Classroom

GPA: 3.741; Academic All-Big Ten (2012, 2013); U-M Athletic Academic Achievement (2011, 2013); Honor Roll (2010-2013). Expected graduation date: May 2014 (will graduate with honors). Future plans: Law school. Nicole’s degree in comparative literature focuses on two languages she chose: English and Spanish. She has concentrated her work in the area of human rights and human rights literature. She plans to use this background to pursue a career in human rights or international law.

Character

Nicole’s coaches and teammates laud her leadership and approach to the game. She was voted a co-captain for the 2014 season by her peers and coaches, the second straight season she will formally lead the team. In fact, she became just the fifth player in the illustrious 37-season history of U-M to be a two-time captain. She is a trusted part of the team’s hierarchy, organizing team events and responsibilities during Michigan’s lengthy non-conference schedule, which includes six-plus weekends away from Ann Arbor to start the season. Her coaches say she is a positive influence on Michigan’s underclassmen and a shining example of leaving the program better than you found it. As a freshman, she suffered an injury that caused her to miss the NCAA Tournament. Despite her personal disappointment, she remained a positive influence in the locker room and in the dugout.

Community

During each of her four years at Michigan, Nicole has been actively involved in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer organization. Her leadership has led to fundraising efforts that have topped $200,000 during her time at U-M. She participates in the fall Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Ann Arbor walk, raising more than $1,000 herself in 2013. Each year at Michigan she has also served as a clinician at the Michigan Softball Academy. The academy is an adult camp experience that brings supporters of the U-M program onto the field and into the facilities for an evening. Nicole takes the field with the campers and guides them through drills and other activities. Last year’s event raised $89,000 in one evening to support the fight against breast cancer.

Competition

Nicole enters her fourth year as a started in the outfield and a fixture at the top of Michigan’s lineup. She has been a part of three Big Ten championship teams (2011-2013), one Women’s College World Series team (2013) and is a two-time captain (2013-14) of the Wolverines. In 2013, she started 63 of 64 games, tied for team-high with four outfield assists, batted .309 with 57 runs, 60 hits, three triples and seven stolen bases, collected 14 multi-hit games, and drove in the winning run against Northwestern (May 3) in Big Ten-clinching victory. As a sophomore, she was All-Big Ten second team, starting 58 games and batting .317 with 58 hits and 29 runs. She posted a .982 fielding percentage, led the team with 13 sacrifice hits, and was second on the Wolverines with 14 multi-hit games. As a freshman, she was All-Big Ten first team. Her career stats: .337 BA, 188 hits, 61 RBI, .386 OBP, 17-19 SB-ATT, .951 fielding percentage, 174 games started in three seasons.