Now that the D1 Softball season has come to a close, and Oklahoma has won their third National Championship, it’s time to take a look at our HERO Sports All-America Team.
We took something like a consensus approach to our All-America team. First looked at the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America picks – then shuffled through the Player of the Year Watchlists, various All-Region teams, and finally looked at team performances. Finally we considered team success and each player's influence on that success.
And here we have it: two teams with four pitchers, a player from each infield position, three outfielders, a designated player/utility (non-pitcher), and an at-large pick.
Congratulations to them all on fantastic seasons!
(All stats exclude the postseason)
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First Team
Pitchers
Paige Parker, So./Oklahoma
33-3 wins (led D1)
1.55 ERA
244 Strikeouts
13 shutouts
Big 12 Pitcher of the Year
Kylee Hanson Jr./Florida Atlantic
0.76 ERA (1st in D1)
15 Shutouts
28-5 Record
300 Strikeouts (5th in D1)
.138 Opponent Batting Average
Conference USA Pitcher of the Year
Megan Good So./James Madison
32-3 wins (2nd in D1)
0.91 ERA (4th in D1)
10 Shutouts
222 Strikeouts
.151 opponent batting average
.307 on offense, with 7 home runs
Capital Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year
Jailyn Ford – Sr./James Madison
3-Time NFCA All-American
CAA Player of the Year
.324 Batting Average
10 Doubles
11 Home Runs
33 RBI
18-3 Record
1.03 ERA
188 Strikeouts
.163 Opponents Batting Average
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Catcher
Lexie Elkins/Louisiana Lafayette
.509 Batting Average
10 Doubles
19 Home Runs
49 RBI
1.737 OPS
Only 1 error, throwing out 5 of 9 runners
2-time Sun Belt Player of the Year
1st overall pick in the NPF Draft
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First Base
Jade Rhodes – Sr./Auburn
.335 Batting Average
10 Doubles
49 Runs Scored
66 RBI (8th in D1)
17 Home Runs
.994 Fielding Percentage
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Second Base
Sierra Romero – Sr./Michigan
4-time NFCA All-American
Big10 Player of the Year
.465 Batting Average
11 Doubles
19 Home Runs
78 RBI
74 Runs Scored
.916 Slugging Percentage
.585 On base Percentage
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Shortstop
Kristen Brown/North Carolina
.388 Batting Average
19 Home Runs (league record 66 career runs)
58 RBI
44 Runs Scored
.521 On Base Percentage
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Third Base
Kasey Cooper/Auburn
SEC and ESPNw Player of the Year
.465 Batting Average
17 Doubles
19 Home Runs
64 Runs Scored
.880 Slugging Percentage
.589 On Base Percentage
.962 Fielding Percentage (7 errors all season)
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Outfield
Haylie McCleney – Sr./Alabama
.441 Batting Average
55 walks
.600 On Base Percentage
15 Doubles
5 Triples
.717 Slugging Percentage
Sierra Lawrence – Sr./Michigan
.440 Batting Average
73 Hits
76 Runs
11 Home Runs
43 RBI
20-for-20 Stolen Bases
Erin Miller – Sr./Oklahoma
Co-Big12 Player of the Year
.400 Batting Average
22 Doubles (3rd in D1)
78 Hits
.682 Slugging Percentage
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Designated Player
Shay Knighten – Fr./Oklahoma
NFCA Top-3 Finalist for Freshman of the Year
Big12 Freshman of the Year
11 Home Runs
52 RBI
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At-Large Pick
Emily Crane (OF) – Sr./Missouri
.404 Batting Average
69 Hits
15 Doubles
17 Home Runs
61 RBI
.801 Slugging Percentage
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Second Team
Pitchers
Aleshia Ocasio – So./Florida
22-2 Record
0.77 ERA (2nd in D1)
147 Strikeouts
.183 Opponent Batting Average
Jessica Burroughs – Jr./Florida State
Atlantic Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year
27 Wins
1.93 ERA
.170 Opponents Batting Average
227 Strikeouts
Delaney Gourley – Jr./Florida
19-4 record
224 strikeouts (led Florida)
0.80 ERA (3rd in D1)
.141 opponent batting average
Sarah Groenewegen – Jr./Minnesota
336 Strikeouts (Tied for 1st in D1)
10K/7 Innings
31-7 Record (3rd in D1)
7 Shutouts
.296 Batting Average
11 Home Runs
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Catcher
Aubree Munro – Sr./Florida
SEC All-Defensive Team
Led SEC in putouts with 421
One error in past 934 chances (over past two seasons)
.279 Batting Average
3 Home Runs
28 RBI
20 Runs Scored
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First Base
Tera Blanco – So./Michigan
.406 Batting Average
12 Doubles
12 Home Runs
64 RBI
.762 Slugging Percentage
No errors in 295 chances
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Second Base
Emily Carosone – Sr./Auburn
.405 Batting Average
70 Hits
12 Doubles
12 Home Runs
9 RBI
.971 Fielding Percentage (7 errors)
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Shortstop
Delaney Spaulding – Sr./UCLA
.345 Batting Average
17 Home Runs
61 RBI
17 Multiple RBI Games
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Third Base
Bianka Bell – Sr./LSU
.386 Batting Average
.659 Slugging Percentage
57 Runs Scored
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Outfield
Karley Wester – Jr./Notre Dame
.446 Batting Average
9 Double
2 Triples
3 Home Run
91 Hits
68 Runs
46 Stolen Bases
.446 Batting Average
Alexis Bennett – Sr./UCLA
.412 Batting Average (1st in PAC12)
73 Hits
57 Runs
.500 On Base Percentage
1.000 Fielding Percentage in 81 Chances
Amanda Lorenz – Fr./Florida
.403 Batting Average
73 Hits
56 Runs
14 Doubles
8 Home Runs
48 RBI
1.000 Fielding Percentage in 47 chances
Schutt Sports/NFCA Freshman of the Year
SEC Freshman of the Year
[divider]
Designated Player
Sahvanna Jaquish – Jr./LSU
.349 Batting Average
71 RBI
67 Hits
18 Doubles
12 Home Runs
.473 Slugging Percentage
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At-Large Pick
MJ Knighten (3B) – Jr./Nebraska
.376 Batting Average
21 Home Runs (4th in D1)
60 RBI
61 Runs Scored
