STARKVILLE, Miss. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association and Diamond Sports have announced the ten student-athletes who are the recipients of the 2010 Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year award.

The Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year award is presented annually to the top catcher from an NFCA member institution in each of the following divisions: NCAA (Divisions I, II and III), NAIA, NJCAA (Divisions I, II and III), Cal JC, NWAACC and high school.

A committee comprised of head coaches in each of the 10 divisions determines the winner of their respective award. The winners of the 2010 Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year award are as follows:

NCAA Division I
Chelsea Bramlett, Mississippi State University
With her selection this season, Bramlett has now won the last three Diamond Catcher of the Year awards. She ended her record-breaking career as Bulldog by batting .536 on the year, the second-highest average in all of Division I. In addition to throwing out a career-high 21 base stealers in 2010, the four-time Louisville Slugger NFCA First Team All-American also stole a NCAA-leading 61 bases. For her work on the base paths this season she earned the 2010 adidas Golden Shoe, marking the second straight year she has won both the adidas Golden Shoe and Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year awards

NCAA Division II
Alyssa Shirey, Valdosta State University
Shirey helped guide the Blazers all the way to the National Championship game this season by hitting .432 and finished the year with one of the best slugging percentages in all of Division II at 0.814. Behind the plate, she threw out nine of 26 base runners, while in front of the plate she hit 20 home runs, the fourth most in Division II.

NCAA Division III
Tiffany Kruse, Luther College
Kruse started all 49 games for the Norse in 2010 and helped guide them to 42-7 record and a National Championship appearance. Kruse was an offensive force for Luther this season, leading the team in RBIs, home runs and stolen bases with 58, 18 and 14, respectively. Her 18 home runs was not only a school single-season record, but it was also the third most in all of Division III. Behind the plate, Kruse was equally as dangerous, throwing out nine of 23 would-be base stealers.

NAIA
Brittney Fisher, Bethel College (Ind.)
Fisher helped lead the Pilots to the school’s first-ever NAIA quarterfinal appearance this season by batting .404 on the year. By blasting 11 home runs, Fisher finished the season ranked 39th amongst all NAIA players. As a catcher, she played a key part in the Pilots’ deep run into the national tournament by throwing out 11 of 20 runners in 2010.

NJCAA Division I
Cyd Allen, Salt Lake Community College
Allen helped lead the Bruins to a top six finish at the national tournament by going 90-for-173 on the year for an astounding batting average of .520, the fourth best in NJCAA Division I. She also drove in a division leading 91 runs, while hitting for extra bases 33 times. On the field, Allen committed just four errors in 428 chances for Salt Lake, in addition to throwing out 12 of 27 base stealers.

NJCAA Division II
Ashley Heiberger, Iowa Lakes Community College
Heiberger was a major factor in the Lakers’ third place national finish in 2010, due in large part to her 39 extra base hits, 53 stolen bases and NJCAA Division II leading 101 RBIs. Behind the plate this season, Heiberger committed only four errors on 472 chances for a fielding percentage of .992, ranking her in the top 20 nationally.

NJCAA Division III
Val Karas, Joliet Junior College
Karas hit .396 the season for the Lady Wolves with 57 RBIs, 42 runs, 13 home runs and 13 doubles. She also played a key role as catcher and helped lead Joliet to third place at the Region IV tournament.

Cal JC
Adriana Perez, Antelope Valley College
Perez was the top hitter in Cal JC this season with a batting average of .575 to go along with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs. As catcher, Perez helped lead the Marauders to the state tournament and a sixth-straight Foothills Conference crown by committing just three errors in 209 chances and throwing out 16 of 29 base runners from behind the dish.

NWAACC
Shaila Rivers, Walla Walla Community College
Rivers helped lead the Warriors to a league tournament berth this season by coming up big at the plate with a .417 batting average to go along with 15 doubles and 33 RBIs.

High School
Sarah Mooney, North Mecklenburg High School (N.C.)
Mooney was an integral component of the Viking’s state tournament run this year, hitting an astounding .605 for the season while driving in 40 runs and scoring 42 of her own. The James Madison commitment also showed power from the plate in 2010 by hitting 27 extra-base hits, including 10 home runs, for a slugging percentage of 1.222. From behind the plate, Mooney was nearly flawless, throwing out 15 of 30 base runners and ending the year with no errors in 209 chances.

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BOGOTA, Colombia — Despite a performance that included seven errors, the 2010-11 USA Softball Women’s Junior National Team beat Mexico 15-3 in six innings to improve to 4-0 at the III Pan American Championship (18-Under) in Bogota, Colombia. Team USA closes out pool play Thursday with a doubleheader against Canada and Brazil.

“We had some shaky defensive moments but I am really proud of our offensive performance today,” said Head Coach Karen Johns (Starkville, Miss.). “On the day that we needed them the most, they stepped up to the plate and bailed us out. Our pitching was on target again but our offense is what got the job done for us against Mexico.”

