2nd Team
P-Carrie Eberle, Oklahoma State
P-Kassidy Wilbur, Stephen F. Austin
P-Alex Storako, Michigan
P- Brooke Yanez, Oregon
C-Bailey Hemphill, Alabama
1B-Delanie Wisz, UCLA
2B-Hannah Adams, Florida
3B-Charla Echols, Florida
SS-Sis Bates, Washington
OF-Maya Brady, UCLA
OF-Kate Gordon, James Madison
OF-Jayda Coleman, Oklahoma
P/UT-Makinzy Herzog, Texas A&M
At-Large-Sydney McKinney, Wichita St
At-Large-Odicci Alexander, James Madison
At-Large-Rylee Jensen, BYU
At-Large-Linda Rush, Drexel
At-Large-Ashley Rogers, Tennessee

3rd Team
P-Georgina Corrick, South Florida
P-Courtney Vierstra, Miami (OH)
P-Hailey Dolcini, Fresno St
C-Kinzie Hansen, Oklahoma
1B-Tricia Awald, Georgia Tech
2B-Rachel Lewis, Northwestern
3B-Kelsey Bennett, Virginia Tech
SS-Braxton Burnside, Arkansas
OF-Brooke Wilmes, Missouri
OF-Ciara Bryan, Louisiana
OF-Haley Cruse, Oregon
P/UT-Mack Leonard, Illinois St
At-Large-Haley Lee, Texas A&M
At-Large-Bailey Vannoy, Charlotte
At-Large-Paige Rauch, Villanova
At-Large-Jenna Wildeman, Central Arkansas
At-Large-Taylor Pleasants, LSU

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In addition to Player of the Year, contained herein are winners of each of the following awards:

• Pitcher of the Year
• Coach of the Year
• Freshman of the Year (limited to true freshmen)
• Assistant Coach of the Year
• Comeback Player of the Year
• Breakout Star of the Year

See below for write-ups on each award winner!

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Oklahoma slugger Jocelyn Alo earns Player of the Year honors after a sensational season at the plate. Alo hit her 30th home run of the season during the Super Regionals and enters the Women’s College World Series sporting a .487 batting average with 76 hits, 82 RBIs, and a 1.135 slugging percentage, in addition to the eye-popping home run numbers. She’s also a perfect 3-3 in stolen bases and perfect defensively with a 1.000 fielding percentage. An absolutely incredible year has also seen her earn 34 walks and strike out just 14 times.

Also Considered: Odicci Alexander, James Madison; Sammey Bunch, Northern Iowa; Braxton Burnside, Arkansas; Valerie Cagle, Clemson; Rachel Garcia, UCLA; Bailey Hemphill, Alabama; Tiare Jennings, Oklahoma; Dejah Mulipola, Arizona; Gabbie Plain, Washington

PITCHER OF THE YEAR

Washington’s Gabbie Plain is our Pitcher of the Year. Plain put up possibly the most impressive performance of her career this season, helming a pitching staff that didn’t deliver as expected and taking on a heavier workload as she led her team to a 2nd-place finish in the PAC-12 and a Super Regional berth. Plain finished the year with a 1.45 ERA, 32 wins, and a 0.82 WHIP. She pitched 237 of her team’s 374 innings on the year, held opponents to a .174 batting average, and recorded 337 strikeouts which finished top-3 in the nation.

Also Considered: Odicci Alexander, James Madison; Valerie Cagle, Clemson; Georgina Corrick, South Florida; Carrie Eberle, Oklahoma State; Montana Fouts, Alabama; Rachel Garcia, UCLA; Keely Rochard, Virginia Tech; Ashley Rogers, Tennessee; Courtney Vierstra, Miami (OH)

COACH OF THE YEAR

The 2021 JWOS Coach of the Year is James Madison’s Loren LaPorte. LaPorte guided the Dukes to a regular season showing where they lost just once, then navigated the program through the CAA tournament and one of the nation’s toughest regionals as the regional 3-seed. The Dukes upset a pair of top-30 RPI teams in the regional round, including the hosting Tennessee Lady Vols. In the Super Regionals, LaPorte’s squad took the best-of-3 series from the Missouri Tigers in Columbia to advance to the program’s first-ever Women’s College World Series. The Dukes own a .317 team batting average with 66 home runs, as well as a team ERA of 1.53 and 355 pitching strikeouts, as they enter the WCWS on Thursday.

