Tayven Stephenson Recognized as SEFL Player of the Month for April

Tayven Stephenson Recognized as SEFL Player of the Month for April 

By: Caroline Helmer

The Southeastern Fastpitch League (SEFL) is excited to spotlight Tayven Stephenson in our Alliance Fastpitch Recognition Program as our April Player of the Month. For the remainder of the 2021 season, the SEFL will highlight Players of the Month from each different age group.

In our inaugural Fall season, Tayven Stephenson has been dominant in the circle for the Louisville Sluggers Murphy and a key asset to their success this past year. Stephenson finished the year with impressive individual statistics and a dominant team to back her up on the mound. Tayven tallied 147 innings pitched throughout the 2020 year, with 192 strikeouts and a 1.43 Earned Run Average (ERA). Along with pitching, Tayven is also a threat in the batter’s box, finishing the year with a batting average of .397, including 6 homeruns.

Stephenson is a 2023 graduate and is a pitcher out of St. Albans, West Virginia. She competes with the Louisville Sluggers Murphy and attends St. Albans High School. After High school Stephenson is committed to join the Wildcats softball team at the University of Kentucky.

“Tayven is a bulldog in the circle. She absolutely dominates the game and always brings it. Tayven is one of the best teammates I have ever coached and is extremely humble. Kentucky is getting a great player and an awesome young lady,” said Coach Don Murphy.

“My parents signed me up for little league when I was 5. They played baseball and softball growing up and wanted me to play too. I loved playing and once I started pitching, I knew that I wanted to continue playing softball. I started playing travel ball to challenge myself more and it was a real eye opener on how competitive and skilled the other athletes were. I love the competition and it drives me to get better,” said Tayven when we asked her how she got started in the game. Her favorite softball memory was winning the little league state championship when she was 10. It was one of her favorites because her teammates then are still her teammates now and this year, they have the chance to compete for the West Virginia AAA State Championship!

Congratulations to Tayven Stephenson from the Louisville Sluggers Murphy for being recognized as the April SEFL Player of the Month!

What is the Alliance Fastpitch Player Recognition Program?

The Player Recognition Program was built to recognize and spotlight our individual players in each Member League. Starting this Spring, each League will name a Player of the Month for different age divisions.

Registered Alliance Fastpitch players will be placed in a pool based on verified stats from AthletesGoLive (AGL). AthletesGoLive(AGL) will run monthly reports and submit to the player selection committee for each League.  Additionally, registered Alliance Fastpitch coaches will have the opportunity to submit a player for consideration. Committee members will review verified stats and consider coach feedback to name League Players of the Month.