The bunt was the problem for the Americans, as Devanie Gutierrez scored Mexico’s only earned run the top of the second when she advanced home on a sacrifice bunt from Maria Mercado Contreras. Gutierrez reached on a bunt then advanced when third baseman Chelsea Goodacre (Temecula, Calif.) misplayed a Grecia Garcia Silva bunt. A bunt from Maria Mata Fuentes advanced Gutierrez to third. Ivette Lopez Gonzales, bunting, then reached on another error that scored Garcia. After Goodacre misplayed a bunt from Saidy Lopez that allowed her to reach, Maria Gandanilla grounded out to second base to end the inning.

Stefania Aradillas Alanis started out the third with a single to right center. She advanced to second when the next batter, Kim-Li Gil Sanchez, reached on an error by third baseman Lauren Chamberlain (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.), who replaced Goodacre. Alanis advanced to third on a Gutierrez sacrifice bunt. She scored on an error by catcher Chelsea Zgrabik (Nokomis, Fla.), who left the plate unattended when it was thought the batter, Fuentes, had struck out on what turned out to be the second strike in a 1-2 count. Fuentes later lined out with a highlight reel catch that sent shortstop Shelby Pendley (Albuquerque, N.M.) leaping into the air.

“Shelby’s catch was amazing,” Johns said. “It was incredible. Not only did she get us out of that inning, I think she really shifted the momentum back to our team. It was a real turning point.”

The USA defense was able to shut down Mexico in the fourth and fifth, then the Red, White and Blue offense took over, scoring 10 runs in the sixth. Chamberlain doubled to left field, scoring Kylee Lahners (Laguna Hills, Calif.) and moving Lauren Haeger (Phoenix, Ariz.) to third base. With the game at 6-3, Hallie Wilson (North Tustin, Calif.) doubled, scoring Haeger, who singled, and moving Chamberlain to third. Cheyenne Cordes (Fairfield, Calif.) then walked. An illegal pitch from Lopez, who moved from third to pitcher, scored Chamberlain and advanced Wilson and Cordes. Wilson and Cordes later scored on two more illegal pitches.

After Madison Shipman (Valencia, Calif.) singled to shortstop, Mercades Arzapalo Aguilar took the circle for Mexico. She allowed Lahners to double, scoring Amber Freeman (Lakewood, Calif.), who reached on a single and advanced on a wild pitch. Haeger doubles to score Lahners. A triple from Chamberlain scored Haeger. On a passed ball, Chamberlain scored. Wilson grounded out to end the 10-run sixth.

Team USA had 17 hits, including five doubles and two triples.

Cheyanne Tarango (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) worked the first three innings for Team USA, striking out three while allowing all three of Mexico’s hits. Ally Carda (Elk Grove, Calif.) worked the next three innings, striking out six.

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STARKVILLE, Miss. – The coaches of the 2010 NCAA Division I National Champions UCLA have been named as the 2010 National Fastpitch Coaches Association National Coaching Staff of the Year, the Association announced on Wednesday.

The Bruins went 50-11 on the year and were led by fourth-year head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez, assistant coaches Lisa Fernandez and Gina Veccione and volunteer assistant coach Natasha Watley.

UCLA finished the 2010 regular season in second place in the Pac-10 and earned the fifth-overall seed with an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. UCLA beat St. Mary’s (CA), San Diego State and Fresno State to finish the regional round with an undefeated record for the 19th time in program history.

The Bruins then went on to sweep Louisiana-Lafayette in the Los Angeles Super Regional to earn their 24th trip to the Women’s College World Series. In Oklahoma City, UCLA capped its perfect post-season record by going 5-0, including two wins over conference rival Arizona in the championship series, to earn the 11th national title in program history.

Just the third head coach in the history of UCLA softball, Inouye-Perez now joins her predecessors, NFCA Hall of Famers Sharon Backus and Sue Enquist, in the ranks of the school’s head coaches that have led the Bruins to a combined 106 team national championships, the most by any school in the NCAA.

The Bruins had two players selected to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America first team this season, GiOnna DiSalvatore and the 2010 WCWS Most Outstanding Player Megan Langenfeld earning the honor.

For their work this season, Inouye-Perez and staff also earned the West Region Coaching Staff of the Year award.

Other regional winners this season were:

Central Region – University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Co-Head Coaches: Michael Lotief & Stefni Lotief
Assistant Coach: Chris Malveaux

Louisiana was 45-18 this year and won both the Sun Belt regular season and tournament championships, marking the third straight season that they claimed both titles. The Ragin’ Cajuns then won the Baton Rouge Regional, which included then No. 17 LSU and No. 20 Texas A&M, and advanced to the super regionals for the second time in three years. Louisiana-Lafayette was led this season by first-team Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Region selections Vallie Gaspard and Christi Orgeron and second-team selection Donna Bourgeois.

Great Lakes Region – University of Michigan

Head Coach: Carol Hutchins
Associate Head Coach: Bonnie Tholl
Assistant Coach: Jennifer Brundage
Volunteer Coach: Becky Marx Keogh

Michigan won their third straight Big Ten title in 2010, marking the 13th time in the last 18 years that they have won the conference crown. The Wolverines then defeated Wright State once and then No. 24 Notre Dame twice to claim the Ann Arbor Regional championship, before falling to Tennessee in the super regionals. The Wolverines had four Louisville Slugger/NFCA Second Team All-Americans this season in Jordan Taylor, Dorian Shaw, Maggie Viefhaus and Nikki Nemitz.

