Central College sophomore right fielder Franie Burnett was named the National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s Division III softball player of the week. Burnett is the first Dutch player to receive the NFCA honor since Kiley Lythberg was tabbed March 23, 2011.

Burnett was also named the American Rivers Conference Female Athlete of the Week and Softball Position Player of the Week on Monday. She hit a sizzling .667 in 10 games last week, with two doubles, two triples, 10 RBIs and 14 runs scored while going 12-12 in stolen base tries. She tied a school mark with five steals against SUNY-Brockport Thursday. Burnett added to her impressive offensive numbers with 13 putouts and one assist defensively. For the season she is hitting a team-high .477 with 15 runs scored, 14 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. Burnett was a first-team all-conference selection last year as a freshman.

Central posted a 9-1 record at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in Fort Myers and Naples, Florida, and are 10-6 overall. The Dutch open the northern portion of their schedule with their first home games of the season this weekend. Bethel University (Minn.) visits Central on Saturday while Fontbonne University (Mo.) is in Pella Sunday, and both doubleheaders start at 2 p.m.