LAXTON, Dava (NELSON) ~ Graceland's Hall of Fame
NELSON, LAXTON
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 8/26/2013 at 07:40:15
HALL of FAME
Dava (Nelson) Laxton
Graceland University, Lamoni, IowaDava (NELSON) LAXTON, an Eagleville, Mo. native, prepped at North Harrison High School prior to enrolling at Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Mo.
As a local high school softball star, Dava posted a career batting average of .518 while being nominated four times as both an All-Conference and All-District athlete. Dava also was honored with a spot on the All-State team an astounding three times. She broke the Missouri state record in 1993 when she hurled 11 strikeouts in the state title match en route to a state championship. At the time of her graduation Dava held a top-20 record in 19 different categories.
Dava continued to excel on the field at Culver-Stockton. As a freshman she held the conference strikeout record and posted a 14-3 record as a pitcher.
After a hiatus from softball her sophomore year, Dava finally made her way to Graceland University where she double-majored in Physical Education and Wellness Management while minoring in Health and Coaching.
Regarded as the best fielding pitcher at any level by former head coach Bill Dudek, Dava turned in a remarkable two-year career at GU. The two-time All-Conference and All-District pitcher posted very impressive numbers in a Graceland uniform.
Dava, beyond being named an honorable mention All-American, posted a 42-13 record as a Yellowjacket. In her junior year Dava led the team to the conference championship game against Lindenwood University, suffering a 3-2 extra-innings defeat.
Dava finished her career at Graceland with a .992 fielding percentage and .458 batting average. As a pitcher, she held an outstanding 1.23 earned run average.
Also during her days at Graceland, Dava was invited to play on Team USA's international tour through Belgium and the Netherlands in 1995. In Team USA's game against the Dutch, Dava accumulated 16 strikeouts in the victory.
Dava currently resides in Knoxville, Tenn. with her husband Jason, a former three-sport athlete at Graceland. The LAXTONS own a financial services company and have two children, Bo and Josie.
Dava (NELSON) LAXTON was inducted into Graceland University's Hall of Fame in 2011.
SOURCE: gujackets.com/f/Hall_of_Fame.php
Submission by Sharon R. Becker, August of 2013
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