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2005 Preseason All-WAC Team
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DENVER The Western Athletic Conference softball coaches selected Fresno State to win the 2005 WAC regular season crown. Fresno State has been picked to take the preseason crown nine out of the last 10 years. In 2002, Hawaii was chosen to win the title. The coaches also voted on 2005 preseason award winners. Fresno State swept both categories when shortstop Christina Clark was voted preseason Player of the Year and Jamie Southern earned preseason Pitcher of the Year honors. Southern is the first WAC player to earn Preseason Pitcher of the Year honors four-straight years. This is Clarks second-straight Preseason Player of the Year honor.
Fresno State edged out Tulsa with 36 points to the Golden Hurricanes 31. Hawaii finished in third with 25 points. The Bulldogs were the only WAC team to advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season. Fresno State is the only team in the nation to play in all 23 NCAA Tournaments.
Third-year WAC team Nevada finished fourth with 22 points. Louisiana Tech finished fifth with 14 points followed closely by San Jose State with 12 points. UTEP, playing its second season of softball, was picked to finish seventh with seven points.
Hawaii placed the most on the preseason all-WAC team with five, including pitcher Melissa Coogan at the newly added at-large position. Fresno State had three players on the team, while Louisiana Tech, Nevada and Tulsa each placed two on the team.
Hawaiis players on the preseason all-WAC team were catcher Denise Dahlberg, pitcher Melissa Coogan, second baseman Noelle Izumi, outfielder Tracie Uchima and designated player Kate Robinson. Dahlberg and Izumi were second-team all-WAC selections last season, while Uchima was on the first team.
Fresno States Christina Clark and Jamie Southern earned honors. Clark, a junior shortstop and Southern a senior pitcher both were first-team all-WAC selections. Clark was first in the league in hitting with a .396 average, while Southern led the league in strikeouts with 299. The Bulldogs also added catcher Nichole Willis who tied with Hawaiis Dahlberg.
Nevada placed two on the preseason all-WAC team. Utility player Candice Rainwater was a first team all-WAC selection last season. Third baseman Jiliane Hartfiel was also honored.
Tulsa placed first baseman Katie Torres and pitcher Maren Genow on the team. Genow earned at-large honors after ending the 2004 season with a 10-0 WAC record.
Louisiana Tech outfielders Brittany Stanley and Amber Miles both earned honors. Miles, a first-team all-WAC selection last season, was first in the league in stolen bases with 60. Second-team selection, Stanley was second in steals with 55.
(Points awarded on a 6-5-4-3-2-1 basis)
Coaches could not vote for their own teams.
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 Total
1. FS 6 - - - - - 36
2. TU 1 5 - - - - 31
3. UH - 1 5 - - - 25
4. UN - 1 2 3 - - 22
5. LTU - - - 3 2 1 14
6. SJSU - - - 1 4 1 12
7. UTEP - - - - 1 5 7
Preseason All-WAC Team
C Denise Dahlberg, Hawaii
C Nichole Willis, Fresno State
1B Katie Torres, Tulsa
2B Noelle Izumi, Hawaii
3B Jiliane Hartfiel, Nevada
SS Christina Clark, Fresno State
OF Amber Miles, Louisiana Tech
OF Brittany Stanley, Louisiana Tech
OF Tracie Uchima, Hawaii
P Jamie Southern, Fresno State
UT Candice Rainwater, Nevada
DP Kate Robinson, Hawaii
At-Large Melissa Coogan, Hawaii
At-Large Maren Genow, Tulsa
Player of the Year: Christina Clark, Fresno St.
Pitcher of the Year: Jamie Southern, Fresno St.