May 14, 2001
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - Stanford's Sarah Beeson, Jessica Mendoza and Dana Sorensen have been selected to the All-Pacific-10 Conference First Team while Kira Ching and Robin Walker have been named as Honorable Mention selections. Head Coach John Rittman also earned the Co-Coach of the Year award. UCLA catcher Stacey Nuveman was named Pac-10 Conference Softball Player of the Year while Arizona pitcher Jennie Finch was named Pitcher of the Year and Washington pitcher Tia Bollinger was named Newcomer of the Year, Commissioner Tom Hansen announced today.
For the fifth time in Pac-10 history and the third consecutive season there are Co-Coaches of the Year, with the honors going to Arizona's Mike Candrea and Stanford's John Rittman.
Nuveman, from La Verne, Calif., garners her second Pac-10 Player of the Year award (1999 and 2001). Last season, Nuveman took the year off to compete in the Olympics and won a gold medal in the process. This year, she has led the Bruins to a No. 2 ranking and an overall record of 55-5. Nuveman leads the Pac-10 Conference in batting average (.450), on-base percentage (.609) and slugging percentage (.887). Additionally, she ranks second in the Conference in doubles (15), RBI (69) and walks (63) while also ranking third in total bases (134) and fifth in home runs (17). Nuveman was honored as Pac-10 Player of the Week twice this season, giving her seven in her illustrious career.
Finch, from La Mirada, Calif., enjoyed one of the best pitching seasons in Pac-10 history by going 27-0, earning her Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year honors. Her ERA of 0.24 ranks first in the nation and ties her for fifth all-time in the Conference single-season record books. Opponents are hitting just .121 against Finch, while stiking out 243 times (third in the Pac-10). She has posted nine double-digit strikeout games and allowed just 72 hits in 174 innings pitched this season while running her career record to 80-10. Finch also showed some offensive prowess this year by hitting .324 with 11 home runs and 54 RBI.
Bollinger, from Santa Ana, Calif., posted a remarkable season in the circle for the Huskies, who have now won two consecutive Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year awards. Bollinger is just one win away from tying last season's Conference Pitcher of the Year, Jennifer Spediacci, for the UW single-season mark in wins. Furthermore, she now owns the Husky single-season record for innings pitched with 261 (also leads the Conference). Bollinger has posted a 33-6 record and 0.99 ERA (eighth in the Pac-10) as the Huskies finished tied for fourth in the Pac-10 this season.
Candrea, who earns his seventh Pac-10 Coach of the Year award, guided the Wildcats to a first-place finish in the Conference and their 15th postseason appearance. His Arizona squad broke the NCAA single-season home run record of 100 earlier in the year and currently has 115 on the season. Rittman earns his first Pac-10 Coach of the Year award as he led the Cardinal to its best record (48-13-1) and highest ranking (No. 3) earlier this season. Stanford will be hosting NCAA Regional VI in hopes of making its first trip to the College World Series.
FIRST TEAM PLAYER TEAMYRPOSHOMETOWN Lauren BauerARIZSROFSanta Ana, Calif. Sarah BeesonSTANJR1BTucson, Ariz. Tia BollingerWASHFRPSanta Ana, Calif. Jaime Clark WASHSOSSTustin, Calif. Jennie FinchARIZJRPLa Mirada, Calif. Jocelyn ForestCALJRPSanta Maria, Calif. Amanda Freed UCLA JR P/OF Cypress, Calif. Toni MascarenasARIZSR3BGarden Grove, Calif. Jessica MendozaSTANJROFCamarillo, Calif. Tairia MimsUCLASO3B/CTucson, Ariz. Veronica NelsonCALSO1BSan Leandro, Calif. Stacey NuvemanUCLAJRCLa Verne, Calif. Dana SorensenSTANSOPSan Diego, Calif. Natasha WatleyUCLASOSSIrvine, Calif.
SECOND TEAM PLAYER TEAMYRPOSHOMETOWN Erica BeachASUJRP/DPScottsdale, Ariz. Kara BrunASUSOSSGlendale, Ariz. Nicole DiSalvioCALSRPCorona, Calif. Crystal DraperOSUJRPParkdale, Ore. Shawna FeldtOSUSRSSVancouver, Wash. Nicole GiordanoARIZSROFSaugus, Calif. Keira GoerlUCLAFRPMoreno Valley, Calif. Kelly HauxhurstWASHSROFWestminster, Calif. Becky LemkeARIZSRPScottsdale, Ariz. Leneah ManumaARIZSO1B/DPSan Diego, Calif. Claire Sua UCLA FR 1B Cooper City, Fla. Nichole ThompsonASUJROFIrvine, Calif. M. VandergeestARIZFROF/UTThousand Oaks, Calif. Phelan Wright ASU FR 3B Los Alamitos, Calif.
HONORABLE MENTION PLAYER TEAMYRPOS HOMETOWN Paige Bowie CAL SR SS Fresno, Calif. Clare Burnum OSU SO UT Canby, Ore. Kira ChingSTAN SO 2B San Lorenzo, Calif. Lindsey CollinsARIZSRCFountain Valley, Calif. Courtney Dale UCLA SR DP/P Fresno, Claif. Kim DePaul WASH SR 3B Tomball, Texas Kristin Farber ASU FR OF Los Alamitos, Calif. Candace Harper CAL JR 3B Stockton, Calif. Missy Hixon ASU JR 2B Scottsdale, Ariz. Alyssa Laux ORE SO 2B Citrus Heights, Calif. Eryn Manahan CAL SO 2B Tustin, Calif. Amanda Oleson WASH FR UT Agoura Hills, Calif. Amber Phillips CAL SR OF Chula Vista, Calif. Stephanie RamosUCLA FR OF Elk Grove, Calif. C. RosenbladWASHSR 2B Fillmore, Calif. Kirsten Voak ASU JR P Fremont, Calif. Robin WalkerSTAN JR SS La Palma, Calif. Lisa Wangler ORE SO P/OFMesa, Ariz. PAC-10 PLAYER OF THE YEAR Stacey Nuveman, UCLA PAC-10 PITCHER OF THE YEAR Jennie Finch, ARIZ PAC-10 NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR Tia Bollinger, WASH PAC-10 C0-COACHES OF THE YEAR Mike Candrea, ARIZ/John Rittman, STAN