Feb. 1, 2012
Oklahoma City, Okla. - Washington seniors Kimi Pohlman and Nikia Williams were among 50 players named to the "Watch List" for the 2012 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, announced Wednesday by the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America.
Pohlman, a two-time First-Team All-Pac-10 and three-time All-Pacific Region, was previously named to the Watch List in her sophomore season. The Sammamish, Wash., native started in 52 of 53 games in 2011 and had the team highest overall at-bats (183), runs scored (57), hits (79) and batting average (.432), which ranks sixth in the Husky single-season record book. She owned a .536 slugging percentage and hit three home runs, two in a single game and one of which was an inside the park home run.
The left-handed outfielder continued her success in stealing bases, swiping 25 of 29 bases last season, which put her in the Husky all-time record book ranked eighth in career stolen bases (67-75), not to mention she is tied for fourth in batting average (.379) and 10th in on-base percentage (.424). She also had a 10-game hitting streak and broke a 9.0 consecutive scoreless innings for Missouri pitcher Chelsea Thomas in the NCAA Super Regional.
Williams, a First-Team All-Pac-10 and All-Pacific Region last year, was a top 25 finalist for this very award last season. In 2011, she was a Second-Team NFCA All-American, named to the Seattle Regional All-Tournament team and invited to the National Team training camp. She was also a member of the USA Softball Futures team in 2010.
The Mission Viejo, Calif., native started in all 53 games and batted .364 with 56 hits in 154 at-bats, recording 42 runs, 12 doubles, one triple. She led the team in home runs (14) and RBIs (56) with a .727 slugging percentage, which ranks her in the top 10 in the Husky career records for those categories. In game one of a doubleheader against Cal State Bakersfield (3/22), she hit a two-out solo home run and was a triple shy of the cycle. She also had 327 putouts, the most on the team.
The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award recognizes outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the country. The only Husky to win this prestigious individual honor was All-American pitcher Danielle Lawrie, winning it twice in 2009 and 2010.
The pre-season "Watch List" includes 23 seniors, 20 juniors and seven sophomores, with freshman ineligible for consideration. (Freshman can be considered for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award once they have competed at the collegiate level). Athletes named to the "Watch List" represent 31 NCAA Division I universities and 13 athletic conferences. The Pac-12 has six member schools represented.
The Top 25 Finalists for the 2012 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be announced April 11. While an athlete does not have to be on the "Watch List" to be considered for the Top 25, the eventual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will come from the Top 25 Finalists. The Top 10 Finalists will be announced May 9 and the Top 3 Finalists will be announced May 23. On May 29 prior to the start of the 2012 NCAA Women's College World Series (WCWS) in Oklahoma City, the 2012 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed.
2012 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List
Name (School) - Year - Position - Hometown
Emily Allard (Northwestern) - Junior - Shortstop - Antioch, Calif.
Valerie Arioto (Cal) - Senior - Utility - Pleasanton, Calif.
Nikki Armagost (Pacific) - Junior - Pitcher/Utility - Andover, Kan.
Lexy Bennett (Texas) - Senior - Infield - Kingwood, Texas
Emily Bledsoe (Texas Tech) - Senior - Infield - Fulshear, Texas
Katelyn Boyd (Arizona State) - Senior - Shortstop - Phoenix, Ariz.
Kayla Braud (Alabama) - Junior - Outfield - Eugene, Ore.
Devon Bridges (Boise State) - Sophomore - Outfield/First base - Danville, Calif.
Jenna Caira (Syracuse) - Senior - Pitcher - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Whitney Canion (Baylor) - Junior - Pitcher - Aledo, Texas
Raven Chavanne (Tennessee) - Junior - Third base/Outfield - Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Amanda Chidester (Michigan) - Senior - Third base - Allen Park, Mich.
Aimee Creger (Tulsa) - Sophomore - Pitcher - Yukon, Okla.
Brigette Del Ponte (Arizona) - Junior - Infield - Peoria, Ariz.
Taylor Edwards (Nebraska) - Sophomore - Catcher - Murrieta, Calif.
Dallas Escobedo (Arizona State) - Sophomore - Pitcher - Glendale, Ariz.
Bree Evans (Michigan) - Senior - Centerfield - Bloomington, Calif.
Ashley Fleming (Missouri) - Senior - Outfield - Silex, Mo.
Kenzie Fowler (Arizona) - Junior - Pitcher - Tucson, Ariz.
Kellie Fox (UCLA) - Sophomore - Shortstop - San Diego, Calif.
Olivia Galati (Hofstra) - Junior - Pitcher/Designated player - West Babylon, N.Y.
Lauren Gibson (Tennessee) - Junior - Infield- Pasadena, Md.
Ashley Hansen (Stanford) - Senior - Infield - Chandler, Ariz.
Andrea Harrison (UCLA) - Senior - Left field/First base - Garden Grove, Calif.
Jolene Henderson (Cal) - Junior - Pitcher/First base - Elk Grove, Calif.
Taylor Hoagland (Texas) - Junior - Outfield/Third base - Flower Mound, Texas
Jessica Iwata (Hawaii) - Junior - Shortstop - Lihu'e, Hawaii
Ashley Lane (Michigan) - Junior - Second base - Escondido, Calif.
Blaire Luna (Texas) - Junior - Pitcher - Austin, Texas
Meagan May (Texas A&M) - Junior - Catcher/First base - Spring, Texas
Ashley McClain (FIU) - Senior - Outfield/Pitcher - Brandon, Fla.
Dani Miller (Notre Dame) - Senior - Infield - Huntington Beach, Calif.
Jen Mineau (Fordham) - Senior - Pitcher - Schaghticoke, N.Y.
Adrienne Monka (Northwestern) - Senior - First base - Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Michelle Moultrie (Florida) - Senior - Center field - Jacksonville, Fla.
Christi Orgeron (ULL) - Senior - Outfield - New Orleans, La.
Sara Plourde (UMass) - Senior - Pitcher - Bristol, Conn.
Kimi Pohlman (Washington) - Senior - Outfield - Sammamish, Wash.
Jamia Reid (Cal) - Senior - Outfield - Buena Park, Calif.
Ellen Renfroe (Tennessee) - Sophomore - Pitcher - Jackson, Tenn.
Keilani Ricketts (Oklahoma) - Junior - Pitcher - San Jose, Calif.
Rachel Riley (Kentucky) - Senior - Pitcher/Designated player - Bowling Green, Ky.
Hannah Rogers (Florida) - Senior - Pitcher - Lake Wales, Fla.
Brittany Schutte (Florida) - Junior - Catcher - Fountain Valley, Calif.
Kathy Shelton (Baylor) - Junior - Outfield - McKinney, Texas
Jessica Shults (Oklahoma) - Junior - Catcher - Valencia, Calif.
Chelsea Thomas (Missouri) - Redshirt Junior - Pitcher - Pleasantville, Iowa
Jackie Traina (Alabama) - Sophomore - Pitcher/Designated player - Naples, Fla.
Kelsi Weseman (Georgia Tech) - Senior - Shortstop - Hutto, Texas
Niki Williams (Washington) - Senior - Utility - Mission Viejo, Calif.
