Softball's Enea Named Top-25 Finalist for Player of the Year
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 | Softball
University of Florida senior Francesca Enea (Woodland Hills, Calif.) was named a finalist for the 2010 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, announced by the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America on Wednesday. This is the second year the left fielder has donned the top-25 list.
The award, which is considered the most prestigious honor in Division I women's collegiate softball, is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate players across the country.
Enea, a two-time All-American, currently leads the No. 4/5 Gators with a .405 batting average, 14 home runs, 44 RBIs, a .988 slugging percentage and a .558 on-base percentage. She also leads the Southeastern Conference in slugging percentage, home runs and RBIs. She holds nine offensive records at UF and is currently in second in SEC history with 55 career home runs and fourth with 201 RBIs. She earned All-SEC second-team honors last season while break Florida's single-season home runs and RBI records.
“This is a great accomplishment for Francesca,” Head coach Tim Walton said. “She has truly taken on a leadership role on our team and is well-deserving of being recognized as one of the best players in the country.
The Top 25 list represents 20 schools and seven different NCAA Division I Conferences. The list is comprised of 10 seniors, seven juniors, one sophomore and seven freshmen. Five SEC players are listed and the Pac-10 leads with eight selections.
The 2010 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be chosen from the 25 finalists and a top-10 list will be announced on May 12 before the start of postseason play. Three finalists will be announced on May 26 and the winner will awarded at the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla., on June 2.
The Gators head to Fayetteville, Ark., this weekend for a three-game series with the Razorbacks, beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 10 at 2 p.m. (ET). All three games can be heard on WYGC-FM 105 The Game (104.9) and seen on GatorVision.tv.
2010 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top-25 Finalists
Name (School) – Year – Position – Hometown
Valerie Arioto (California) – Junior – Utility – Pleasanton, Calif.
Chelsea Bramlett (Mississippi State) – Senior – Catcher/Infield – Cordova, Tenn.
Kayla Braud (Alabama) –Freshman – Infielder – Eugene, Ore.
Raven Chavanne (Tennessee) – Freshman – Third Base/Outfield –Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Francesca Enea (Florida) – Senior – Outfield – Woodland Hills, Calif.
Amber Flores (Oklahoma) – Senior – Infield – Calexico, Calif.
Kenzie Fowler (Arizona) – Freshman – Pitcher – Tucson, Ariz.
Teagan Gerhart (Stanford) – Freshman – Pitcher/Infielder – Norco, Calif.
Alissa Haber (Stanford) – Senior – Outfield- Newark, Calif.
Sarah Hamilton (Florida State) – Junior – Pitcher – Tallahassee, Fla.
Megan Langenfeld (UCLA) – Senior – Pitcher/First Base – Bakersfield, Calif.
Brittany Lastrapes (Arizona) – Junior – Outfield - Laguna Niguel, Calif.
Danielle Lawrie (Washington) – Senior - Pitcher – Langley, B.C.
Blaire Luna (Texas) – Freshman – Pitcher – Austin, Texas
Jen Mineau (Fordham) – Sophomore – Pitcher – Schaghticoke, N.Y.
Keilani Ricketts (Oklahoma) – Freshman – Pitcher – San Jose, Calif.
Melissa Roth (Louisville) – Senior – Catcher – Long Beach, Calif.
Hope Rush (Georgia Tech) – Freshman – Pitcher/DP – Stockbridge, Ga.
Taylor Schlopy (Georgia) – Junior – Pitcher/Outfield – West Hills, Calif.
Kirsten Shortridge (LSU) – Senior – Pitcher/Outfield– Keller, Texas
Jenn Salling (Washington) – Junior – Infield – Port Coquitlam, B.C.
Danielle Spaulding (North Carolina) – Senior – First Base/Pitcher - Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Jordan Taylor (Michigan) – Junior – Pitcher – Valencia, Calif.
Rhea Taylor (Missouri) – Junior – Outfield – Buford, Ga.
Jen Yee (Georgia Tech) - Senior - Second Base – North Delta, B.C.
