Columbus North graduate and Marian junior Sierra Norman connects with a pitch during a game this season.
Submitted photo
Sierra Norman and the Marian University softball team put together solid seasons the past two years, but came up empty in the opening round of the NAIA Tournament.
Norman, a junior from Columbus North, and the Knights are looking to change that narrative when they host the opening round for the first time in school history beginning today. Top-seeded Marian will host No. 4-seed Tennessee Wesleyan at 1:30 p.m. today in a four-team double-elimination bracket that continues through Wednesday.
No. 2-seed Middle Georgia State and No. 3-seed Columbia are the other two teams in the bracket. The winner moves on to the NAIA World Series May 25-30 in Columbus, Georgia.
“That’s the goal,” Norman said. “We were fortunate enough to be selected as an opening-round host site this year. Our athletic department has done a great job supporting us and getting the field ready and everything. Being able to get through this bracket and get through to the World Series would just mean so much more to us.”
Columbus North graduate and Marian junior Sierra Norman readies herself defensively at first base.
Submitted photo
Norman has been a driving force in the Knights’ run to Crossroads League regular-season and tournament titles this season. The first baseman has started all 51 games for Marian, which is 45-6 and had a 27-game winning streak following a season-opening defeat.
“It’s been great,” Norman said. “It’s been a lot of fun playing with this team and doing what I’m capable of doing. I’m just trying to focus in on tourney time and getting wins.”
Columbus North graduate and Marian junior Sierra Norman rounds third base after a home run.
Submitted photo
This season, Norman leads the Knights with 10 home runs and 52 RBIs. Her .364 batting average ranks second on the team behind senior shortstop and Trinity Lutheran graduate Savannah Harweger’s national NAIA-leading .505.
Columbus North graduate and Marian junior Sierra Norman waits for a pitch during a game this season.
Submitted photo
Norman also is second on team with 11 doubles, 42 runs scored, .539 on-base percentage and .630 slugging percentage going into the NAIA Tournament.
“I think the season has been pretty good,” Norman said. “Team-wise, it has been great, and then individually, it’s been pretty good. I’m not seeing the home run numbers I did last year, but the batting average is better.”
Sierra Norman
Norman’s production this season hasn’t gone unnoticed. Last week, she was selected first-team All-Crossroads League for the second year in a row.
“It’s a great honor,” said Norman, who also was a National Fastpitch Coaches Association NAIA All-American and NAIA Daktronics Scholar-Athlete last year. “It’s a great league. It feels really good that they gave me that kind of respect to give me that award.”
