Fifth-year right-handed pitcher Ashlee Laver and senior infielder Laney Kaysner are building momentum for the CWU women’s softball team as they have recently been awarded with Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) honors. Recently, Laver was announced as the conference pitcher of the week while Kaysner was the player of the week.
Laver began her collegiate softball journey with the Hawaii Pacific University Sharks for a year before she found her way home to CWU in 2021. “Ashlee [Laver] is a vocal player on the field which is what I like our players to be. She’s positive towards her teammates and has fun while she’s out there, still staying focused on the task at hand,” head softball coach Joe DiPietro said.
(Photo courtesy of Jacob Thompson/Thompson Sports Media)
During her time with the sharks, Laver was recognized for numerous accolades such as PacWest Pitcher of the Week, PacWest Scholar-Athlete and being named to the 2020 Dean’s List.
While Laver’s first season as a Wildcat was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she managed to make a comeback during the 2022 season receiving Academic All-GNAC honors, throwing 24.2 innings and starting in 17 games.
In the 2023 season she secured Academic All-GNAC honors again while also starting in 21 games, logging 17 complete games, 4 shutouts, 63 strikeouts, and facing 626 batters who hit a combined .258 against her.
“[Receiving GNAC pitcher of the week] was a surprise to me but I’m super grateful for it,” Laver said. “It makes me motivated to continue doing better and hopefully continue to get more this season. My passion to be successful comes from wanting to play for my family who have always been my number one fans. It is easy to play with passion when you have the best support system.”
This season so far Laver has pitched six games and only averaged about three runs per game with a 2.70 earned runs allowed (ERA). But this is just the beginning of what teammates anticipate to be a strong final campaign from her.
“I’ve learned from Ashlee [Laver] that confidence on the field is everything,” redshirt senior catcher Anna Fridell said. “She has a command on the mound that can’t be replicated, and I can’t wait to continue to play with her for her final season here at CWU.”
Kaysner is a shortstop for the Wildcats, holding down the middle of the infield. She found her way to CWU two seasons ago after playing for Skagit Valley College for three years.
“Laney [Kaysner] brings a lot of athleticism and speed to our team,” DiPietro said. “She is a very good defensive player and causes issues for the defense when she’s in the batter’s box. Having someone that possesses those skills is hard to find and makes us hard to prepare for.”
(Photo courtesy of Jacob Thompson/Thompson Sports Media)
Last season Kaysner appeared in 35 games and started in 23, and recorded 17 hits and 11 RBIs on 79 at-bats. She had a .215 batting average, .215 slugging percentage and a .292 on-base percentage.
“Laney [Kaysner] and I came together from the same junior college league before CWU, and it’s a lot more fun being on the same team rather than competitors,” Fridell said. “I also consider her a close friend, so it’s a blast getting to compete together every day.”
Laver and Kaysner are seasoned vets when it comes to collegiate softball. They have both gathered valuable experience and are solid role models on and off the field.
On Saturday, March 9, the Wildcats will be making their way over to Lacey, Washington to face off against Saint Martin’s University for their first GNAC game of the season.