Also Considered: Larissa Anderson, Missouri; Kristi Bredbenner, Wichita State; Courtney Deifel, Arkansas; Patty Gasso, Oklahoma; Jamie Pinkerton, Iowa State; Dot Richardson, Liberty; John Rittman, Clemson; Krista Wood, South Dakota State; Ricci Woodard, Texas State; Marissa Young, Duke

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

Only true freshmen were considered for this award, and the running-away winner was Oklahoma’s Tiare Jennings. Jennings has been a crucial part of the Oklahoma offensive onslaught this season, as she ranks third on the team with a .485 batting average and second on the roster with 25 home runs. Jennings has started every game for the Sooners and leads the team in at-bats. She has collected 22 doubles on the year, nearly twice as many as her next-closest teammate, and also leads the squad in RBIs with 84.

Also Considered: Addison Barnard, Wichita State; Alyssa Brito, Oregon; Erin Coffel, Kentucky; Jayda Coleman, Oklahoma; Tori Kniesche, South Dakota State; Olivia Lackie, South Alabama; Jenna Laird, Missouri; Shelby Lowe, Auburn; Carlie Scupin, Arizona

COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR

The only award that ended with a tie in the voting, the Comeback Player of the Year virtual trophy is shared by Tennessee pitcher Ashley Rogers and James Madison dual threat Odicci Alexander. Rogers missed much of the 2020 season due to injury, but returned in 2021 and fought through some continuing injuries to help lead Tennessee to a semifinal berth in the SEC tournament and the overall 9-seed in the NCAA tournament. She finished the year fifth in the country in strikeouts and wins, and led all SEC pitchers in both categories, as well as ERA as she posted a 1.26 mark.

Alexander played in just eight games a year ago before missing the remainder of the year, but returned for her “super senior” year in 2021 with a vengeance. Her season’s numbers, to-date, include a 1.14 ERA, 16 wins, and an opponent’s batting average of .138. She owns 186 strikeouts on the year in 117 innings of work and boasts a strikeout/walk ratio better than 5/1.

Also Considered: Elissa Brown, Alabama; Giselle Juarez, Oklahoma; Sierra Lange, George Washington

ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR

Oklahoma State pitching coach John Bargfeldt is the recipient of the Assistant Coach of the Year award in 2021. In his first full season as the Cowgirls’ pitching coach, Bargfeldt tutored the staff to new heights and helped them guide the program to its second Women’s College World Series berth in as many years. Led by Carrie Eberle and Kelly Maxwell, the Cowgirl staff owns a 1.80 ERA on the year with a staff WHIP of 1.15. Eberle has thrown nineteen complete games this season in 31 appearances, while Maxwell has made 26 appearances and Logan Simunek has seen the circle 22 times. The Cowgirls have allowed just 96 earned runs in 373.2 innings of work, and have held opponents to a .202 batting average against them. The staff has collected 349 strikeouts to go along with 149 walks, a strikeout/walk ratio better than 2/1.

Also Considered: Jennifer Brundage, Michigan; Jodie Cox, Fresno State; Rich Dillinger, Iowa; Elizabeth Economon, Wichita State; JT Gasso, Oklahoma; Jeff Harger, Arizona State; Kristine Himes, Kentucky; Chris Malveaux, Missouri; Craig Snider, Texas A&M; Morgan Zerkle, Miami (OH)

BREAKOUT STAR OF THE YEAR

Arkansas slugger Braxton Burnside is the Breakout Star of the Year for 2021. After sitting out the 2019 season following an in-conference transfer, Burnside batted .392 during the shortened 2020 season with five home runs. In 2021, though, she truly found her groove at the plate and finished the year with a .357 batting average and 25 home runs. She emerged as one of the game’s top sluggers this season, as she also recorded 54 RBIs and an .892 slugging percentage. Each of her numbers led the Razorbacks’ roster during their own record-setting year at the plate.

Also Considered: Odicci Alexander, James Madison; Maddi Hackbarth, Arizona State; Elizabeth Hightower, Florida; Tiare Jennings, Oklahoma; Kandra Lamb, Louisiana-Lafayette; Bailey Lange, Wichita State; Haley Lee, Texas A&M; Mack Leonard, Illinois State; Autumn Pease, Minnesota

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UCLA led all teams with five players earning Preseason All-American recognition. Alabama, Arizona, LSU, Oklahoma State, and Washington each placed three players on the preseason roster, while teams with two representatives include Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana-Lafayette, Mississippi State, and Oregon. An additional eighteen teams placed a single player on the Preseason All-American roster.