Mid-Atlantic Region – Fordham University

Head Coach: Bridget Orchard
Assistant Coaches: Emily Friedman & Bob Baxter
Pitching Coach: Mike Forsythe

Fordham earned their first ever trip to the NCAA tournament this season and set seven new school single-season records including most wins with 49. Fordham finished second in the Atlantic 10 in both the regular season and the tournament and earned an at-large bid to the College Park Regional. The Rams defeated Maryland twice en route to the regional title game, where they fell to then No. 11 Oklahoma. Fordham was led this season by 2010 Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American Jen Mineau, who was just one of three pitchers to be named to this year’s first team.

Mideast Region – East Carolina University

Head Coach: Tracy Kee
Associate Head Coach: Natalie Kozlowski
Graduate Assistant Coach: Keli Harrell

East Carolina claimed their first Conference USA regular season and tournament titles in 2010 and advanced to the NCAA tournament for the second time in three years. In regional action, ECU eliminated both Iona and seventh-seeded Texas, before falling to BYU in the final. Helping lead the Pirates this season was third team Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American and two-time Conference USA Pitcher of the Year Toni Paisley.

Midwest Region – University of Missouri

Head Coach: Ehren Earleywine
Assistant Coaches: Melissa Tucci and Pete D’Amour
Volunteer Assistant Coach: Phil Bradley

Missouri, who spent much of the season ranked in the Top 10, took second place in this year’s Big 12 tournament and received an at-large berth to the NCAA tournament. This year’s appearance marked the 14th time in school history and the fifth in six years that they were included in the field of 64. Entering regional play as the host and ninth seed, the Tigers went 3-0 and defeated DePaul and then No. 18 Illinois twice to claim the championship. Missouri defeated No. 14 Oregon, 2-0, in the super regionals to earn their second straight trip and fifth overall to the WCWS. The Tigers’ 51 wins in 2010 set a new school record, breaking last year’s mark of 50. Helping guide Missouri back to the WCWS this season was Louisville Slugger/NFCA third team All-American and WCWS All-Tournament selection Rhea Taylor.

Northeast Region – Long Island University

Head Coach: Roy Kortmann
Assistant Coaches: Bill Gehrke & Krystal Mejia Forbes
Volunteer Assistant Coach: Jessie DePippo

Long Island claimed the Northeast Conference regular season and tournament championships in 2010, earning a berth in to the NCAA tournament. The NEC Championship was the third in four years for the Blackbirds, who finished the season at 39-18. In the Amherst Regional, the Blackbirds defeated then No. 21 Massachusetts and Boston University, but eventually fell to 13th-seeded Arizona State in the title game. The tournament run not only marked the best post-season finish in program history, but the most wins as well, with 39. Long Island placed three players, Brynn Lewis, Blaire Porter and Bianca Mejia, on the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Region first team and two, Mariesha Marker and Chelsea Martinson, on the second team.

Pacific Region – University of Washington

Head Coach: Heather Tarr
Assistant Coaches: Gina Carbonatto, Lance Glasoe, J.T. Amico
Student Assistant Coach: Dru Hester

Washington spent the entire regular season as the No. 1 team in the nation and went 17-4 in league play to earn the program’s first Pac-10 championship since 2000 and third overall. The Huskies earned the right to host a regional and went 3-0 in the event to advance to the Seattle Super Regional against then 11th-ranked Oklahoma. After dropping the first game to the Sooners, Washington took the final two games to earn their 10th trip to the WCWS. The Huskies had three first team Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Americans this season in Danielle Lawrie, Niki Williams and Jenn Salling. In addition, Lawrie was also named as the USA Softball Player of the Year.

South Region – University of Alabama

Head Coach: Patrick Murphy
Associate Head Coach: Alyson Habetz
Assistant Coach: Vann Stuedeman
Graduate Assistant Coach: Ashley Holcombe

Alabama claimed the SEC regular season and tournament titles for the first time in program history in 2010 and were named the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament. Alabama improved to 32-9 all-time in regional play by going a perfect 3-0 in the Tuscaloosa Regional to claim its sixth straight regional crown. In the Tuscaloosa Super Regional, the Tide took game one from Hawaii, but dropped the final two games of the series to end a season-high 28 game win streak and finish the year with a 52-11 record. Alabama was led in part this season by Louisville Slugger/NFCA second team All-Americans Charlotte Morgan and Kayla Braud and third team honoree Kelsi Dunne.

Southeast Region – University of Tennessee

Co-Head Coaches Karen Weekly & Ralph Weekly
Assistant Coach: Marty McDaniel
Volunteer Assistant Coach: Marc Weekly

Tennessee finished third in the Western Division of the SEC in 2010 and advanced to the semi-finals of the post-season tournament. The Lady Vols, who went 49-15 on the year, earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament and were given the 15th seed. Tennessee went 3-0 in the Knoxville Regional, before moving on to the Ann Arbor Super Regional where it shocked then No. 2 Michigan by eliminating the Wolverines in two games. At the WCWS, Tennessee won its first two games to advance to the semi-finals out of the winner’s bracket, but lost to Arizona twice to bow out of the tournament. The Lady Vols had two Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American selections, with Raven Chavanne and Kat Dotson earning third team honors.

