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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How it Unfolded
The situation unfolded as Ole Miss batted in the home half of the fifth inning. Arizona had scored eleven consecutive runs over the previous two innings, including eight in the top half of the fifth, and held an 11-6 lead in the game.

Ole Miss outfielder Nyomi Jones led off the inning with an infield single. An out and two consecutive singles followed, which loaded the bases. Senior catcher Autumn Gillespie batted with the bases loaded and one out.

Facing a 1-2 count, a noticeably-determined Gillespie watched a pitch at or near the outside corner of the plate. No “K-zone” was in place on the game broadcast, but the pitch was called as strike three to retire Gillespie for the second out of the inning. Initially unaware of the umpire’s call, Gillespie spoke to the umpire as she walked back to the dugout and pointed her bat at him at one point.

Abbey Latham, a true senior, followed Gillespie in the lineup. The first pitch was a called strike on the inside part of the plate; Latham expressed visible displeasure with the call.

The Shove
After a moment, home plate umpire Bobby DeMayo instructed Latham to step into the batter’s box; a television replay appeared to show DeMayo speaking to Latham, in addition to clapping his hands and pointing at the batter’s box.

Latham did not immediately step into the box; DeMayo stepped out from behind the plate, called time, and gave the signal of “out” after pointing at Latham.

Ole Miss head coach Jamie Trachsel, coaching in the third-base coaches box, and assistant coach Katie Rietkovich-Browder both converged on the plate, protesting DeMayo’s call. Third-base umpire Mark Craver also participated in the meeting. While the two coaches and two umpires discussed the call, Nyomi Jones jogged in from third, appearing to be headed to the dugout as Latham would be the third out of the inning.

As she reached the plate, Jones maneuvered between the coaches and umpires, making contact with DeMayo that appeared to be incidental. Continuing her motion, however, Jones shoved DeMayo by the arm with both of her hands as she continued past him.

Immediately Following
Trachsel reacted to Jones’ shove more than even DeMayo himself, as the umpire did not seem to immediately consciously realize what had happened.

The delay of game was clarified to be a strike on Latham, making it an 0-2 count, and Jones went back to third base as the runner. She was not on the base long, however, before Trachsel made a substitution and removed Jones from the game in favor of pinch runner Maddi Banks.

During the game, it was not immediately clear whether Jones was ejected or voluntarily removed. Following the game, it was clarified to JWOS that Jones was not ejected, but was removed from the game by the coach.

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Under the experimental rule, head coaches have two challenges each at their disposal. Challenges are “use it and lose it.” From the sixth inning onward, a replay can be initiated at an umpire’s discretion.

Torina’s successful challenge on Wednesday fell under item #9 on the list of reviewable plays, obstruction or interference at any base. Torina challenged an uncalled obstruction of a baserunner at second base after the same runner was thrown out at the plate; the call was overturned on replay and the runner was called safe at home.

The following situations are subject to replay review:

1. Deciding if a batted ball called fair is fair or foul.
2. Deciding if a batted ball called a ground rule double or home run is fair or foul.
3. Deciding if a batted ball called foul that could result in a ground rule double or home run is fair or foul.
4. Deciding if the ball actually left the field on a home run. Any ball higher than the top of the foul pole when it leaves the field would specially not be reviewable.
5. Deciding on a foul tip/foul ball at the plate, including a dropped strike.
6. Spectator interference.
7. Deciding scoring plays at home plate inclusive of collisions (illegal and/or malicious slides), obstruction by a defensive player or timing plays.
8. All aspects of a scoring/timing play are reviewable to ensure a run rightfully earned is scored and to prevent a run from scoring which a team did not rightfully earn.
9. Obstruction and interference are reviewable at any base only if the play in question results or would result in the third out of an inning AND relates to a timing/scoring play.
10. Deciding if malicious/flagrant contact occurred. Umpires are allowed to initiate this review without requiring a coach’s challenge at any point in the game to ensure student-athlete safety.
11. Force/Tag Play Calls: Plays involving all runners acquiring the base before the defensive player’s attempt to put the runner out at any base.
12. Hit-by-Pitch Calls: Those plays for which there is a possibility that a pitched ball touches a batter or her clothing, which shall incorporate a review of the ball in relation to the batter’s box, if it is determined upon review that the ball hit the batter or her clothing.
13. Placement of Runners: An umpire’s placement of all runners (per the rules/case book) after any blocked ball call.
14. With runners on base, a no catch can be changed to a catch only if it results in a third out. With no runners on base, a no catch can be changed to a catch at any time.

