April 10, 2013
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – University of Notre Dame sophomore Emilee Koerner (Tustin, Calif./Foothill) has been named one of the Top 25 Finalists for the 2013 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America and USA Softball announced Wednesday.
Entering its 12th year, the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award recognizes outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the United States.
Koerner began the week as the NCAA leader in batting average (.513), and was also in the top-10 nationally in doubles per game (second, 0.46) and slugging percentage (ninth, .920) as of April 8.
Koerner leads Notre Dame with 58 hits, 16 doubles, three triples, 31 RBI, 104 total bases and 33 runs scored in 36 games this season.
Just prior to the start of post-season play on May 8, the list will be narrowed to the Top 10 Finalists. The Top 3 Finalists will be released May 22, and the winner of the 2013 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be announced on May 28 prior to the start of the NCAA WCWS in Oklahoma City, Okla.
The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award is voted on by coaching representatives from 11 Division I Conferences in the 15 ASA Regions as well as members of the media who consistently cover Division I Softball across the country.
2013 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 Finalists
Cassidy Bell (Penn State) – Senior – Outfield – Bakersfield, Calif.
Kayla Braud (Alabama) – Senior – Outfield – Eugene, Ore.
Lauren Chamberlain (Oklahoma) – Sophomore – Infield – Trabuco Canyon, Calif.
Raven Chavanne (Tennessee) – Senior – Third base/Outfield – Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Rachele Fico (LSU) – Senior – Pitcher – Oxford, Conn.
Amber Freeman (Arizona State) – Sophomore – Catcher – Lakewood, Calif.
Michelle Gascoigne (Oklahoma) – Senior – Pitcher – Benicia, Calif.
Lauren Gibson (Tennessee) – Senior – Second Base – Pasadena, Md.
Jolene Henderson (California) – Senior – Pitcher/First base – Elk Grove, Calif.
Taylor Hoagland (Texas) – Senior – Outfield/Infield – Flower Mound, Texas
Kaila Hunt (Alabama) – Junior – Infield – Evans, Ga.
Kaitlin Inglesby (Washington) – Junior – Pitcher/First Base – Portland, Ore.
Katie Keller (Louisville) – Junior – Second Base – Livermore, Calif.
Emilee Koerner (Notre Dame) – Sophomore – Outfield – Tustin, Calif.
Blaire Luna (Texas) – Senior – Pitcher – Austin, Texas
Haylie McCleney (Alabama) – Freshman – Outfield – Morris, Ala.
Jessica Moore (Oregon) – Senior – Pitcher – Sutter, Calif.
Sara Nevins (South Florida) – Junior – Pitcher – Pinellas Park, Fla.
Ellen Renfroe (Tennessee) – Junior – Pitcher – Jackson, Tenn.
Keilani Ricketts (Oklahoma) – Senior – Pitcher – San Jose, Calif.
Hannah Rogers (Florida) – Junior – Pitcher – Lake Wales, Fla.
Sierra Romero (Michigan) – Freshman – Infield – Murrieta, Calif.
Chelsea Thomas (Missouri) – Senior – Pitcher – Pleasantville, Iowa
Jackie Traina (Alabama) – Junior – Pitcher/Designated player – Naples, Fla.
Devon Wallace (Arkansas) – Sophomore – Utility – Double Oak, Texas
–ND–