FRESNO, Calif. ? The Western Athletic Conference today released its 2009 all-WAC softball team and individual awards as selected by the league’s head coaches. Louisiana Tech junior Amberly Waits was named WAC Player of the Year, while Nevada junior Katie Holverson was named Pitcher of the Year and Stephanie Ricketts of Hawai?i earned Freshman of the Year honors. Meanwhile, Fresno State’s Margie Wright was named WAC Coach of the Year.
Waits, a junior shortstop from Cleburne, Texas (Cleburne), led the WAC with a .433 batting average in WAC play. In 20 conference games, she tallied 29 hits, 17 runs, 18 RBI, six doubles, 57 total bases and six home runs. She had multiple hits in 10 of 20 WAC games as the Lady Techsters posted their first winning record in conference play in the history of the program.
Holverson, a junior righthander from Anthem, Ariz. (Cactus), posted a 12-2 record with a 1.07 ERA in WAC play. She had 79 strikeouts and just 21 walks over 104.1 innings of work, surrendering just 16 earned runs. She posted three shutouts in conference games and led the WAC in innings per game as the Wolf Pack captured a share of the WAC regular-season title.
Ricketts, a righthanded pitcher from San Jose, Calif. (Archbishop Mitty), led the conference in wins (13) and innings pitched (118.1) in WAC play. She started 15 games and had 69 strikeouts. She also tossed a pair of no-hitters against conference opponents.
Wright earned Coach of the Year honors for the sixth time (1996, ?98, ?99, ?01, ?05) after leading her team to its 10th WAC regular-season title and the top seed in this week’s WAC Tournament. In WAC play, the Bulldogs led the conference in hits, at-bats, opponent batting average and strikeouts.
Nevada and Hawai?i led the way with six total players on the all-WAC teams, while Louisiana Tech had five and Fresno State and New Mexico State had four apiece. Nevada led the way with four players on the first team. Ten of the players were repeat selections from a year ago, while six of the eight schools were represented.
The complete teams are listed below.
2009 ALL-WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SOFTBALL TEAMS
| First Team |
|
|
|
|
| Name |
Team |
Yr. |
Pos. |
Hometown (Last School) |
| Kylie Bassett |
Louisiana Tech |
Jr. |
1B |
Vista, Calif. (Vista) |
| Sam Bias |
Nevada |
Jr. |
3B |
Oakley, Calif. (Freedom) |
| Katie Holverson& |
Nevada |
Jr. |
P |
Anthem, Ariz. (Cactus) |
| Morgan Melloh@ |
Fresno State |
So. |
P |
Fishers, Ind. (Hamilton Southeastern) |
| Noelle Micka@ |
Nevada |
So. |
C |
Garden Grove, Calif. (Pacific) |
| Tanisha Milca*%& |
Hawai?i |
Sr. |
OF |
Kailua, O?ahu (Kailua) |
| Hoku Nohara |
New Mexico State |
So. |
Util |
Waimanalo, Hawai?i (Kamehameha) |
| Angie Ortega |
New Mexico State |
Jr. |
OF |
Vado, N.M. (Gadsen) |
| Haley Perkins |
Fresno State |
Sr. |
2B |
Fresno, Calif. (Clovis West) |
| Brittany Puzey$@ |
Nevada |
Sr. |
OF |
Minden, Nev. (Douglas) |
| Danielle Sheridan |
Louisiana Tech |
Sr. |
OF |
Fort Worth, Texas (North Crowley) |
| Amanda Tauali?i |
Hawai?i |
Jr. |
1B |
Torrance, Calif. (North Torrance) |
| Amberly Waits& |
Louisiana Tech |
Jr. |
SS |
Cleburne, Texas (Cleburne) |
|
|
|
|
|
| Second Team |
|
|
|
|
| Name |
Team |
Yr. |
Pos. |
Hometown (Last School) |
| Emma Barnes |
Louisiana Tech |
Sr. |
OF |
Sacramento, Calif. (El Camino) |
| Makani Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu |
Hawai?i |
Fr. |
Util |
Mililani, O?ahu (Mililani) |
| Haley Gilleland |
Fresno State |
So. |
SS |
Fresno, Calif. (Clovis West) |
| Tiare Jennings |
New Mexico State |
Fr. |
2B |
Turlock, Calif. (Pitman) |
| Meghan Krieg |
Louisiana Tech |
So. |
P |
Sonora, Texas (Sonora) |
| Kanani Pu?u Warren |
Hawai?i |
Jr. |
OF |
West Covina, Calif. (Walnut) |
| Kristi Randall |
New Mexico State |
Sr. |
OF |
Chula Vista, Calif. (Bonita Vista) |
| Stephanie Ricketts |
Hawai?i |
Fr. |
P |
San Jose, Calif. (Archbishop Mitty) |
| Kym Silagyi%& |
Nevada |
Sr. |
2B |
Chino, Calif. (Pomona Catholic) |
| Kelsey Starr@ |
Nevada |
Jr. |
1B |
Tempe, Ariz. (Corona del Sol) |
| Caitlin Stiglich |
Fresno State |
So. |
C |
Newhall, Calif. (William Hart) |
| Sarah Taylor& |
San Jose State |
Jr. |
OF |
Cupertino, Calif. (Monta Vista) |
| Clare Warwick$& |
Hawai?i |
Sr. |
3B |
Melba, A.C.T Australia (Copland) |
@2008 First Team All-WAC
&2008 Second Team All-WAC
$2007 First Team All-WAC
%2007 Second Team All-WAC
#2006 First Team All-WAC
*2006 Second Team All-WAC