EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern junior Amy Letourneau (Laguna Niguel, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic) has been named to the 50-member watch list for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, announced today by the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America and USA Softball.
This year marks the ninth time in the last 10 years that Northwestern has had either a top-50 watch list member or a finalist for the USA Softball Player of the Year Award. Past NU watch list members are:
2013: Emily Allard, Marisa Bast
2012: Emily Allard, Adrienne Monka
2010: Adrienne Monka, Lauren Delaney
2009: Tammy Williams, Lauren Delaney
2008: Nicole Pauly, Tammy Williams
2007: Eileen Canney, Garland Cooper, Tammy Williams
2006: Courtnay Foster, Garland Cooper
Not only have a bevy of Northwestern student-athletes made the watch list at the start of the year, many have moved on to finalist status. That list looks this this:
2011: Emily Allard (top-25 finalist -- not included on initial watch list)
2009: Tammy Williams (top-10 finalist)
2008: Tammy Williams (top-10 finalist)
2007: Tammy Williams, Garland Cooper (top-25 finalists)
Letourneau was a 2013 All-Big Ten and NFCA All-Region selection who hit .382 with 13 home runs while recording a 21-13 record in the circle with 288 strikeouts in 218.2 innings pitched. She became the first player in Big Ten history to win both the strikeout crown in the circle and the batting title at the plate in the same season.
Letourneau returns full strength this season after taking a medical hardship year in 2014. Prior to being shut down for the year due to her injury, the All-America candidate still had a home run and a triple in five at-bats while going 3-1 in the circle and earning a 1.67 ERA with starts against a trio of ranked opponents.
Northwestern opens the 2015 season Feb. 6-8 at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz., where it will face a strong schedule of traditional powers including Texas, Oregon, California and North Carolina.
The Top 25 Finalists for the 2015 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be announced April 8. While an athlete does not have to be on the "Watch List" to be considered for the Top 25, the eventual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will come from the Top 25 Finalists. The Top 10 Finalists will be announced May 6 and the Top 3 announced May 20. The 2015 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed May 26.
To see the complete list, visit teamusa.org.
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