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OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Senior Megan Langenfeld hit a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to give UCLA the 6-5 win in game one of the 2010 Women’s College World Series Championship Series on Monday night at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.

Arizona (52-13) got the scoring going in the top of the first when freshman Brigette Del Ponte hit a single to left field that allowed senior K’Lee Arredondo to cross the plate, giving the Wildcats an early 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, Langenfeld started the scoring for UCLA by hitting her first of two home runs on the evening, a solo shot to right field that tied the game at one.

In the third, UCLA (49-11) took the lead on a single from Langenfeld to right field that scored juinor GiOnna DiSalvatore.

Arizona returned the favor in the fifth on a single to right from junior Stacie Chambers that allowed junior Lauren Schutzler to score and tie the game for a second time.

UCLA broke the tie in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run double down the left field line from junior Monica Harrison to make the score 4-2, heading into the seventh.

After a lead-off walk from Schutzler, Arredondo tied the game for Arizona in the seventh with her second home run of the tournament.

In the next at bat, Chambers scored the go-ahead run for the Wildcats with a long ball of her own that was rocketed into center field, making the score 5-4.

With two outs and no one aboard, sophomore Dani Yudin came up with a clutch double to right field for the Bruins, keeping their chances of a series opening win alive.

After an intentional walk from Arizona, UCLA sent the game into extra innings on a double from senior Kaila Shull that allowed Yudin to score and tie the game at five.

The Wildcats had their chances in the eighth, but were unable to capitalize on a bases loaded opportunity with two outs.

In the bottom of the inning, Arizona pitcher Kenzie Fowler quickly retired DiSalvatore and Harrison, giving UCLA one last chance to win the game and prevent a ninth inning.

Langenfeld answered the call for the Bruins and sent the ball over the center field fence on the second pitch to give UCLA a 6-5 win and more importantly a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three championship series.

Langenfeld, who pitched six innings for the Bruins, went 4-for-5 in the contest with two runs and three RBIs, while striking out five in the circle. Langenfeld now has a tournament-high .714 batting average through four games at the WCWS

Sophomore Aleah Macon (12-1) picked up the win for UCLA by allowing no runs on just two hits with three strikeouts and a walk in two innings of work

Arizona’s Fowler fell to 39-7 on the year by giving up six runs off of 12 hits, while striking out 12.

The win gives the Bruins a 1-0 lead in the championship series heading into game two on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. CDT. A UCLA win in the contest would give the Bruins their 11th National Championship, but should Arizona win it would force a decisive, winner-takes-all game three on Wednesday night, also at 7 p.m. CDT.

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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The NCAA Division II Softball Committee has selected the 64 teams that will participate in the 2010 NCAA Division II Softball Championship. Four teams will participate at each of 16 regional sites in double-elimination tournaments. Regional competition will be held May 14-16. Winners will advance to the super regionals May 21-22. The finals will be held May 27-31 at Heritage Park Softball Complex in St. Joseph, Missouri and will be hosted by Missouri Western State University.

In the 2009 championship, Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania captured its second national championship title with an 8-0 victory over the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

To view the entire release, with sites and pairings, click here.

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STARKVILLE, Miss. – Senior second baseman Jen Yee has been named the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I National Player of the Week for games played between February 22-28.

Yee powered her way to a .545 batting average last week by going 12-for-22 with six home runs, eight runs and 14 RBIs. She also walked twice and had one stolen base.

The North Delta, B.C.’ native came up with clutch hits for the Yellow Jackets on three separate occasions on the week. Against Arkansas, the senior had her first multi-home run game in a Georgia Tech uniform and had the game-winning home run against Central Florida. Yee also hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning versus Iowa to give her team the lead for the first time since trailing 5-0.
Yee had a 1.333 slugging percentage and a .550 on-base percentage at the 2010 NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic, where she took home tournament most valuable player honors.

No. 12 Georgia Tech finished the week at 5-1 behind Yee’s performance and is currently 13-2 on the season.

OTHER TOP PERFORMANCES
Ball State’s Elizabeth Millian went 3-0 with a save, a no-hitter and did not allow any runs over a 4-1 week for the Cardinals… Washington’s Nikki Williams hit .588 with four home runs and 11 RBIs, pacing her team to a 5-0 record… Nadia Taylor of Texas hit .583 with three multi-hit, multi RBI games as the Longhorns went 3-2… East Carolina’s Toni Paisley had a 0.00 ERA over four games as her team went 4-0… Kenzie Fowler led Arizona to a perfect 5-0 week with 36 strikeouts and five wins.

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STARKVILLE, Miss. – For the third time in four weeks, the Washington Huskies received all 30 first-place votes in the latest USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll . The Huskies have now held the No. 1 spot for four consecutive editions of the poll.

Arizona, Florida and UCLA held on to their spots from last week in second, third and fifth, respectively. Missouri joined the Top 5 at fourth this week, bumping previous No. 4 Michigan down three spots to seventh.

Illinois and Oklahoma State both make their 2010 Top 25 debuts in this week’s poll at No. 21 and No. 25, forcing last week’s No. 23 Northwestern and No. 25 North Carolina out of the poll.

The USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 poll is voted on by NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference.

