A week after being selected as the Western Athletic Conference Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively, senior All-America shortstop Christina Clark and freshman pitcher Robin Mackin were selected first-team All-west Region. Hawai'i outfielder Brandi Peiler earned second-team honors.
While both now go on for All-America consideration, Clark and Mackin are the 91st and 92nd all-region honorees in Fresno State softball history and the 77th and 78th all-region picks under Bulldog head coach Margie Wright.
As the only Bulldog and WAC player to be a three-time conference player of the year selection, Clark is just the fifth `Dog to be a four-time first team all-region selection overall and the first at her position as she joins outfielder Laura Berg (1994-95, 97-98), first baseman Gena Strang, pitcher/utility Amanda Scott (1997-2000) and pitcher/utility Jamie Southern (2002-05).
Clark, who ranks in 12 all-time career school categories and 10 all-time WAC career marks, became the 12th NCAA Division I player to score 225 or more runs while becoming Fresno State's and the league's all-time career leader in doubles last week. Looking to post her first .400 season, the `Dogs lead off batter is currently hitting .434, which ranks fifth-best in the school's single-season annals, while being walked 42 times. With a team-best 21 multiple hit games on the year, Clark also has collected her four straight 60-hit and 50-run seasons.
Mackin, who garnered WAC Freshman of the Year honors a week ago as well, is the fourth Bulldog freshman pitcher and 11th freshman overall to garner first team all-region accolades. Having tied the freshman and single-season school mark for 10-strikeouts games (19) last week versus Hawai'i, she is the third `Dog to post a 300-strikeout season and the fourth rookie to record a 25-win season.
Having thrown two no-hitters on the year and owning the school's single-game record for strikeouts in a seven -inning game (17 vs. Kansas) and tying the mark for a five-inning game (12 vs. St. Francis), Mackin is 14 strikeouts of breaking Southern's school and conference season mark (400). She also has pitched five one-hitters and six two-hitters to date while on the verge of setting a new season record for strikeouts per 7/innings with a 10.81 average. In the circle, Mackin is 26-12 with 12 shutouts and 387 strikeouts in 250.2 innings for a 1.45 ERA while holding opponents to a .159 batting average against. At the plate, she is batting .313 and has notched 15 multiple hit and seven multiple RBI games while currently owning an eight-game hitting streak.
Sophomore outfielder Brandi Peiler received Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-West Region honors today. Peiler was named to the second team, as selected by NFCA member coaches in the region.
Peiler, a transfer from Hawaii Pacific, made an immediate impact for the Rainbow Wahine this season. During the regular season, she played in 47 games and started 45 of those in the outfield. Peiler went 45-for-134 for a .336 average. She hit two doubles, nine home runs, scored 15 runs, and drove in 27 runs. She was named WAC Player of the Week (April 3) when she went 7-8 for a .875 batting average in four games against Grambling State and San Jose State. Last week, she earned a spot on the WAC's All-tournament team.
In 2005, Peiler was named to the Division II All-West Region second team as a utility player. Peiler was HPU's number one pitcher with an 11-1 record, pitching 86.2 innings with an ERA of 1.66. Peiler played in the outfield during the games she did not pitch. She was second on the team in batting average .368 and led the squad in five offensive categories home runs (8), slugging percentage (.647), on base percentage (.455), walks (21), and total bases (86). She earned Pac-West Freshman of the Year honors and second team all-region honors as a utility player.
2006 WEST REGION TEAMSFIRST TEAMRobin Mackin Pitcher Fresno StateMichelle Turner Pitcher Long Beach StateErin Floros Catcher San Diego StateLaneta Le'i First Base Brigham YoungJackie Wong Second Base UtahMelissa Sanchez Third Base UC RiversideChristina Clark Shortstop Fresno StateJessica Strickland Designated Player Colorado StateCandice Baker Utility CS FullertonGina Carbonatto Outfield PacificLindy Winkler Outfield Sacramento StateAshley Van Boxmeer Outfield CS Fullerton
SECOND TEAMChristina Ross Pitcher San Diego StateSummer Tobias Pitcher Brigham YoungKortny Hall Catcher Southern UtahJennifer Curtier First Base PacificKristina Schmallen Second Base New MexicoLauren Cusick Third Base Colorado StateAmanda Peek Shortstop CS NorthridgeLindsey Elcess Designated Player New MexicoMarci Pratt Utility Southern UtahBrandi Peiler Outfield HawaiiLisa Modglin Outfield Cal PolyMeagan Hartung Outfield San Diego State