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Perry was receiving a throw from across the diamond in an attempt to double-off Drotar when the play happened. As Drotar dove back towards first base, her legs came back over her head in a lopsided fashion and her cleat made contact with Perry.

A super senior, Perry immediately went to the ground but was able to walk off the field under her own power a few minutes later. She held a towel firmly to her head when she did, and blood was visible on the television broadcast.

On Wednesday, Auburn Softball provided an update on Perry’s condition. “An update from Justus Perry,” the school wrote on their social media pages. “‘Five stitches and a Tetanus shot later, so glad Cayla Drotar and I are now friends for life! So thankful to Alabama Softball and the SEC [Softball] Tournament for taking such great care of both of us. This softball community is SO REAL!!!!'”

Perry and her team were eliminated from the SEC tournament after suffering a loss in that same game to South Carolina. Perry’s availability status for a potential NCAA tournament appearance wasn’t immediately clarified.

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ORIGINAL STORY:

A health update has been provided from South Carolina on the health of super senior Cayla Drotar.

Drotar was involved in a collision at first base during the Gamecocks’ SEC tournament game against Auburn on Tuesday afternoon. While diving back to first base, Drotar suffered an injury and remained on the ground for several minutes. After several minutes, Drotar was strapped to a back board, including a neck brace, and was later taken off the field in an ambulance.

Gamecock Softball provided an update on Drotar’s status late Tuesday night: “Following a play at first base in the top of the seventh in Tuesday’s SEC Softball Tournament game against Auburn, South Carolina softball’s Cayla Drotar was taken to a local Tuscaloosa hospital out of an abundance of caution,” the Gamecocks wrote. “We are thankful to update everyone with good news – Cayla is OK. All reports we have received have been positive, and we know KK will be back with us as soon as she can. Thank you to everyone, especially our fellow SEC competitors around the conference, who reached out with positive thoughts for Cayla. We would especially like to thank the Alabama training staff and medical personnel. They have been extremely helpful throughout the entire process and given us everything we’ve needed. We continue to send our thoughts to Cayla and can’t wait to have her back with us.”

One of four super seniors who returned to the Gamecocks under the NCAA’s extended eligibility waiver, Drotar posted a 3-7 overall record this season in addition to a .238 batting average at the plate. Early in the 2020 season, she suffered a concussion on a play at the plate and missed several weeks’ worth of games prior to the season’s abrupt cancellation.

Auburn first baseman Justus Perry was also injured in the collision involving Drotar; Perry was struck in the head by Drotar’s cleats and left the game with a bleeding wound. An update on Perry’s injury status wasn’t immediately available.

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Rollin’s name first appeared in the portal on May 5th, which was Wednesday.

A hard-hitting infielder, Rollin turned heads with her hot start to the 2020 season. She finished the abbreviated year with a .364 batting average and led the Tigers in home runs with seven. She also led the team with fourteen stolen bases during the shortened year, almost half of the entire team’s total of 29 swiped bags.

In 2021, Rollin has played sparingly and owns just a .150 batting average with no home runs and one RBI. She has appeared in sixteen games, making eight stats, and earned twenty at-bats. She was supplanted at shortstop by freshman sensation Jenna Laid, who currently leads the Tigers with a batting average over .400.

As a freshman in 2019, Rollin earned a nod to the SEC’s All-Freshman team and finished that year with a slash line of .331/10/41.

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For other teams, though, there might be some heart palpitations between now and then. We decided to take a look at seven teams who are seen as “on the bubble” in our Bracketology, and to analyze their chances of seeing their name on a Regional bracket line.