The next USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 poll will be released Tuesday, March 9.

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STARKVILLE, Miss. – Senior catcher Katie Bartlett of Missouri-St. Louis and senior pitcher Katie Petersen of Midwestern St., have been named as the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II National Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for games played Feb. 15-21.

Bartlett went 8-for-14 over four games and helped guide her team to a 3-1 record on the week. She finished the week with a .571 batting average, four runs, six RBIs, a double and a home run.

The Des Moines, Iowa, native gave the Tritons a fighting chance in their lone loss of the week against Union (Tenn.) by tying the game in the top of the seventh with a solo home run. UMSL won its final three games at the Union (Tenn.) Three Team Weekend to start the season at 3-1.

In the circle, Petersen led Midwestern to a perfect 5-0 record on the week by not allowing her opponents to score a single run during each of her two appearances, which included a seven-inning perfect game against Western New Mexico.

The senior from Plano allowed just three hits, no runs and four walks while striking out 21 over 14.0 innings of work.

Petersen now has 26 career shutouts and with the victory over West Texas A&M, she became the Mustangs’ all-time leader in wins with 69.

After going 5-for-5 at last week’s Holiday Inn at the Falls MSU Invitational, Midwestern is now 8-2 on the year.

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STARKVILLE, Miss. – Despite suffering their first loss of the season last week, the Washington Huskies held on to the top spot in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 poll for the third consecutive poll. Arizona, Florida and Michigan maintained their respective positions at two, three and four, while UCLA moved into the top five for the first time this season.

Baylor, who came in at No. 25 last week, was the only team to drop from the poll and was replaced by the lone newcomer, Texas A&M, at No. 24.

The USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 poll is voted on by NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference. 2010 records are shown, first-place votes are in parentheses.

The next USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 poll will be released Tuesday, March 2.

Click To Watch Washingtons Head coach Heather Tarr Interviewed on The Fastpitch TV Show
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STARKVILLE, Miss. – Freshman pitcher/first baseman Melissa Martinez of New Mexico Highlands has been named the first Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II National Player of the Week of the 2010 season.

In the first two weeks of the season, Martinez excelled both at the plate and in the circle. Through the first nine games of the season, Martinez posted a .372 batting average with 11 runs, 16 RBIs, one double and seven home runs.

The Albuquerque, N.M., native jumpstarted her collegiate career by completing two amazing feats in back-to-back games.
In her first-ever collegiate at bat, Martinez went yard against Eastern New Mexico. Since then, Martinez has added six more homers to her tally, including a three home-run performance against Grand Canyon. For the season, Martinez has a slugging percentage of 1.269.

In the second game of the season-opening doubleheader against Eastern New Mexico, Martinez took to the circle and threw a no-hitter in the first start of her collegiate career. Martinez retired 21 of 23 batters faced, while striking out 10.

After the no-hitter, Martinez continued to excel as a pitcher by recording 27 strikeouts through 20.2 innings of work.

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STARKVILLE, Miss. – Senior Danielle Lawrie of Washington has been named as the NCAA Division I Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of the Week for games played during the week of Feb. 11-14.

Lawrie, who split time between pitcher and designated player, was 6-for-15 at the plate on the week with five runs, nine RBIs and four home runs, including a grand slam against Cal State Northridge.

The Langley, B.C. native was equally effective from the circle, as she threw 21 shutout innings over three complete games. Lawrie also recorded the first Division I perfect game of the 2010 season in the Huskies’ season-opener against Auburn. Lawrie allowed just four hits and one walk on the week, while recording 45 strikeouts.

Lawrie helped guide No. 1 Washington to a 5-0 record at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz., allowing the Huskies to hold on to the top spot in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 poll for the second consecutive poll.

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STARKVILLE, Miss. – On the strength of a 5-0 opening weekend record, Washington received all 30 first place votes for the second-consecutive week to lead the first USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll of the 2010 regular season. Fellow unbeaten Arizona jumped four spots to claim the No. 2 position in the poll, while Florida, Michigan and Arizona St. rounded out the top five, respectively.

DePaul was the only team to fall out of the poll this week dropping from No. 21, while Texas was the only addition and joined the fray at No. 20.

The USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 poll is voted on by NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference. 2010 records are shown, first-place votes are in parentheses.

The next USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 poll will be released on Tuesday, Feb. 23.

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A 4-0 start to the season was enough to move previous No. 4, Siskiyous, past Sierra and into the No. 1 spot in the latest California Community College Athletic Association Softball Top 20 Coaches’ Poll.

Former No. 1, Sierra, dropped just one spot to No. 2, while East Los Angeles made the week’s biggest jump soaring 15 spots from No. 18 to No. 3.

