Player Bio: Becky Simpson - University of Washington Official Athletic Site

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WILSON ON SIMPSON: "Becky epitomizes the Husky Softball success story. She came to the Huskies as a walk-on and has developed into an amazing player.
"Becky has incredible speed, can slap or hit, and is one of the best base runners to ever put on a Husky uniform. Becky is such a catalyst on this team. She makes things happen, and will most likely be counted on to do just that from the lead off position this season.
"As our teams only senior, she is also a source of wisdom, leadership, and motivation for making her last year her best.
WASHINGTON: Expected to start in left field, but has the ability to play any of the outfield positions ... only senior on this year's squad ... talented hitter, who can slap and hit for power ... gives the Huskies speed in both the outfield and on the base paths.
AS A JUNIOR (2001): Started in 50 games with the majority (37) coming out in right field ... also started two games in center field and 11 at designated player ... in 56 appearances, tallied team season-high and career-best 13 stolen bases in 14 attempts ... ranked third on the team, behind Jaime Clark and Kelly Hauxhurst with 14 multiple-hit games ... sixth in overall batting average with a .291 mark ... had a pair of six-game hitting streaks from May 4-12 and from March 3-15 ... hit .526 during the six-game streak in early May, including seven runs scored and two RBI ... finished with a .500 average (10-for-20) during the six-game span in March ... belted first career home run, a solo-shot, in the team's 5-1 win over South Carolina at the Fiesta Bowl Invitational ... went 3-for-3 with one double and one run scored against Southern Utah (March 4) ... scored the decisive run in the team's 3-2 victory over Missouri on March 3, reaching on an error and scoring on a wild pitch ... scored the winning run again in the team's final game at the Red Desert Classic, coming home on Jaime Clark's three-run home run ... 4-for-7 with four runs scored in the team's two-game series with Texas in Seattle ... hit her second career home run to help the Huskies knock off third-ranked California (2-0), in the team's season-opening Pac-10 game in early April ... reached base three times with a pair of hits and a walk in the team's 5-1 upset of No. 5 Stanford on March 31 ... drove in a pair of runs with a triple in the team's 8-3 loss to Oregon State on April 22 ... tallied three hits at Portland State, April 24 ... scored the game-winning run in the team's victory over Oregon State on May 4 ... hit an inside-the-park home run May 6, versus Oregon ... scored a career-best three runs in the UW's 7-1 romp over ninth-ranked Arizona State ... hit .500 (3-for-6) in the team's regular season-ending doubleheader with top-ranked Arizona ... first hit of the NCAA regionals was a two-run, two-out single against Oklahoma ... Pac-10 All-Academic Honorable Mention.
AS A SOPHOMORE (2000): Played in 40 games, making her first career start in right field in a 8-3 victory over Portland State ... one of the team's primary pinch runners ... hit .357 at the plate, going 4-for-14 with 14 runs scored, a double and a RBI to go along with three walks and seven stolen bases ... saw action in two of the College World Series games, scoring the team's first run in the season-ending loss to Arizona ... played in two of the team's NCAA regional games, re-cording a walk against Army and coming in to pinch run versus Miss-issippi State ... notched single runs in both games of the doubleheader with Portland State on May 2 ... tallied her first career RBI in a game with Portland State, singling home teammate Christie Rosenblad from third ... recorded the game-winning run in a close 2-1 victory over DePaul on March 21 ... came in to pinch run in the Kia Klassic semifinal against Oregon State, scoring on three straight wild pitches to put the Huskies up 2-0 ... recorded her first career extra-base hit with a double to left field in a win over Utah ... had first hit of the season against South Florida, going 1-for-1 with a run scored ... scored first run of the year against Southern Mississippi, coming around on a sacrifice fly by teammate Shannon Walsh ... shared team's most improved award with Rosie Leutzinger.
AS A FRESHMAN (1999): The Huskies' top pinch runner, appearing in 46 games and scoring 14 runs ... also saw time in left field, recording two putouts ... swiped the first base and scored the first run of her collegiate career vs. Illinois-Chicago (2/6) ... scored four runs in the first six games of the season ... a factor in the doubleheader against Arizona (4/11), scoring a run in each ... also scored a run in a 4-1 win over UCLA (4/3), snapping the No. 1 Bruins' 33-game win-ning streak ... in all, crossed the plate four times in conference games and three times in the postseason ... replaced Jamie Graves on the bases after Graves' triple against Cal State Fullerton in the regional semifinal and scored the eventual game-winning run, sending the Huskies into the championship bout ... came home with the third run in Washington's 3-0 win over Cal in the CWS semifinal.
High School: Did not compete in softball for her high school ... played summer ball for the Washington Heat in 1997 and 1998 ... helped the Heat finish second at state and regionals in 1997 ... that year the team finished the season in the top 20 at ASA nationals ... during the 1998 season, the Heat finished 13th at NSA nationals ... ran track for coach Steve Shoun at Tumwater H.S., out of the Rivers League (AAA), running the 4x100 and 4x200 relays ... helped 4x100 relay place first and the 4x200 squad finish second at state her senior year ... those relays placed third and fourth, respectively, in 1997 ... lettered in cross country as well ... graduated with a 3.72 grade-point average ... was a member of her high school's honor society, honor roll, and finished in the top 10 percent of her class.
Personal: Major is speech communications ... mother, Sue, is a certified public accountant ... father, Jim, is a conversion manager ... is an only child ... Rebecca Leigh Simpson was born in Hull, England, on April 1, 1980.
SIMPSON UNPLUGGED
The best place to eat in Seattle: Varlamos, because it's inexpensive and has good food.
The person I'd switch places with for a day: A CIA agent, so I could find out all the government secrets.
If I were on Survivor, my luxury item would be: My truck, because I could sleep in it and haul things with it.
Being at Washington has taught me: A lot about myself and the person I want to be.
After I graduate I plan to: Go to Europe for a few weeks and then find a "real world" job.
My favorite story about a teammate: Anything involving Jaime Clark, because you know it will be funny.
What I want to accomplish this softball season: Leaving without any regrets.
Simpson's Career Statistics
Year | GP/GS | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | HP | SO | SF/SH | SB-SBA | OB | SLG | AVG | |
1999 | 46/0 | 5 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0/0 | 1/4 | .000 | .000 | .000 | |
2000 | 40/1 | 14 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0/0 | 7/8 | .526 | .429 | .357 | |
2001 | 56/50 | 151 | 31 | 44 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 1 | 36 | 0/3 | 13-14 | .340 | .411 | .291 | |
Totals | 142/515 | 170 | 59 | 49 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 13 | 3 | 41 | 0/3 | 21-26 | .344 | .400 | .288 |
TOP GAMES
AB: 4 (13 times)
H: 3 (Two times)
R: 3 (5/11/01 vs. ASU)
RBI: 2 (three times)
2B: 1 (four times)
SB: 2 (4/8/00 vs. Oregon)
HR: 1 (three times)
TB: 5 (3/30/01 vs. Cal; 5/6/01 vs. Ore.)
BB: 2 (3/20/01 vs. CSU Fullerton)
SB: 2 (5/18/01 vs. UMass; 4/8/00 vs. Ore.)
Hitting Streak: 6 (two times)
PO: 3 (4/10/00 vs. Portland St.)
A: 1 (3/11/01 vs. Texas)
Consec. G w/o E: 100 (2/21/99-3/2/01)
Becky Simpson's Honors and Awards
Team Most Improved Player
2000
Pac-10 All-Academic Honorable Mention
2001