Bates, Plain Named USA Softball Player Of The Year Finalists
April 24, 2019 | Softball
OKLAHOMA CITY - USA Softball announced its finalists for the Collegiate Player of the Year award, with Washington's Sis Bates and Gabbie Plain each earning their way into the group of 25 players. This is the second year in a row Bates has been named a finalist for the Player of the Year award and the second year in a row that Washington has had multiple players named finalists. A Freshman of the Year finalist last season, this is Plain's first Player of the Year finalist honor.
A 2018 First Team All-American, Bates is leading the Pac-12 in hitting this year with a .525 batting average in conference play. She was one of four Huskies named to USA Softball's Preseason Player of the Year Watch List before this season began. Just this last weekend, Bates became the sixth Husky in program history to record 200+ hits in their first three seasons, reaching 60 hits for the third straight year. The 2018 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, Bates has made only one error in 46 games at shortstop, the fewest errors of any shortstop in the Pac-12.
Plain has only improved since being named a 2018 Third Team All-American, twice earning Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week this season. The sophomore threw back-to-back no-hitters earlier this season, the first time in program history that a pitcher has strung together multiple no-hitters. That was a part of a 23.1-inning hitless streak and 29-inning scoreless streak for Plain, who now has five scoreless streaks of 20+ innings in her career. Plain is the third-fastest Husky ever to reach 300 strikeouts in their career, doing so in just 251 innings.
Washington now has three players who have been named Player of the Year finalists on the roster, with Bates and Plain joining 2018 finalist Taran Alvelo. Over the last three years, the Huskies have had five finalists for the award. Danielle Lawrie is the only Husky to have won Player of the Year for Washington.
The Player of the Year will be announced before the Women's College World Series. The list of 25 finalists will be whittled down to ten players, then three before announcing the winner.
Make sure to follow Husky Softball on Twitter with the username @UWSoftball and on Instagram at uwsoftball.
A 2018 First Team All-American, Bates is leading the Pac-12 in hitting this year with a .525 batting average in conference play. She was one of four Huskies named to USA Softball's Preseason Player of the Year Watch List before this season began. Just this last weekend, Bates became the sixth Husky in program history to record 200+ hits in their first three seasons, reaching 60 hits for the third straight year. The 2018 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, Bates has made only one error in 46 games at shortstop, the fewest errors of any shortstop in the Pac-12.
Plain has only improved since being named a 2018 Third Team All-American, twice earning Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week this season. The sophomore threw back-to-back no-hitters earlier this season, the first time in program history that a pitcher has strung together multiple no-hitters. That was a part of a 23.1-inning hitless streak and 29-inning scoreless streak for Plain, who now has five scoreless streaks of 20+ innings in her career. Plain is the third-fastest Husky ever to reach 300 strikeouts in their career, doing so in just 251 innings.
Washington now has three players who have been named Player of the Year finalists on the roster, with Bates and Plain joining 2018 finalist Taran Alvelo. Over the last three years, the Huskies have had five finalists for the award. Danielle Lawrie is the only Husky to have won Player of the Year for Washington.
The Player of the Year will be announced before the Women's College World Series. The list of 25 finalists will be whittled down to ten players, then three before announcing the winner.
Make sure to follow Husky Softball on Twitter with the username @UWSoftball and on Instagram at uwsoftball.
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