Former Mid-Prairie softball standout Amber Kral has made the transition from high school athletics to the collegiate level look seamless.

More than that, in her first season at Minnesota State she has been dominant, so have the Mavericks. At a recent awards ceremony Kral was named Female Newcomer of the Year, a distinction awarded for athletic play to a freshman or transfer student during their first year at the school. In her first season with the Mavericks, Kral has absolutely raked, hitting .377, slugging .680 including 66 total hits, 50 runs scored, 12 doubles 56 RBI and 11 home runs. Her video game-like numbers place her ninth in the Northern Sun Conference in average, fifth in slugging percentage, seventh in total hits, fourth in runs scored, second in RBI and fifth in home runs.

She has keyed the Mavericks success that has seen them rise into the top ten at No. 9 in the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association Poll, win a school record tying 23 games in a row, win 50 total games on the season and advance to the championship round of the Northern Sun Conference tournament this weekend. The Mavericks are 53-6 on the season.