May 11, 2011
STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford junior shortstop Ashley Hansen is among the 10 finalists for USA Softball's Collegiate Player of the Year award announced the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) today. Hansen is just the second player in program history make the list of 10 finalists for the prestigious award.
The finalists represent five conferences, and include two players from the Pac-10. The award, which is considered the top honor in collegiate softball, is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by players across the country. Past winners of the award, in its 10th year, include UCLA's Stacey Nuveman, Florida State's Jessica Van der Linden, three-time winner Texas pitcher Cat Osterman, Tennessee's Monica Abbott, Virginia Tech's Angela Tincher and two-time winner Washington's Danielle Lawrie.
Hansen is putting up career offensive numbers this season. She leads the nation in doubles per game (0.46), while ranking third in batting average (.497) and sixth in on-base percentage (.562). In the Pac-10, Hansen leads all players in batting average, slugging percentage (.804), on-base percentage, hits (81) and doubles (23). The Chandler, Ariz., native has tallied 24 multi-hit games and nine multi-RBI games so far this season.
Just a junior, Hansen already ranks among the top-10 in school history in career hits (8th), doubles (4th), triples (t2nd), RBI (8th) and runs scored (8th).
Hansen and the Cardinal are 37-13 overall and 9-9 in the Pac-10 heading into the final conference series of the regular season. Stanford travels to No. 1 Arizona State, May 12-14, for a three-game series at Farrington Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.
Along with Hansen, the finalists include Arizona State infielder Katelyn Boyd, Alabama infielder Kayla Braud, Florida utility player Megan Bush, Tennessee outfielder Raven Chavanne, Alabama pitcher Kelsi Dunne, Texas pitcher Blaire Luna, Louisiana-Lafayette utility player Christi Orgeron, Michigan pitcher Jordan Taylor and Missouri pitcher Chelsea Thomas.
The list will be narrowed to three finalists on May 25. The winner of the 2011 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award will be announced on May 31 prior to the start of the 2011 NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.