COACHES’ POLL – TOP 20 (STATE-WIDE RANKINGS)
FOR WEEK BEGINNING FEBRUARY 7 IN SEASON 2010

Rank Team (Record) Points
1 Siskiyous (4-0) 44 (1)
2 Sierra (0-0) 43 (1)
3 East Los Angeles (7-0) 40 (1)
4 Cypress (0-0) 38
T5 Cerritos (6-1) 34 (1)
T5 Sacramento City (0-0) 34
T7 Ohlone (1-1) 33
T7 Saddleback (3-0) 33
T7 Mt. San Antonio (1-0) 33
10 Feather River (0-0) 30
11 Palomar (0-0) 29
12 Fullerton (5-2) 27
13 Santa Ana (3-1) 26
14 San Mateo (3-2) 25
T15 Long Beach City (5-3) 23
T15 Ventura (6-2) 23
T17 Fresno (2-1) 22
T17 Shasta (0-1) 22
T17 Santa Rosa (2-1) 22
20 San Joaquin Delta (1-0) 20

All records shown are from the 2010 season. First-place votes are in parentheses.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Defending national champion California Baptist has been tabbed as the No. 1 team in the NAIA Softball Coaches’ Top 25 Preseason Poll, the NAIA announced Tuesday. The Lancers were the unanimous pick, earning all 23 first-place votes and tallying 653 points. Dickinson State (N.D.) is listed second with 629 points. Oklahoma City and Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) are tied for third with 594 points and Lubbock Christian rounds out the top-five teams with 549 points.

No. 1 California Baptist returns 12 starters from its 2009 national championship team, including 2009 NAIA Pitcher of the Year, Tory Ferreira. Ferreira became the first pitcher in NAIA history to go undefeated and have at least 20 wins, as a freshman. The 2009 NAIA National Championship MVP Ashley Boyd returns for her senior season. The senior shortstop set school single-season records for home runs (16), hits (100), runs scored (82) and total bases (178). The Lancers finished last season with a school record 61 wins, on their way to winning the school’s first softball championship.

No. 22 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.), No. 23 Savannah College of Art and Design (Ga.) and No. 25 McKendree (Ill.) all make an appearance in the poll after finishing the 2009 season unranked.

Four conferences, Golden State Athletic Conference, Sooner Athletic Conference, Southern States Athletic Conference and Association of Independent Institutions, each have three teams listed in the initial poll for the 2010 season.

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences. The first regular-season poll will be announced on March 23.

To view the entire NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll, click here.

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The NFCA Division II Top 25 is voted on by 16 NCAA Division II head coaches, two representing each of the eight NCAA regions. Final 2009 records are shown. First-place votes are in parentheses.

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The USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll is voted on by 30 NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each of the 30 conferences. Records shown are the teams final 2009 records. Last ranking reflects the final 2009 poll. First-place votes are in parentheses.

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Kathryn Gleason, who will take over as NFCA first vice president at the end of the 2009 NFCA National Convention, is entering her seventh year on the Michigan State softball staff. This is her fifth season as the associate head coach after being promoted to the position in the summer of 2005. Previously, she was an assistant coach at Purdue for three years and an assistant at Massachusetts, also for three years.

Gleason just completed a two-year term as NFCA second vice president after serving two terms as the assistant coach representative for the Association. A native of Country Club Hills, Ill., she was inducted into the Marian Catholic High School Hall of Fame as “Athlete of the Year” in the 2002 induction class. Gleason was also inducted into the East Suburban Catholic Conference High School Hall of Fame in March 2008.

Karen Weekly joins the NFCA board as the Division I representative. She is entering her eighth season as Tennessee co-head coach with her husband Ralph. The Weeklys have guided the Lady Vols to a Southeastern Conference best 376 victories since arriving in Knoxville in 2002.

Weekly has served as the SEC’s representative on the NFCA’s Head Coaches Committee for the last three years. She also is an attorney and can practice law in the states of Tennessee and Washington. She is a member of the Academy of Legal Studies in Business and the American Bar Association.

Having traveled all over the nation to spread her knowledge about the sport, Weekly has been co-owner and director of National Hitting Camps since 1988. She also has been a lead instructor at ASA Elite Hitting Camps in Midland, Texas, and in Oklahoma City, Okla., and has been a featured speaker at several coaching clinics around the country.

Kevin Blaskowski joins the NFCA board as the Division II representative. He is entering his fourth season as head coach of the Lady Buff softball program at West Texas A&M. Blaskowski was hired in December of 2004 to bring back the softball program to WTAMU’s campus after a 24-year absence.

Blaskowski also serves as the NCAA South Region chair and is a member of the NCAA Division II Softball Committee, in addition to also serving as the chair of the Lone Star Conference Softball Coaches Committee.

Besides his coaching duties, Blaskowski is as an instructor in the Sports and Exercise Science Department at West Texas A&M. During his career, Blaskowski has been an instructor at Eastern New Mexico, Southern Arkansas and Kansas Wesleyan. He was the sports information director at Phillips and Kansas Wesleyan, and also served as head coach of women’s basketball at Kansas Wesleyan and assistant sports information director at Washburn.

Central College’s George Wares joins the NFCA board as the Division III representative. He is the one of the winningest softball coaches at any level with a 840-280-3 career record in 25 years of coaching.

Wares was inducted into the NFCA Hall of Fame in 2007, and he and his staff were named the NFCA Division III national coaching staff of the year in 2003, after taking regional honors in 2001. Wares enters his second two-year term on the NFCA Division III All-American and Coaching Staff of the Year Committee, serving two years as chair.

A highly regarded motivational speaker, Wares received a master’s degree in counseling from Iowa State University. He worked as a at-risk counselor at Pella High School and as an academic counselor at Central.

