OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — For the second consecutive year, LSU All-American Leslie Klein was named one of 25 finalists for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, it was announced by the Amateur Softball Association on Wednesday.
Klein was one of six players from the Southeastern Conference named to the list. Joining former Tiger All-Americans Britni Sneed, Trena Peel and Kristin Schmidt, Klein is the fourth LSU player to be named a finalist for the award.
A third-team NFCA All-America selection in 2004 and again in 2006, Klein leads the team and ranks fourth in the SEC with a .422 batting average and leads the conference with 16 doubles. The senior from Sunrise, Fla., also ranks in the top 10 in the league in slugging percentage, on base percentage, runs scored, hits, RBIs, triples, total bases and walks.
The SEC and Louisiana Player of the Week on March 19, Klein was a member of the Husky Softball Classic and Easton Purple & Gold Challenge All-Tournament teams earlier this season. On separate occasions this year, she has enjoyed nine-game and 10-game hitting streaks. She also leads the team with 15 multiple-hit games and 12 multiple-RBI games.
On nine occasions, she has knocked in the game-winning RBIs, including a pair of wins over then No. 10 Florida and a win over No. 2 Alabama. The LSU career record holder for doubles, she also ranks first in career batting average and slugging percentage in school history. She is on the cusp of also breaking school records for home runs and RBIs, while ranking in the top 10 in Tiger softball history in hits, runs scored, triples, stolen bases and sacrifice flies.
The list of 25 finalists will be narrowed down to 10 on May 9. On May 23, the list will be cut to three and those final players will travel to Oklahoma City for the announcement of the winner at the 2007 NCAA Women’s College World Series.
A replica of the award will be placed in a permanent display in the ASA National Softball Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, along with photos of the winner. An additional replica of the award will be presented to the player’s academic institution.
Cat Osterman became the first three-time winner of the National Player of the Year Award in 2006 after leading her Texas Longhorns to the Big 12 title and a berth into the NCAA Women’s College World Series. Past winners of the award include Stacey Nuveman (UCLA-2002), Osterman (Texas-2003, 2005, 2006) and Jessica Van der Linden (Florida State-2004).
The Top 25 finalists for the 2006 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award, in alphabetical order, are:
Monica Abbott Tennessee Salinas, CA Senior Pitcher
Katie Burkhart Arizona State San Luis Obispo, Calif. Junior Pitcher
Kaitlin Cochran Arizona State Yorba Linda, Calif. Sophomore Outfield
Garland Cooper Northwestern Mission Viejo, Calif. Senior First Base
Bianca Cruz Arizona State Surprise, Ariz. Senior Third Base
Norrelle Dickson Oklahoma Orange, Calif. Senior Third Base
Kristie Fox Arizona San Diego, Calif. Senior Shortstop
Megan Gibson Texas A&M Spring, Texas Junior RHP/1B
Leslie Klein LSU Sunrise, Fla. Senior Outfield
Danielle Lawrie Washington Langley, B.C. Sophomore Pitcher
Caitlin Lever Georgia Tech Amherst, N.Y. Senior Outfield
Caitlin Lowe Arizona Tustin, Calif. Senior Outfield
Brooke Marnitz Kentucky Lexington, Ken. Senior Shortstop
Ashley Monceaux Baylor Tucson, Ariz. Senior Infield
Chrissy Owens Alabama Miami, Fla. Junior Pitcher
Lauren Parker Alabama Port Neches, Texas Sophomore Infield
Amanda Renth Missouri Mascoutah, Ill. Junior Infield
Samantha Ricketts Oklahoma San Jose, Calif. Sophomore First Base
Jenn Salling Oregon Port Coquitlam, B.C. Freshman (RS) Shortstop
Amanda Scarborough Texas A&M Magnolia, Texas Junior RHP/1B
Lindsay Schutzler Tennessee Monterey, Calif. Senior Outfield
Holly Tankersley UL-Lafayette Kirbyville, Texas Junior DP/Outfield
Angela Tincher Virginia Tech Eagle Rock, VA Junior Pitcher
Courtney Totte Oklahoma State Lawton, Okla. Senior Catcher
Tammy Williams Northwestern Roscoe, Mo. Sophomore Shortstop