April 13, 2011
STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford junior shortstop Ashley Hansen was selected among the 25 finalists for USA Softball's Collegiate Player of the Year award, announced today by the Amateur Softball Association of America. Hansen is one of the 25 remaining contenders for collegiate softball's top annual honor.
The top-25 list represents 17 schools and six different NCAA Division I conferences, with Hansen being one of the seven picks from the Pac-10. The 25 finalists announced today are the only players remaining in contention for the 2011 award.
Hansen is currently leading the nation with a .541 batting average. She also leads the Pac-10 in on-base percentage (.604) and doubles (19), while ranking second with 59 hits, a .908 slugging percentage and three triples. A two-time all-conference pick and a freshman All-American, Hansen is on track to have her most successful season-to-date on The Farm. Earlier this year, the Chandler, Ariz., native registered a hit in 19 consecutive games, including five straight games with at least one double.
A list of 10 finalists will be named and released on May 11 and the final three will be announced May 25. The winner of the 2011 USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year award will be announced prior to the start of the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.
The award, which is considered one of the most prestigious honors in collegiate softball, is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the country. Past winners of this award 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.