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West Region Team
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DENVER Five WAC Softball Players were named to the 2005 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) all-West region team. The five are now eligible for All-America honors. Fresno State named three to the team, including three-time senior All-America pitcher Jamie Southern, two-time junior All-America shortstop Christina Clark and two-time all-WAC catcher Nichole Willis were selected by voting coaches of the West Region. Also honored were all-WAC selections, Elisa Barrios from San Jose State and Hawai`i's Tara Harbert.
Southern, a four-time first-team All-West Region pick at pitcher/utility, is looking to become just the fourth Bulldog to be a four-time All-American. She would join an elite list that showcases three-time Olympic gold medalist Laura Berg, Robyn Yorke and Amanda Scott. In addition, Southern is also looking to be a three-time First Team All-American and, if so, would join Berg and Scott. Scott, who is the school's only four-time First Team All-American, captured All-America accolades at pitcher (twice) and utility (twice). Southern has been a First Team All-American at pitcher (2002) and utility (2004) and a Second Team All-American at utility (2003).
Needing nine strikeouts to become the 10th NCAA Division I pitcher to amass 1,300 career strikeouts, Southern has been second in the nation in ERA for the last three weeks. Also nationally ranked in victories and strikeouts per seven innings, she is 26-3 with 17 shutouts, three saves and 252 strikeouts in 186.0 innings for a 0.41 ERA this season. In her career, the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 10 finalist is listed among nine of the 11 all-time NCAA Division I career pitching categories.
Clark, who was a Second Team All-American as a freshman and followed up by being a First Team All-American last year, is looking to become the ninth Bulldog to be a three-time All-American. As the first Bulldog freshman to be an All-American at shortstop, Clark repeated as the WAC Player of the Year to be just the second 'Dog to garner this award twice.
This spring, Clark has been nationally ranked in runs per game, home runs per game, slugging percentage and toughest to strike out. With three consecutive 100-total base seasons, she is currently batting .387 (60-155) with 53 runs, eight doubles, a triple, 16 home runs, 26 walks, 41 RBI and 118 total bases for a .761 slugging percentage.
Barrios led the Spartans in hitting this season with a .390 batting average, the second-highest average in a season for a San Jose State player. She set the school record for doubles in a season with 16. Earlier this week, Barrios was named an At Large selection for the 2005 Western Athletic Conference season. She finished her four-year career with a .295 batting average and fifth all-time in hits with 197. She had 29 doubles, seven home runs, 72 RBI and 35 stolen bases. She is the first San Jose State player named to an All-West Region team since 1996 when Pat Martinez was named to the second team as an outfielder.
Harbert was named to the first team. She finished 2005 tops in the WAC in batting average at .486 and second in stolen bases (7-9). The lefty slapper faced much adversity this season. She did not start in 10 straight games after she breaking two fingers in her left hand. At the time of the injury, Harbert was on an offensive tear, she was second on the team with a .382 average and led the team in runs scored (17) and stolen bases (8-9). The team went 4-6 without Harbert (Hawai`i is 27-15 when she starts in center).
Willis is honored for the first time as an All-West Region pick. Trying to become just the second Bulldog catcher to be an All-American (Shelly Stokes, Second Team, 1990), she shares team-high honors in multiple hit games (17) and tied for third in multiple RBI (7). Batting better than .400 in her last 13 games, Willis is currently hitting .352 (56-159) with 41 runs, nine doubles, two triples, six home runs, 11 walks, eight hit by pitch, 31 RBI and 87 total bases for a .547 slugging percentage.