LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The Western Athletic Conference today released its 2010 all-WAC softball teams and major awards as selected by the league’s head coaches. Regular-season champion Hawai`i swept the major awards, as Jessica Iwata was named WAC Player of the Year, Stephanie Ricketts was named Pitcher of the Year, Kelly Majam was named Freshman of the Year and Bob Coolen was named Coach of the Year.
Iwata, a freshman shortstop from Lihu’e, Kaua`i (Kaua`i), led the WAC with a .488 batting average and 1.050 slugging percentage in WAC play. She posted conference highs in hits (39), RBI (32), doubles (12), total bases (84) and at bats (80). She had multiple hits in 12 of 20 WAC games and posted an 11-game hitting streak during conference play.
Ricketts, a sophomore righthander from San Jose, Calif. (Archbishop Mitty), posted a perfect 13-0 record with a 1.55 ERA in WAC play. She had 52 strikeouts and three shutouts in 81.1 innings of work in conference games. She also tossed a perfect game against Nevada on April 24.
Majam, an outfielder from Pine Valley, Calif. (Mountain Empire), led the conference in runs scored (31), walks (16) and plate appearances (87), and ranked second in slugging percentage (.926) and on-base percentage (.529) in WAC play. She broke the WAC and Hawai`i records for home runs in a season (25) and currently ranks third nationally in the category.
Coolen earned Coach of the Year honors for the second time in his career after leading his team to its third WAC regular-season title and the top seed in this week’s WAC Tournament. In WAC play, the Rainbow Wahine went 19-1 and led the conference in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, runs, hits, RBI, home runs, total bases, wins, hits allowed, doubles allowed and triples allowed.
Hawai`i led the way with six total players on the all-WAC teams, followed by Fresno State and New Mexico State with five apiece. Eleven of the players were repeat selections from a year ago, while all eight schools were represented. The complete teams are listed below.
2010 ALL-WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SOFTBALL TEAMS
First Team
Kathy Cox, Boise State
Haley Gilleland#, Fresno State
Melissa Gonzalez, Hawai`i
Jessica Iwata, Hawai`i
Tiare Jennings#, New Mexico State
Meghan Krieg#, Louisiana Tech
Kelly Majam, Hawai`i
Michelle Moses, Fresno State
Stephanie Ricketts#, Hawai`i
Jenna Rodriguez, Hawai`i
Nicole Rupp-Tindall, Utah State
Caitlin Stiglich#, Fresno State
Amberly Waits!&, Louisiana Tech
Second Team
Julianne Aiello, San Jose State
Kellie Caplan, Boise State
Allie Crump, Boise State
Kandis Jones, New Mexico State
Brittany McConnell, San Jose State
Morgan Melloh!@, Fresno State
Noelle Micka!@, Nevada
Hoku Nohara!, New Mexico State
Andrea Ortega, Fresno State
Angie Ortega!, New Mexico State
Danielle Patrick, Nevada
Kylie Randall, New Mexico State
Amanda Tauali`i!, Hawai`i
!2009 first team All-WAC
#2009 second team All-WAC
@2008 first team All-WAC
&2008 second team All-WAC
2010 WAC Player of the Year: Jessica Iwata, Hawai`i
2010 WAC Pitcher of the Year: Stephanie Ricketts, Hawai`i
2010 WAC Freshman of the Year: Kelly Majam, Hawai`i
2010 WAC Coach of the Year: Bob Coolen, Hawai`i