Brombacher, Bush Named Top 25 Finalists for 2011 USA Softball Player of Year
Wednesday, April 13, 2011 | Softball
Florida softball seniors Stephanie Brombacher (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) and Megan Bush (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) were both named Top 25 finalists for USA Softball's Player of the Year, released by the by the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) late Wednesday. This year's winner will be announced at the opening of the 2011 NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla. The USA Softball Player of the Year, which is considered the most prestigious honor in Division I women's collegiate softball, is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the country.
While Brombacher and UF sophomore utility player Brittany Schutte (Fountain Valley, Calif.) represented the Orange and Blue on the initial 50-player watch list, Bush was added to the 25-player finalist list this week. The Top 25 list represents 17 schools and six different NCAA Division I Conferences. The list is comprised of nine seniors, six juniors, nine sophomores and one freshman. Just days before the start of post-season play, a list of 10 finalists will be named and released on May 11. The three finalists will be announced May 25, while the winner of the 2011 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award will be announced on May 31 prior to the start of the WCWS in Oklahoma City.
Brombacher, also a top 10 finalist for the 2011 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, and Bush are two of nine seniors on this year's Player of the Year Finalist list. Bush was added for her stellar play through the first portion of the season, most recently taking claim over the Southeastern Conference's career home runs record with her 62nd bomb against Arkansas April 10. The UF first baseman has 18 home runs this season and 62 in her career. Bush has additionally tallied 62 RBI in 2011 and covered a team-leading 108 bases, while owning a .915 slugging percentage. Brombacher has claimed 14 victories this season, owning a 0.67 ERA in 84.0 innings pitched. The righty has fanned 88 and allowed just eight earned runs.
2011 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 Finalists
*Emily Allard (Northwestern) – Sophomore – Infield/Outfield – Antioch, Calif.
*Lexy Bennett (Texas) – Junior – Infield – Kingwood, Texas
Katelyn Boyd (Arizona State) – Junior – Infield – Phoenix, Ariz.
Kayla Braud (Alabama) – Sophomore – Infield – Eugene, Ore.
Stephanie Brombacher (Florida) – Senior – Pitcher – Pembroke Pines, Fla.
*Megan Bush (Florida) – Senior – Utility – Anaheim Hills, Calif.
Raven Chavanne (Tennessee) – Sophomore – Outfield – Thousand Oaks, Calif.
*Kat Dotson (Tennessee) – Sophomore – Outfield – Savannah, Ga.
Kelsi Dunne (Alabama) – Senior – Pitcher – Port Orange, Fla.
*Taylor Edwards (Nebraska) – Freshman – Catcher – Murietta, Calif.
Kenzie Fowler (Arizona) – Sophomore – Pitcher – Tucson, Ariz.
Alisa Goler (Georgia) – Senior – Infield – Frankfort, Ill.
Ashley Hansen (Stanford) – Junior – Infield – Chandler, Ariz.
Andrea Harrison (UCLA) – Junior – Outfield – Garden Grove, Calif.
Brittany Lastrapes (Arizona) – Senior – Outfield - Laguna Niguel, Calif.
Blaire Luna (Texas ) – Sophomore – Pitcher – Austin, Texas
*Christi Orgeron (ULL) – Junior – Utility – New Orleans, La.
Toni Paisley (East Carolina) – Senior – Pitcher/Utility – Lakewood, Calif.
Keilani Ricketts (Oklahoma) – Sophomore - Pitcher – San Jose, Calif.
Jenn Salling (Washington) – Senior – Infield – Port Coquitlam, B.C., Canada
Dorian Shaw (Michigan) – Senior – Infield – Burke, Va.
Jessica Shults (Oklahoma) – Sophomore – Catcher – Valencia, Calif.
Jordan Taylor (Michigan) – Senior – Pitcher – Valencia, Calif.
*Chelsea Thomas (Missouri) – RS-Sophomore – Pitcher – Pleasantville, Iowa
Niki Williams (Washington) – Junior – Outfield – Mission Viejo, Calif.
*Was not on Top 50 Watch List