2021 JWOS Preseason All-Americans

1st Team

P – Keely Rochard, Virginia Tech
P – Megan Faraimo, UCLA
P – Gabbie Plain, Washington
C – Morganne Flores, Washington
1B – Alysen Febrey, Oklahoma State
2B – Janae Jefferson, Texas
3B – Sydney Sherrill, Florida State
SS – Jessie Harper, Arizona
OF – Kindra Hackbarth, Arizona State
OF – Aaliyah Andrews, LSU
OF – Kate Gordon, James Madison
P/UT – Rachel Garcia, UCLA
Non-P/DP – Bailey Hemphill, Alabama
At-Large – Sis Bates, Washington
At-Large – Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza, Arizona
At-Large – Bubba Nickles, UCLA

2nd Team

P – Summer Ellyson, Louisiana-Lafayette
P – Shelby Wickersham, LSU
P – Carrie Eberle, Oklahoma State
C – Dejah Mulipola, Arizona
1B – Kendyl Lindaman, Florida
2B – Amber Bishop-Riley, Liberty
3B – Charla Echols, Florida
SS – Sami Williams, Iowa State
OF – KB Sides, Alabama
OF – Haley Cruse, Oregon
OF – Aaliyah Jordan, UCLA
P/UT – Valerie Cagle, Clemson
Non-P/DP – Jocelyn Alo, Oklahoma
At-Large – Mia Davidson, Mississippi State
At-Large – Cayla Kessinger, Missouri
At-Large – Ciara Bryan, Louisiana-Lafayette

3rd Team

P – Montana Fouts, Alabama
P – Mariah Mazon, Oregon State
P – Brooke Yanez, Oregon
C – Bailey Vannoy, Charlotte
1B – Fa Leilua, Mississippi State
2B – Maya Brady, UCLA
3B – Jenna Cone, George Washington
SS – Kiley Naomi, Oklahoma State
OF – Tristen Edwards, Nebraska
OF – Hannah McEwen, Arkansas
OF – Taty Forbes, North Carolina State
P/UT – Danielle Williams, Northwestern
Non-P/DP – Aly Harrell, Marshall
At-Large – Taylor Pleasants, LSU
At-Large – Autumn Storms, Arkansas
At-Large – Autumn Humes, Kentucky

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The eighteen-member roster was not selected by position, and includes seven pitchers, one catcher, six infielders, two outfielders, and two utility players.

The SEC led all conferences with six representatives on the JWOS All-Freshman Team, while the PAC-12 (3) and Patriot League (2) were the other leagues with multiple players on the roster. Other conferences represented by a single player on the team include the ACC, ASun, Big South, Big Ten, Big 12, Mountain West, and the WAC.

For the first time since the JWOS All-Freshman Team’s inception, there were no schools who had multiple selections to the team. For the fifth year in a row, an Oklahoma Sooner rookie made the team; Oklahoma is the only program to place at least one player on the JWOS All-Freshman Team in each year of the Team’s existence.

See the full 2020 JWOS All-Freshman Team roster below:

Alicyn Grete, Army
Alynah Torres, Arizona State
Bailey Misken, Colgate
Jenna Greene, Presbyterian
Johneisha Rowe, Florida Gulf Coast
Jordan Weber, Missouri
Kelley Lynch, Washington
Kinzie Hansen, Oklahoma
Lexi Kilfoyl, Alabama
Maya Brady, UCLA
Nia Carter, Iowa
Ramsay Lopez, New Mexico State
Rylea Smith, Kentucky
Rylee Trlicek, Florida
Shannon Hadded, San Jose State
Sydney Kuma, Georgia
Taylor Pleasants, LSU
Valerie Cagle, Clemson

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Loughman batted .615 in four games for her team, with four home runs and ten RBIs. In a midweek game against Incarnate Word, Loughman went 2-3 in the leadoff spot, including a leadoff home run in the first inning. She added an RBI double and a bases-loaded walk as her contributions to her team’s 19-run offensive explosion.

In a weekend series against Conference USA favorite North Texas, Loughman went 6-10, a number that included three home runs. Loughman recorded multiple home runs in each of the trio of games, with a pair of home runs in the series finale. On Saturday, in the series’ second game, it was Loughman’s grand slam in the sixth inning that truly broke the game open and gave her team a run-rule, walk-off win against the Mean Green.

Hoe had quite a week in her own right, batting .600 with four home runs and seven RBIs. Going 6-10 at the plate on the week, Hoe’s hits were all for extra bases and included a pair of doubles. She recorded an astronomical 2.000 slugging percentage, as well as a .692 on-base percentage.

During each of her team’s games, Hoe hit a home run, recording multiple hits in two of the match-ups. The sophomore backstop scored six runs on the week and also earned a pair of walks.