One piece of information that is worthy of note in this category is the NCAA’s rule change, or adaptation, for the 2021 season: Generally, a team must have a record at or above .500 to be considered for an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. This season, however, that requirement is not in place. Any team may be selected for an at-large bid, regardless of record, and a sub-.500 record will not by itself keep any team out.

Mississippi State

Let’s begin with the elephant in the room or, rather, the Bulldog. Mississippi State has been the worst team in the SEC for much of the year, and now only share the title with South Carolina after their series win over the Gamecocks last week. Mississippi State has had a rough go of things this year, including an early loss to Southern Illinois and come-from-behind wins over Alcorn State, Western Kentucky, and Southern Miss. With five games to go – including Wednesday’s rescheduled doubleheader vs. Tennessee – the Bulldogs are five games over .500. They must win at least one game against either Tennessee or Georgia to guarantee themselves a record above .500 going into the SEC tournament. If Mississippi State finishes the season above the .500 mark – including after the SEC tournament, which now includes a #12 vs. #13 play-in game as the opener – they’ll make the NCAA tournament field. However, should they lose the remaining five regular-season matchups and lose the play-in game to the conference tournament, they will be below .500 and the committee may leave them out, rule change notwithstanding.

Prediction: In

Kansas

This weekend’s series against Iowa State could not be more important for Kansas. The Jayhawks currently sit as the 6th Big 12 team in the RPI rankings and hold the #43 overall position in those rankings. A win over Missouri in a border battle matchup is a high mark in the Jayhawks’ favor, but they also have a wins and losses issue – currently sitting at 22-23, the program would not make the NCAA tournament in a normal year. This is not a normal year, though, so the team’s qualifications for an at-large bid must be more closely examined. Kansas is 2-13 in conference play and 2-12 in road games this season; their best non-conference wins are the victory over Missouri and a win against Wichita State, while their worst losses were to UTSA, Northern Iowa, and a series loss to Texas Tech in conference play. If the season ended today, Kansas does not look like an NCAA tournament team, regardless of record, but a strong showing against Iowa State and in the Big 12 tournament could change that perception.

Prediction: Out

NC State

After pulling a game from LSU and from Florida State, the Wolfpack have gained some traction in some softball circles. Despite that, though, they still have some massive hills to climb to truly challenge for an at-large berth in the NCAA tournament. In the latest RPI, NC State is ranked at #90 – and that’s an improvement. The Wolfpack’s RPI took a nose dive after an early-season 4-game series against Gardner-Webb and a 3-game weekend set against North Carolina A&T; despite going 7-0 in those games, playing low-ranked opponents significantly impacted the Wolfpack’s rating, as well. In conference play, the Wolfpack split with Virginia; lost a game to Boston College; and failed to pick up a win against either Notre Dame or Clemson. Even with Abby Trahan in the circle and a high-octane offense, a surprise run to a tournament championship is NC State’s best bet to go dancing.

Prediction: Out

Southern Illinois

Since beginning the season on a lengthy winning streak – a streak that included the afore-mentioned win over Mississippi State in Starkville – the Salukis have lost their way a bit. They have fallen to 4th in the conference standings, with a 16-7 league record, and currently sit at #50 in the latest RPI rankings. The Salukis have snuck into the NCAA tournament before, in 2019, so it’s not out of the question for Kerri Blaylock’s squad to pull off another such achievement. A series against Northern Iowa marks the end of the regular season for SIU, and fortunes could change very quickly following that series and the MVC tournament.

Prediction: True Bubble

South Alabama

While it’s been six years since the Jaguars’ last NCAA tournament appearance, the program’s re-emergence this season has meant far more than that. Becky Clark’s club has floundered considerably over the last few years, but the ship now looks to be righted and the Jags have turned some heads this season. Two non-conference wins against SEC foes Georgia and Alabama at their own home parks probably had something to do with that, as well, but the Jags have been playing like a tournament-bound team for much of the year. A series sweep at the hands of Georgia Southern this past weekend put a significant damper on the Jags’ postseason hopes, but was hardly the end of those hopes. Winning the Sun Belt tournament would certainly make breathing a bit easier for the Jags on Selection Sunday, but with an RPI of 49 in the latest rankings and two major wins that have aged considerably well, things seem to be looking up in terms of postseason chances.