The Play it Forward campaign is a collaboration of Up2Us and YouthNoise that seeks to promote the importance of youth sports and to recognize the role of coaches in shaping young people’s futures.

Play it Forward centers around the Coach Appreciation Week Resolution, which was introduced with the help of Rep. McIntyre, N.C. and will go to a House of Representatives vote on September 14. Coach Appreciation Week is intended to spark a national dialogue about the importance of sports as a vehicle for youth development and to inspire volunteerism around youth sports. The Play it Forward campaign will highlight the stories of coaches from around the country who have made a difference in the lives of their players, both on and off the field. Three winning coaches will win a trip to Washington, D.C. and be honored with the National Coach Appreciation Week “Coach of the Year Award at the Up2Us National Conference.

HOW THE CONTEST WORKS:
To enter the Play it Forward contest, participants will go to the YouthNoise Web site and submit a story about the coaches who have had a positive influence in their lives. YouthNoise members will then vote for the most powerful entries to select the top 10 finalists, and a panel of judges will select the winning three entries. Winning coaches will travel to Washington, D.C. in October to receive their awards, and winning nominators will win $250 Eurosport gift certificates. Behind every great athlete is a great coach. Participate in Play it Forward and say “thank you!”

ABOUT Up2Us & YouthNoise Play City:
Up2Us is a national coalition of over 250 organizations dedicated to increasing the impact of youth sports as a tool for positive youth development and to increasing access to quality sports-based youth development programs, especially for disadvantaged youth.

YouthNoise and Nike have come together to create Play City, the ultimate realization of the power of sports to create social change. Here in Play City, “be a good sport” takes on a whole new meaning. Sports have the potential to energize individuals, revitalize communities and catalyze change. Play City is not about securing titles, cementing legacies or entertaining a prime-time audience. It’s about changing lives, creating opportunities and inspiring others to take action.

CONTACT:
Cal Zarin for Up2Us (212-359-9510 x305; czarin@americascores.org)
Angela Bush for YouthNoise ‘Play City’ (415-728-6321, angie@youthnoise.org)

08/05/09 – NFCA Release
The NFCA and Diamond Sports, the NFCA’s “Official Protective Equipment,” have released the 10 catchers who have been named the winners of the 2009 Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year award.

Diamond Sports and the NFCA present the award annually to the top catcher from NFCA member schools in each of the following divisions: NCAA (Divisions I, II and III), NAIA, NJCAA (Divisions I, II and III), Cal JC, Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) and high school.

Divisional committees consisting of NFCA member coaches determined the 2009 Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year award winners. The recipients of this year’s awards, by division, are as follows:

NCAA Division I
Chelsea Bramlett, Mississippi State
Bramlett earned Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I first-team All-America honors for a third straight year and was named the catcher on the first team for a second consecutive season. A member of the USA Women’s National Team for 2009, Bramlett led the SEC in batting average and stolen bases, ranked third nationally in batting average and topped the national statistics in stolen bases per game. She started every game behind the plate for the Bulldogs, throwing out 14 would-be base stealers.

NCAA Division II
Christine Roser, Rollins College
Sophomore catcher Christine Roser of Rollins College earns first-team honors after leading the Tars in batting average (.407), runs (54), hits (70), home runs (16) and RBI (63) for the 2009 season. Roser earned a second consecutive All-Sunshine State conference first-team honor this season. She threw out four baserunners on the season and had a .996 fielding percentage on 553 chances

NCAA Division III
Jamie Smrdel, John Carroll University
The first player in John Carroll history to earn first-team Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III All-America honors, Smrdel was also selected as a first-team All-Ohio Athletic Conference honoree. Smrdel led her conference with a .516 batting average, collecting 47 hits with 14 doubles and 33 RBI. She concludes her JCU career as the school’s all-time leader with 197 hits, 49 doubles, 27 home runs and 150 RBI.

NAIA
Erin Slettvet, Oklahoma City
Slettvet hit .389 this season with 50 runs scored, 13 doubles, 17 home runs and a team-leading 61 RBI. She was named a first-team Louisville Slugger/NAIA All-American.

NJCAA Division I
Brittany Tucker, Yavapai College
Tucker led the 2009 NJCAA Division I Champions behind the plate as one of four first-team All-Americans on the squad. Tucker hit .401 on the season with 51 runs scored and 77 RBI. She had 12 doubles, two triples and 20 home runs on the year.

NJCAA Division II
Lacy Goodman, Phoenix College
Goodman hit .519 for the 2009 season, a stat line that included 85 runs scored with 109 RBI, 30 home runs, 23 doubles and 29 stolen bases for the NJCAA Division II runner-up Phoenix College. She was named a Louisville Slugger/NFCA NJCAA Division II first-team All-American at catcher. This is the second consecutive season she has been honored as the Diamond Catcher of the Year.

NJCAA Division III
Danielle Davenport, Brookdale
Davenport, the Louisville Slugger/NFCA NJCAA Division III first-team All-American at catcher, hit .453 for the season with 70 runs scored, 59 RBI, three triples, 21 doubles and and 72 hits for the season.

