Announcement
UCLA
freshman outfielder
Samantha Camuso
('06-'07) continued her stellar frosh campaign by being named as one of the 25 finalists for the 2008 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award, announced recently by ASA. Camuso, who leads the Bruins in hitting with a .390 average, is one of only three freshmen still in contention for one of the game's most prestigious awards. Playing in front of family and friends during UCLA's Bay Area trip the last weekend of April, Sam doubled in a 7-2 win over Cal, doubled home the winning run (her second hit) in a 1-0 duel with Stanford, and was 3-4 in a Sunday 4-1 victory over the Cardinal. Sammy also leads the 41-5 (13-2) Bruins with 15 doubles, two triples, and a slugging percentage of .574.
And speaking of those who have made the national Player of the Year Watch List,
Illinois St.
junior pitcher/first baseman
junior Amber Smith
('05-'07)
(she made the list as a frosh two years ago), tied the Missouri Valley Conference career home run record of 39 with an April 27 bomb against Drake. Smith ('04-'06), also holds the Illinois St. career RBI mark.
We somehow overlooked her April 7 selection as conference Player of the Week, the fourth time Amber has won the award in her two-plus year career. Smith has been one of the Redbirds' most highly-honored players ever, having made first team all-conference and NFCA All Great Lakes Region following her first two campaigns. She also was selected as NFCA third team All-American and Easton All-American as a freshman sensation. This year, despite missing five games due to injury, Amber is hitting .330, with seven home runs and 27 RBI. Pressed into service as a pitcher, she also leads her team with a 13-7 record and 2.14 ERA. Now that's do-it-all production!
Marshall University senior infielder
senior infielder Samantha Rodriguez ('04-'06)
was selected as Conference USA Hitter of the Week April 25, the second time in her career that she has been so honored. Sam finished the week 11-19 with three home runs, three doubles and seven RBI. Rodriguez has been named to the All-CUSA second team each of the last two seasons.
Belmont senior outfielder
Meghan Pipkin
('04)
leads the Bruins with a .316 average, walks (27), hits (50) and stolen bases (35). Pipkin, the team's co-captain, holds the school's career stolen base record with 95.
Younger sister Laurel Pipkin had three hits for North Dakota St. in a 7-0 win over South Dakota St. Laurel ('04-'06) is the Bisons' second leading hitter at .349. She leads the team with 39 runs and is tied for the lead with 67 hits. Her team leads the Summit League with an 11-2 mark.
Cal State Northridge
junior infielder Micah Putnam ('04-'05), who earlier jacked two home runs in a 4-2 road win over UOP, continues to be one of the Matadors' most effective offensive performers. Micah ranks second on the team with a .309 average, 34 hits, 21 runs, seven doubles, four homers, 53 total bases and a .482 slugging percentage. Karla Chaparro ('04-'05) is a new Northridge teammate, having transferrred in January from Diablo Valley College.
Cal frosh outfielder/pitcher Valerie Arioto doubled with two outs in the seventh for an April 30 walk-off win over U.C. Davis. It was Val's second walk-off double of the season, the first occurring in a 3-2 conference win over Oregon.
The Cal-U.C. Davis game featured six former Sorcerers - for Cal, Arioto and pitcher Marissa Drewrey (both Sorcerer Gold - Phil), along with infielders Lauren Bauer and Carrie Arth (both Sorcerer Gold - Pete), competing agains Aggies Julie Stauder and Sarah O'Neill (Sorcerer Gold - Phil). Drewrey got the win, firing a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts, raising her record to 25-13. It was Marissa's ninth game with 10 or more strikeouts.
Arioto is Cal's second leading hitter at .330 and leads the team with 59 hits, 14 doubles, four triples, 39 walks and an on-base percentage of .447. Stauder ('02-'05) leads Davis at .303 with 31 runs and an OBP of .412. O'Neill ('03-'05), who is featured on the cover of the Aggies' media guide, is hitting .255 and is second in homers with four, slugging at .418 and OBP at .362.
Katie Fleury
('06-'07)
continues her solid season as
Notre Dame
's shortstop, hitting .279 and leading the Fighting Irish with 37 runs and 27 walks. She is 10 for 10 in steals.
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