Prediction: In

Tulsa

Three teams from the American Athletic Conference seem unavoidably destined to reach the NCAA tournament – Wichita State and UCF have quality bodies of work through this season, while South Florida is trending upward towards the end of the season and are playing lights-out. Could Tulsa help the American place four teams in the tournament? At this point, a non-Power 5 league getting even three teams into the tournament seems like a stretch – four teams seems laughable. But it is possible. Tulsa took the 3-1 series win over UCF and pulled games from both South Florida and Wichita State. Their RPI will also be helped by a 3-game series against Texas A&M and games against both Oklahoma State and Kansas. At the same time, a 75 ranking in the RPI is not a great starting spot for the Golden Hurricane.

Prediction: Out

Delaware

You might call Delaware one of a handful of “enigma” teams that are highly-ranked in the RPI through much of this season; other teams to makes appearances include George Washington and Villanova. The teams have weak strengths of schedule, but thanks to abbreviated slates and other factors, they maintain high RPI ratings. This would normally be the point where somebody rags on the RPI, but at this point in time, it’s the only comparable metric by which all teams can be judged, so it makes sense to rely on it fairly heavily. Delaware is not a bad team, by any means, and they have played well. But unless the committee decides to absolutely simply phone in their selections based solely on the RPI, the Blue Hens should bank on a conference championship as their way into the field of 64.

Prediction: Out

The post Stating the Case for Seven NCAA Tournament Hopefuls appeared first on Justin's World of Softball.

Dowell has started every game for the Tigers this season, and currently ranks third on the team with a .294 batting average. Her eighteen RBIs lead the team, as do her eighteen walks.

In 2020, Dowell started every game at shortstop for the Tigers and posted a .346 batting average with a .494 slugging percentage. The abbreviated season was her first “full” year as an every day starter.

A true senior, Dowell has a single season of eligibility remaining following this year, thanks to the NCAA’s extended eligibility waiver last spring.

For her career, Dowell owns a .269 batting average with 39 runs scored, 42 RBIs, and 36 walks in 141 games.

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“First I just want to say that it is okay to change your mind,” Schorman wrote on Twitter on Tuesday morning. “I’m at the point in my life where i’m (sic) constantly changing my mind and that’s okay. I’m excited to announce I will be continuing my academic and softball career at the University of Louisiana Lafayette.”

As hinted in her tweet, the decision is an about-face from a previous announcement; on April 8th, Schorman announced that she had elected transfer to Missouri. “To say the transfer process has been a roller coaster of emotions does not even explain the half of it. A lot of tears have been shed and I’ve been very indecisive,” Schorman posted on social media in announcing her initial transfer. The Tigers did not officially announce Schorman’s addition.

Now, less than two weeks later, the former Wildcat has gone in a different direction.

Schorman entered the portal on February 18th after departing the Kentucky program that same week. She did not appear in any games for the Wildcats during the 2021 season.

In 2020, Schorman pitched well early in the season and earned wins over Minnesota and Liberty during her team’s opening weekend of play. She recorded seven victories in the circle during the shortened season, and led the team in ERA.

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In today’s game, some star pitchers don’t pick up a bat for a variety of reasons. Many prefer to avoid the risk of injury, while others are grateful to have some time to relax or game plan while their teams stack up the run support behind them.

Even still, though, there are quite a number of standouts and stars who spin the ball in the circle as well as step into the batter’s box. In today’s Top 10, we ranked the best dual-threat players in Division 1!

Honorable Mention: Georgina Corrick, South Florida; Sydney Supple, Northwestern; Payton Tidd, Notre Dame; Mack Leonard, Illinois State; Grace Baalman, Kentucky; Lindsey Walljasper, Charlotte; Alana Vawter, Stanford; Madie Auginbaugh, Fordham; Cayla Drotar, South Carolina

10. Mariah Mazon, Oregon State

Mazon often gets overlooked, lost in a crowded array of stars on the diamond in the PAC-12. Her abilities with her arm are sensational, however, and her bat isn’t too shabby in its own right. A “super junior”, if you will, Mazon currently boasts a 2.95 ERA and 157 strikeouts this season in just over 140 innings of work. She’s also batting .337 with five home runs as a regular member of the Beavers’ lineup.