The Player of the Week honor is the first of the season for both Loughman and Hoe, and is also the first for a member of either team. It is the second time this season that JWOS has awarded Co-Player of the Week honors.

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A freshman for the Tigers, Cagle began the week with a stellar performance in the circle against Georgia in a midweek matchup, holding the Bulldogs to one run on three hits and helping buoy her team to the first win in program history over a ranked opponent.

In the weekend series against Virginia – the inaugural conference series for the Tigers – Cagle batted .692, recording multiple hits in each of her team’s three games. In the series opener, Cagle started the game in the circle before moving to center field. She finished the day 4-5, with two RBIs and two runs scored. She hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh to secure her team’s first conference victory.

After a 2-3 performance in game two against UVA that included a 2-RBI double for the Tigers’ freshman, Cagle’s finest performance of the weekend came in the series finale. In a game that Clemson would win by a run-rule, Cagle started in the circle, going six innings and earning the win. At the plate, she posted a 3-5 showing, scoring twice and driving in seven runs. During a 7-run third inning, Cagle hit a grand slam, later hitting a three-run shot in the sixth inning that secured the run-rule and marked her second walk-off longball of the series.

The JWOS Player of the Week award is the first of Cagle’s career and the first for a Clemson player.

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Perez was one of two Bruin players to get a hit in each of the team’s five games over the weekend, ending the weekend going 9-17 with four walks. She helped lead her team to a 5-0 record at the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational.

In her team’s opening matchup against Alabama, Perez was a perfect 1-1 at the plate, recording three walks, with a solo home run as her only hit. She also stole a base in the game and scored a pair of runs. She recorded two RBI against Liberty, and later in the weekend, against Georgia, Perez went 3-4 at the plate, recording a pair of RBIs and again scoring twice.

The Bruin shortstop’s arguably biggest performance came against South Florida on Sunday, when she went 3-5 against the Bulls, including a two-run home run, with three runs scored. In a 9-run sixth inning against USF, it was Perez’s single that led to the error that opened the scoring floodgates for UCLA, and her home run that capped off the team’s efforts in the inning. She ended the weekend with a 1-3 performance against Florida State, earning a walk and scoring a run.

For the weekend in Clearwater, Perez assembled a line of .529 (9-17), 2 HR, 7 RBI, 8 runs scored, 4 walks, and 2 stolen bases. The JWOS Player of the Week award is Perez’s first of the 2020 season.

2020 JWOS Players of the Week
2/18 – Briana Perez, UCLA
2/11 – Miranda Elish, Texas

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The Patriots went 5-0 in week three, including three run-rule victories at their own hosted tournament. The team outscored their opponents 47-11, while the pitching staff recorded a pair of shutouts.

Patriots junior Ashtyn Patterson was named the Peach Belt Conference’s Player of the Week after assembling a .750 batting average thanks to a 9-12 showing at the plate, and added six runs scored, three doubles, and seven RBIs. She is in her first season as a Patriot after transferring from Carson-Newman.

The Patriots began the weekend with an 8-0 win over Chowan in five innings, thanks to the run-rule. FMU also run-ruled Mercy 14-5, before taking a pair of wins on Saturday, over Chowan 6-4 and Mars Hill 15-0. The final game of the weekend, shortened by rain, resulted in a 4-2 final score in favor of the Patriots.

Head coach Stacey Vallee has the Patriots off to their best start to a season since 2009.

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After moving up from Division III prior to the season, the Patriots have started their D2 tenure an undefeated 10-0, and finished the weekend 5-0 at their hosted tournament with a pair of wins over ranked opponents.

After beginning the weekend with an 8-6 victory over Texas A&M International in Tyler, the Patriots later recorded a 3-2 win over Arkansas-Monticello to close Friday’s doubleheader. An offensive slugfest led to a 17-15 win over #23 Arkansas Tech on Saturday, and a 5-2 victory over Texas Woman’s closed the tournament’s second day for the squad. Sunday’s mid-afternoon matchup against #14 Southern Arkansas finished in an 8-inning 11-8 win for the Patriots, who posted their second ranked win of the weekend.

Three Patriots players recorded at least one hit in each game, including leadoff hitter and center fielder Haleigh Swinney, who went 9-16 on the weekend, good enough for a .563 batting average. She recorded one extra base hit, stole a base, earned six walks, and scored seven runs.

Head coach Mike Reed and the Patriots are now 10-0 on the 2020 season, and have outscored opponents 93-59 during the 10-game winning streak.

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