LAS CRUCES, N.M.— The Western Athletic Conference released its 2010 all-WAC softball teams and major awards as selected by the league's head coaches. Regular season champion Hawai`i swept the major awards, as
Jessica Iwata was named WAC Player of the Year,
Stephanie Ricketts was voted Pitcher of the Year,
Kelly Majam was selected Freshman of the Year and
Bob Coolen was named Coach of the Year.
Iwata, Ricketts, and Majam were all named first team all-WAC, along with
Melissa Gonzalez and
Jenna Rodriguez. #Amanda Tauali`i# was selected to the all-WAC second team.
This is the second time that UH has earned all four honors. In 2007, Tyleen Tausaga was the WAC Player of the Year, Kate Robinson earned Pitcher of the Year honors,
Katie Grimes was named Freshman of the Year and Coolen was voted Coach of the Year. Fresno State is the only other team to have earned all four of the WAC's major awards in 1998.
Iwata, a freshman shortstop from Lihu`e, Kaua`I (Kaua`i HS), led all WAC players in batting average (.488), hits (39), doubles (12), RBI (32) and home runs (tied with Rodriguez with 11). Earlier this season, Iwata became the first Rainbow Wahine in history to earn Louisville-Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association National Player of the Week honors in Week 9 after hitting .600 (12-for-20) with nine runs, 17 RBI, two doubles, six home runs—including two grand slams. In the series finale at Boise State (Apr. 10), Iwata tied UH's and the WAC's single-game home run record with three home runs while driving in a UH and WAC single-game record, eight RBI. Iwata is the fourth Hawai`i player to be named WAC Player of the Year. UH earned four-straight Player of the Year honors from 2000-2003. Dana Degan earned the award in 2000; Kate Judd was honored in 2001 and '02; Stacey Porter won it in 2003; and Tausaga was selected in 2007.
Ricketts, a sophomore pitcher from San Jose, Calif. (Archbishop Mitty HS), is the fourth UH pitcher to be named WAC Pitcher of the Year (Kate Robinson - 2007, Melissa Coogan - 2003 and Desiree Duran – 2001). She went a perfect 13-0 in conference, winning all 12 of her starts with complete game efforts. She tossed three shut-outs in conference action—including a perfect game at Nevada (Apr. 24). Ricketts has a 1.55 ERA in 81.1 innings pitched with 25 walks and 52 strike outs while holding opponents to a .191 batting average at the plate. Overall, Ricketts is 22-6 with a 2.18 ERA in 186.0 innings pitched. She became just the third UH pitcher in program history to earn over 20 wins twice. Last season, Ricketts was voted WAC Freshman of the Year and was second-team all-WAC.
Majam, a freshman centerfielder from Pine Valley, Calif. (Mountain Empire HS), has had an amazing rookie campaign. She lead the WAC with 31 runs scored and 16 walks in 20 conference games. In WAC gams, Majam was second on the team with a .397 batting average (30-for-77), 10 home runs and six doubles (tied with Gonzalez). Overall, Majam broke UH's school records in runs scored (65) and home runs (25). Her 25 homers currently is ranked third in the NCAA DI. Majam leads Hawai`i with 50 RBI and a .930 slugging percentage. She is tied with Iwata with a .395 average and on defense, Majam has a 1.000 fielding percentage. She is the fifth Rainbow Wahine to earn WAC Freshman of the year honors: former UH standouts Stacey Porter,
Kaulana Gould and current teammates, Grimes and Ricketts.
It is the fourth time in Coolen's career that he has been voted conference Coach of the Year. He earned his first honor in 1994 as Big West Coach of the Year and has been voted WAC Coach of the Year three times (2003, '07 and'10). Coolen has guided this year's team to unprecedented heights this season, leading them to a 41-12 overall record and 19-1 mark in WAC games. Overall, the 2010 team has broken team records for runs scored (397), doubles (77), home runs (128), and RBI (359). Coolen also has led his team to an 18-game win streak, the longest in school history to start conference play.