9. Danielle Williams, Northwestern

The Wildcats’ pitching ace is also a dangerous hitter. She owns a stellar 1.93 ERA and 45 wins during her pitching career in Evanston, but also sports a .271 batting average and 34 RBIs in 170 career at-bats. In 2021, she also has notched her first-ever collegiate stolen bases.

8. Brittany Pickett, North Carolina

Pickett’s absence was felt on both sides of the ball last season when she went down with an injury, which only underscores her value to the Tar Heels’ program in both her role as ace of the pitching staff and as a cornerstone of the lineup. For her career, Pickett owns a 2.28 ERA and 732 strikeouts. Her own career batting average – .275 – is more than forty points higher than that of her opponents’, who have hit just .231 against her. She also has hit 33 career home runs.

7. Paige Rauch, Villanova

After following head coach Bridget Orchard from Fordham to Villanova following her own freshman year, Rauch has continued the torrid pace that she set at her career’s very beginnings. Earlier this season, she set the Villanova program’s career home run record in just over two years’ worth of games as a Wildcat. Rauch has been a rock in the circle – 2.56 ERA and 338 strikeouts – and at the plate – .425 batting average, 35 home runs, .863 slugging percentage – throughout her career.

6. Melissa Rahrich, Stony Brook

Rahrich leads the Seawolves with her arm and her bat. She is a two-time America East Conference Player of the Year and will go down as one of the best athletes in history at Stony Brook. For her career, Rahrich owns a 2.76 ERA and .266 opponent’s batting average, and sports a .410 average at the plate in her own right. Her career offensive numbers also include 39 home runs, 157 RBIs, and a slugging percentage of .698.

5. Autumn Humes, Kentucky

Grabbing Humes as a Division II transfer moving up has turned into one of Rachel Lawson’s most successful coaching moves. Humes has topped the Wildcats’ pitching staff since she got to Lexington, and even elected to return for her “super senior” season to help the program advance even further. She does that with both her arm and her bat, to the tune of a 2.90 ERA with 245 strikeouts and a .244 batting average with nine home runs in her career.

4. Makinzy Herzog, Texas A&M

You don’t often see a starting pitcher at the top of her team’s batting lineup, but that’s a role that Herzog has filled multiple times this season. In three seasons, including her freshman year at Florida State, Herzog owns a 1.64 ERA and has collected 166 strikeouts. Offensively, she’s really come into her own in her two seasons as an Aggie and now owns a career .349 batting average with 17 home runs and a .611 slugging percentage.

3. Valerie Cagle, Clemson

Easily one of the brightest shining stars to come out of Clemson’s first two years as a program, Cagle has quickly become one of the nation’s best young stars. She has made waves with both her bat and her arm, and even her defensive prowess as she frequently plays in the outfield when not pitching. In thirty-two games this season, Cagle owns a .385 batting average with eight home runs and has assembled a microscopic 1.03 ERA with 141 strikeouts in the pitching circle. For her career, she bats at a .381 clip with eighteen home runs and her career ERA registers at 1.52.

2. Shelbi Sunseri, LSU

To put Sunseri’s career properly into perspective, the 2020 season – when she hit .328 – was seen as a “down year” for the LSU sensation. Admittedly, hitting just one home run was out of character for her, but that characterization simply illustrates how high the bar was set in her breakout season of 2019. Sunseri has looked like her old self both in the circle and at the plate in 2021, and now boasts a career ERA of 2.13 with 174 strikeouts in 256.1 innings of work. Offensively, her career batting average stands at .296, and she owns 28 career doubles and 31 career home runs.

1. Rachel Garcia, UCLA

Garcia falls into the vein of the Fernandezes and Finches of the game, as she will go down as one of the all-time greats. Garcia’s career is well-known, as is her prowess both in the circle and at the plate. Consider the 2019 Women’s College World Series – in addition to pitching the Bruins to a near-spotless postseason run, it was Garcia’s home run against Washington in the WCWS semifinals that swept her team into the championship series.

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