Jan. 31, 2005
The Amateur Softball Association (ASA), the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States, announced its initial watch list for the fourth-annual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award over the weekend. Senior centerfielder Megan Ciolli (Terre Haute, Ind.) was among the 40 players named to the list, which will eventually be pared down to proclaim the collegiate player of the year in 2005.
Considered the Heisman Trophy of collegiate softball, past winners of the award include UCLA’s Stacey Nuveman, Texas pitcher Cat Osterman and Florida State’s Jessica Van der Linden.
Ciolli appears on the initial watch list for the second consecutive season in 2005. The catalyst for the Irish offense in 2004, Ciolli hit a team-high .397 with 81 hits, 23 RBI and 20 stolen bases. The ’04 BIG EAST Player of the Year, Ciolli compiled an outstanding offensive season, finishing third on the all-time single season list for hits and second for stolen bases. Her .367 career batting average currently ranks third all-time at Notre Dame.
Named team captain by a vote of her teammates earlier this semester, Ciolli will continue her climb up the career offensive charts in 2005. She currently ranks ninth all-time in career hits (212), ninth in home runs (10) and fourth in stolen bases (43).
A list of 25 candidates for the award will be released on April 5, with another list of 10 following on May 10. Three finalists will be announced on May 31 with the winner proclaimed at the 2005 NCAA Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.
The season begins for the 2005 Notre Dame softball team on Friday, Feb. 11, in the University of Florida’s Gator Invitational.
2005 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List:
(listed in alphabetical order)
Monica Abbott – Tennessee (Salinas, CA) – Sophomore
Kelly Anderson – California (Woodland, CA) – Junior
Caitlin Benyi – UCLA (Scottsdale, AZ) – Junior
Gina Carbonatto – Pacific (Lake Stevens, WA) – Sophomore
Kasi Carroll – Georgia (Norris City, IL) – Sophomore
Meredith Cervenka – Long Beach State (La Crescenta, CA) – Senior
Autumn Champion – Arizona (Tustin, CA) – Junior
Megan Ciolli – Notre Dame (Terre Haute, IN) – Senior
Christina Clark – Fresno State (Santa Ana, CA) – Junior
Ashley Courtney – Alabama (Vero Beach, FL) – Senior
Sara Dean – Auburn (Valencia, CA) – Senior
Norrelle Dickson – Oklahoma (Orange, CA) – Sophomore
Andrea Duran – UCLA (Selma, CA) – Junior
Vicky Galindo – California (Union City, CA) – Junior
Amy Harre – Southern Illinois at Carbondale (Nashville, IL) Senior
Camille Harris- LSU (Hendersonville, TN) – Junior
Alicia Hollowell – Arizona (Suisun, CA) Junior
Casey Hunter – Florida State (Millstadt, IL) – Senior
Vanessa Iapala – Oregon State (San Diego, CA) – Junior
Kami Keiter – Oklahoma (Arvada, CO) Senior
Oli Keohohou – Long Beach State (Newbury, CA) Senior
Leslie Klein – LSU (Sunrise, FL) – Sophomore
Lauren Lappin – Stanford (Anaheim, CA) – Junior
Dominique Lastrapes – Washington (Mission Viejo, CA) – Sophomore
Jodie Legaspi – UCLA (Garden Grove, CA) Sophomore
Caitlin Lowe – Arizona (Tustin, CA) Sophomore
Jessica Merchant – Michigan (Wayland, MI) – Senior
Brooke Mitchell – Louisiana Lafayette (Pasadena, TX) – Senior
Nicole Motycka – Michigan (Sarasota, FL) – Senior
Ani Nyhus – Oregon (White Rock, B.C., Canada) – Senior
Cat Osterman – Texas (Houston, TX) Junior
Jackie Rinehart – Stanford (Reno, NV) – Sophomore
Kristen Rivera – Washington (Perris, CA) – Senior
Jessica Sallinger – Georgia Tech (Kennesaw, GA) – Senior
Heather Scaglione – Oklahoma (San Diego, CA) – Senior
Jamie Southern – Fresno State (Clovis, CA) Senior
Kristina Thorson – California (Lake Forest Park, WA) Sophomore
Stephanie Van Brakle – Alabama (Chambersburg, PA) Junior
Kim Wendland – Georgia (Rock Island, IL) Senior
Veronica Wootson – Florida State (Fontana, CA)