ROANOKE, Va. - The NCCAA is pleased to announce Brianne O'Dell of Cedarville University as the 2017 Softball Game Plan 4 LIFE Character Award recipient.

A junior infielder/outfielder from Goshen, Ind., who is considered one of the best softball players to ever play at CU, was recognized at the NCCAA National Tournament banquet.

O'Dell was recently named the 2017 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Softball Player of the Year. She helped the Lady Jackets recover from a 5-10 start to finish the regular season 30-15 and get the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament.

One of her highest honors was being named the NFCA NCAA Division II National Player of the Week after batting an incredible .762 in six games. She entered the post-season hitting .461 with a school-record 21 doubles, three triples, five homers, and 51 RBI's.

O'Dell has been an NCCAA National Player of the Week and a two-time G-MAC Player of the Week. She was voted to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team with a 3.72 GPA as a pharmacy major.

It's not only what O'Dell has accomplished inside the base lines that's notable, but her godly example off the field.

"Brianne is far more mature in her faith than most college women her age," stated Cedarville Head Coach Wes Rowe. "She truly lives out what it means to be a Christ follower.

"It is clear that Brianne understands that softball is only a small part of her life and that Christ and His plan for her are much greater than a sport."

That statement is evidenced by the fact O'Dell has announced she will forego her senior year of eligibility in 2018 to concentrate fully on her major in pharmacy at the University.

The purpose of the Game Plan 4 LIFE Character Award is to recognize NCCAA student-athletes who epitomize the Christian character qualities of:

• Love: demonstrating a caring and consistent love for others (I Corinthians 13)
• Integrity: living out ethical principles in a clear consistent manner (Job 27:5)
• Faith: acknowledging a life of faith and sharing that faith with others (Hebrews 11)
• Excellence: striving to do all things at the highest standard (Philippians 4:8)

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