Alabama Lands Three on Player of the Year Watch List
1/29/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Jan. 29, 2009
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - The Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA), the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States, has selected its initial "Watch List" for the 8th Annual USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Award. Alabama enters the 2009 season with three on the list.
This award, which is considered the most prestigious honors in Division I women's collegiate softball, is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the country. Alabama seniors Brittany Rogers and Kelley Montalvo are joined by 2008 Player of the Year finalist Charlotte Morgan.
"This is a great honor for Brittany, Kelley and Charlotte," head coach Patrick Murphy said. "They are in great company with some of the best collegiate softball talent in the country. It will be a fun race to watch throughout the spring."
Past winners of this award include UCLA's Stacey Nuveman, Florida State's Jessica Van der Linden, three-time winner Texas pitcher Cat Osterman, Tennessee's Monica Abbott and Virginia Tech's Angela Tincher.
The 2009 Pre-Season 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. However, once the top 25 finalists are named the winner of the award will come from that list. *Freshman qualify for the top 25 list once they have competed at the collegiate level.
Just days before the start of post-season play, a list of 10 finalists will be named and released on May 6. The final three finalists will be announced May 20 while the winner of the 2009 USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Award will be announced prior to the start of the 2009 NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.
2009 USA Softball Player of the Year Watch List
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