Gonzalez, a junior third baseman, bounced back from an injury-plagued season as a sophomore, to be arguably the most consistent UH player at the plate this season. In conference, she is hitting .390 (30-for-77) with solid numbers across the board including 19 runs scored, six doubles, 11 home runs, and 26 RBI.
Rodriguez, a junior transfer from Arcadia, Calif., has made a huge impact for the 'Bows primarily as a designated player this season. In WAC games, she is fourth on the team with a .386 average (27-for-70) with 13 runs scored, two doubles, a triple, 10 home runs, and 29 RBI. Rodriguez, who helped Yavapai College win the 2009 Junior College National Championship, has provided stability in the middle of the line-up.
Tauali`i, a senior first baseman from Torrance, Calif., was the lone Rainbow Wahine named to the all-WAC second team. She hit .377 (23-for-61) with 16 runs scored, three doubles, nine homers and 22 RBI in conference games this year. It is the second time Tauali`i has been named an all-WAC player. Last season, she earned a spot on the first team.
Hawai`i led the way with six total players on the all-WAC teams, followed by Fresno State and New Mexico State with five apiece. Eleven of the players were repeat selections from a year ago, while all eight schools were represented. Six all-WAC players ties the second most UH has ever had in a year. In 2007, the 'Bows had had 10 players earn all-WAC first or second team honors. UH had six earn all-WAC status twice before in 1998 and 2003.
The Rainbow Wahine also received the WAC regular season trophy today after capturing its third WAC title with a 19-1 record. It was the second best conference record in WAC history, behind Fresno State's 24-0 mark in 1999.
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2010 All-WAC First Team
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Kathy Cox
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Sr.
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INF
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Boise State
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Haley Gilleland#
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Jr.
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INF
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Fresno State
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Jr.
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3B
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Hawai`i
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Fr.
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SS
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Hawai`i
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Tiare Jennings#
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So.
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UTL
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New Mexico State
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Meghan Krieg#
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Jr.
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P
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Louisiana Tech
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Fr.
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CF
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Hawai`i
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Michelle Moses
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So.
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UTL/P
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Fresno State
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So.
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P
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Hawai`i
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Jr.
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DP
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Hawai`i
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Nicole Rupp-Tindall
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Sr.
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OF
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Utah State
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Caitlin Stiglich
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Jr.
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C
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Fresno State
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Amberly Waits!&
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Sr.
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SS
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Louisiana Tech
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2010 All-WAC Second Team
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Julianne Aiello
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So.
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INF
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San Jose State
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Kellie Caplan
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So.
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UTL
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Boise State
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Allie Crump
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So.
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P
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Boise State
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Kandis Jones
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Jr.
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OF
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New Mexico State
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Brittany McConnell
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Sr.
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C
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San Jose State
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Morgan Melloh!@
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Jr.
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P
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Fresno State
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Noelle Micka!@
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Jr.
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C
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Nevada
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Hoku Nohara!
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Jr.
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INF
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New Mexico State
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Andrea Ortega
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So.
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UTL
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Fresno State
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Angie Ortega!
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Sr.
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OF
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New Mexico State
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Danielle Patrick
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Jr.
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SS
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Nevada
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Kylie Randall
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Jr.
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UTL
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New Mexico State
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Amanda Tauali`i!
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Sr.
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1B
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Hawai`i
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!2009 first team All-WAC
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#2009 second team All-WAC
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@2008 first team All-WAC
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&2008 second team All-WAC
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2010 WAC Freshman of the Year: Kelly Majam, Fr., CF, Hawai`i
2010 WAC Pitcher of the Year: Stephanie Ricketts, So., Hawai`i
2010 WAC Player of the Year: Jessica Iwata, Fr., SS, Hawai`i
2010 WAC Coach of the Year: Bob Coolen