Cal JC
Samantha Vaaulu, Cerritos College
The Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year award winner, Samantha Vaaulu of Cerritos College, was named a first-team All-American at catcher for the South Region last week. Vaaulu holds a .448 batting average with 52 runs scored, 13 doubles, two triples, 17 home runs and 63 RBI. She leads her team in doubles, homers and RBI along with 65 hits this season. Cerritos College also continues to advance in the Cal JC playoffs.

NWAACC
Emily Matekel, Southwest Oregon
The Diamond Catcher of the Year recipient is Emily Matekel of Southwest Oregon. Matekel was named a first-team All-American last week. She hit .432 this season with 21 runs, 13 doubles, two home runs and 21 RBI.

High School
Brittany Marcet, Pearland (Texas)High School
Junior catcher Brittany Marcet of Pearland High School in Pearland, Texas is the 2009 Diamond Catcher of the Year. In 43 games this season, Marcet paced the Texas Class 5A state runners-up with a .407 average, 46 hits, 12 doubles and 52 RBIs. Defensively, she had 260 attempts without an error this season.

The NFCA and adidas have released the 10 student-athletes who have been named the winners of the 2009 adidas Golden Shoe award.

NFCA and adidas present the award annually to the top base stealer from NFCA member schools in each of the following divisions: NCAA (Divisions I, II and III), NAIA, NJCAA (Divisions I, II and III), Cal JC, Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) and high school.

Divisional committees consisting of NFCA member coaches determined the 2009 adidas Golden Shoe award winners. The recipients of this year’s awards, by division, are as follows:

NCAA Division I
Chelsea Bramlett, Mississippi State
Bramlett earned Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I first-team All-America honors for a third straight year and was named the catcher on the first team for a second consecutive season. A member of the USA Women’s National Team for 2009, Bramlett led the SEC in batting average and stolen bases, ranked third nationally in batting average and topped the national statistics in stolen bases per game.

NCAA Division II
Teresa Erskine of Miles College
Erskine led all of NCAA Division II with 56 steals in 61 attempts for an eye-popping 1.30 steals per-game average. Erskine’s 56 steals is 16 more than her next closest competitors, while her per-game average of 1.30 steals easily eclipsed the 1.09 per-game average turned in by Michelle Thompson of Livingstone. The junior outfielder hit .378 on the season with 53 runs scored, six doubles, four triples and a home run with 34 RBI. This is the second consecutive season that a Golden Bear has won the NCAA Division II adidas Golden Shoe as Kenyona Johnson from Miles was honored in 2008.

NCAA Division III
Jenna Patnode, Keene State
Senior Jenna Patnode earned first-team All-ECAC honors during the 2009 season as the Owls top offensive performer in batting average (.423), runs (47), hits (63) and a school-record 47 stolen bases. She finished her career with 99 steals during her Owls career. Patnode’s 47 steals in 44 games was a 1.07 per-game average, ranking second in the NCAA standings. Her 47 steals was the top total number of steals in NCAA Division III play during 2009. She was the only player in the country with 40 or more swipes last season.

NAIA
Brittany Webb, Bellhaven
An infielder/outfielder from Mobile, Ala., Webb hit .403 on the season with 40 RBI. She stole 55 bases in 59 attempts, more than any other player in the country at the NAIA level. She scored 73 runs which put her among the NAIA leaders in that category as well. Bellhaven finished the year with an overall record of 36-19 which establishes a new Bellhaven record for the most wins in a season. Webb was also named a Louisville Slugger/NFCA NAIA All-American for 2009.

NJCAA Division I
Jessica Whitley, Navarro
Whitley hit .468 during the 2009 season, recording 63 runs, 45 RBI and 24 doubles on the year. Wihitley stole 80 bases in 84 chances to lead the way for NJCAA Division I.

NJCAA Division II
Ashley Willard, Iowa Central
Ashley Willard led Iowa Central with 72 stolen bases on 78 attempts during the season. She also hit .371 with 54 runs scored and three triples to go along with nine RIB and 23 walks.

NJCAA Division III
Gina Brenzo, Corning
Corning stole 31 bases on 33 attempts during the season to lead the way for the Red Barons in that category. She hit .445 with 55 runs scored, nine doubles, three triples, a home run and 26 RBI.

Cal JC
Jamie Miller, Ohlone
Miller stole 34 bases for the Renegades as they advanced to the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) State Softball Championship. Miller has gone 47-for-139 for a .338 batting average with seven doubles, two triples and 21 RBI on the season. The 34 stolen bases for this year’s adidas Golden Shoe Award winner led Cal JC.

NWAACC
Kendall Grant, Lower Columbia
The adidas Golden Shoe award winner, presented to the top base-stealer in the NWAACC, goes to Kendall Grant of Lower Columbia College. The freshman outfielder stole 48 bases during the 2009 season. Grant turned in a .503 batting average with 52 runs scored, nine doubles, a triple and 16 RBI on the year.

High School
Emily Albus, Brenham (Texas) High School
Junior shortstop Emily Albus of Brenham High School in Brenham, Texas
A three-time NFCA All-American Brenham’s Emily Albus has been named the adidas Golden Shoe winner for high school softball for 2009. In 36 games this season, Albus stole an amazing 70 bases in 73 attempts. Offensively, Albus hit .664 with 57 runs scored and 77 base hits. Albus had 14 extra-base hits, including three home runs.