OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — One day after earning Preseason All-SEC honors, LSU junior outfielder Rachel Mitchell was joined by junior pitcher/outfielder Kirsten Shortridge as two of 50 players named to the eighth annual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year watch list Wednesday as announced by the Amateur Softball Association.
The pair were two of 12 players from the SEC to be represented on the list. LSU has had at least two players on this list in four of the last five seasons.
A First-Team SEC pick and Second-Team NFCA All-South Region selection in 2008, Mitchell paced LSU’s offense by ranking inside the SEC’s Top 10 in seven offensive categories, including batting average (.374), home runs (11), RBIs (51) and slugging percentage (.665).
Mitchell finished the season on a strong note hitting safely in 13 of her last 16 games with a .438 batting clip to go along with six homers, 20 RBIs and a .958 slugging percentage.
Shortridge was a dual threat on Baylor’s 2007 Women’s College World Series team and looks to return to the form that won her the Big 12 Freshman of the Year award. She hit .340 and posted 16 multi-hit efforts for the Bears.
In the circle, Shortridge compiled a 17-6 mark in the circle and secured three wins over nationally ranked foes, including Texas A&M to clinch the Big 12 regular-season title.
The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award, considered the Heisman Trophy of women’s collegiate softball, is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the country.
Former Tiger three-time All-American Britni Sneed was one of 10 finalists for the award in 2002 followed by two-time All-American Kristin Schmidt during the 2003 season. In 2006 and 2007, three-time All-American Leslie Klein was one of 25 finalists for the honor.
The 2009 Preseason Watch List is comprised of 50 players representing 32 schools and 13 different NCAA Division I Conferences. The ASA will announce the 25 finalists on April 1. A player does not have to appear on the initial watch list to be considered as a Top 25 finalist, but once the Top 25 is named, the remaining finalist must be selected from that list.
Just days before the start of postseason play, a list of 10 finalists will be named and released on May 6. The final three finalists will be announced May 20 with the winner of the 2009 USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Award being announced prior to the start of the 2009 NCAA Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.
LSU embarks on the 2009 season at the Paradise Softball Classic, squaring off against No. 6 Oklahoma, UAB and host Hawai`i from Feb. 5-7. The new Tiger Park opens against McNeese State on Feb. 11.
Season tickets are on sale now at www.LSUSports.net, the official Web site of LSU Athletics. Tickets also can be purchased at the ticket office or by calling (225) 578-2184 or (800) 960-8587. LSU students, faculty and staff are admitted free with a LSU ID.
There are a limited number of chair-back seats still available for $100, while reserved bleacher seating is $75. Fans are encouraged to get their season tickets to guarantee great seats for LSU’s marquee home schedule that features six games against teams that made the 2008 Women’s College World Series.
2009 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List
Name ? School ? Year ? Position ? Hometown
Valerie Arioto (California) ? Sophomore ? Utility ? Pleasanton, Calif.
Brandice Balschmiter (Massachusetts) ? Senior ? Pitcher – Newark, N.Y.
Chelsea Bramlett (Mississippi State) ? Junior ? Catcher/Infield ? Cordova, Tenn.
Ashley Brignac (Louisiana-Lafayette) ? Sophomore ? Pitcher ? River Ridge, La.
Neena Bryant (Oregon) ? Outfield ? Junior ? Placentia, Calif.
Ashley Charters (Washington) ? Senior – Infield? Beaverton, Ore.
Kaitlin Cochran (Arizona State) – Senior- Outfield – Yorba Linda, Calif.
Lauren Delaney (Northwestern) ? Junior ? Pitcher ? Jefferson City, Mo.
GiOnna DiSalvatore (UCLA) ? Sophomore – Utility ? Palm Harbor, Fla.
Krista Donnenwirth (Arizona State) ? Sophomore – SS/Third Base ? Mission Viejo, Calif.
Angela Findlay (Michigan) ? Junior ? Outfield ? Lockport, Ill.
Ali Gardiner (Florida) ? Senior ? First Base – Waccabuc, N.Y.
Lauren Grill (Mississippi) ? Junior ? Infield ? Tualatin, Ore.
Alissa Haber (Stanford) ? Junior ? Outfield- Newark, Calif.
Becca Heteniak (DePaul) ? Junior ? Pitcher – Simi Valley, Calif.
Tiffany Huff (Tennessee) ? Junior ? Catcher/First Base ? Saugus, Calif
Amanda Kamekona (UCLA) ? Senior ? Infield ? Chino Hills, Calif.
Megan Langenfeld (UCLA) ? Junior ? Pitcher/First Base ? Bakersfield, Calif.
Brittany Lastrapes (Arizona) ? Sophomore ? Outfield – Laguna Niguel, Calif.
Danielle Lawrie (Washington) ? Junior – Pitcher ? Langley, British Columbia
Jenae Leles (Arizona) ? Senior ? Third Base ? Fair Oaks, Calif.
Robin Mackin (Nebraska) ? Junior – Pitcher – Newmarket, Ontario
Sam Marder (Ohio State) ? Junior? Catcher – Calabasas, Calif.
DJ Mathis (Oklahoma) – Senior ? Pitcher ? East Alton, Ill.
Morgan Melloh (Fresno State) ? Sophomore – Pitcher ? Fishers, Ind.
Noelle Micka (Nevada) ? Sophomore ? Catcher ? Garden Grove, Calif.
Rachel Mitchell (LSU) ? Junior ? Outfield ? LaPorte, Texas
Kelley Montalvo (Alabama) ? Senior ? Utility – Miami, Fla.
Charlotte Morgan (Alabama) ? Junior? Pitcher/Utility ? Moreno Valley, Calif.
Kara Nelson (Illinois State) – Junior ? Third Base ? Moline, Ill.
Stacey Nelson (Florida) ? Senior ? Pitcher ? Los Alamitos, Calif.
Nikki Nemitz (Michigan) ? Junior ? Pitcher ? St. Clair Shores, Mich.
Amber Patton (DePaul) ? Senior ? Third Base – Forsyth, Ill.
Missy Penna (Stanford) ? Senior ? Pitcher/Infield ? Miami, Fla.
Haley Perkins (Fresno State) ? Senior ? Infield ? Fresno, Calif.
Brette Reagan (Baylor) ? Senior ? Infield ? Magnolia, Texas
Samantha Ricketts (Oklahoma) – Senior – First Base – San Jose, Calif.
Brittany Rogers (Alabama) ? Senior ? Outfield – Dacula, Ga.
Jamie Schloredt (Sacramento State) ? Senior ? Catcher ? Woodland, Calif.
Kirsten Shortridge (LSU) ? Junior ? Pitcher/Outfield? Keller, Texas
Danielle Spaulding (North Carolina) ? Junior ? First Base/Pitcher – Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Jordan Taylor (Michigan) ? Sophomore ? Pitcher ? Valencia, Calif.
Rhea Taylor (Missouri) ? Sophomore ? Outfield ? Buford, Ga.
Brooke Turner (Long Beach State) ? Sophomore ? Pitcher ? Buena Park, Calif.
Jessica Valis (Houston) ? Senior ? Infield ? Shiner, Texas
Laurie Wagner (Houston) ? Senior ? Outfield ? Houston, Texas
Kim Waleszonia (Florida) ? Senior ? Outfield – Fontana, Calif.
Megan Wiggins (Georgia) ? Sophomore ? Infield – Snellville, Ga.
Tammy Williams (Northwestern) ? Senior ? Infield – Roscoe, Mo.
Jen Yee (Georgia Tech) – Junior – Second Base ? North Delta, British Columbia