Orgeron Named Top 25 Finalist for USA Softball POY

Contact: Cory Weigel

LAFAYETTE, La. -- UL softball outfielder Christi Orgeron was selected as a Top 25 finalist for the 2012 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, which was announced by the Amateur Softball Association (ASA).

This 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 softball players across the country.

Orgeron has picked up right where she left off last season with a stellar senior campaign in 2012. The reigning Sun Belt Conference Player or the Year has already broken two UL and conference records this season. She set the UL and league standard for career doubles with 61 and broke the UL and Sun Belt Conference career RBI record by blasting her third grand slam of the year against Georgia Tech on March 22. The senior, who led the nation in 2011 with 101 RBI – the third highest total in NCAA history – ranks seventh in NCAA history with 259 in her career and leads the country and the Sun Belt this season with 65. The New Orleans native was named a preseason All-American by ESPN.com, the Preseason Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, and was recently named one of only ten finalists in the nation for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. She was also named the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Week for Feb. 13-19 this season.

The senior utility player leads the Sun Belt in slugging percentage (.811), RBI (65), home runs (13) and total bases (99) on the nation's No. 1 offense. She ranks second in the league in runs scored (47) and her 1.35 average is third in the nation. Orgeron is also second in hits (48) and doubles (10) in the SBC this season along with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.

This year's Top 25 is comprised of 13 seniors, seven juniors, four sophomores, and one freshman. The student-athletes selected represent 17 NCAA Division I universities and eight athletic conferences. While California and Oklahoma lead the way among universities with three athlete representatives each, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee and Washington each have two members among the Top 25 Finalists.

Just before the start of post-season play, a list of 10 finalists will be announced on May 9. The three finalists will be announced May 23, while the winner of the 2012 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award will be revealed on May 29 prior to the start of the NCAA WCWS in Oklahoma City.

The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award is voted on by coaching representatives from 11 Division I Conferences in the 15 ASA Regions as well as members of the media who consistently cover Division I Softball across the country.

2012 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 Finalists
Name (School) – Year – Position – Hometown
Valerie Arioto (California) – Senior – Utility – Pleasanton, Calif.
Lexy Bennett (Texas) – Senior – Infield – Kingwood, Texas
Katelyn Boyd (Arizona State) – Senior – Shortstop – Phoenix, Ariz.
Kayla Braud (Alabama) – Junior – Outfield – Eugene, Ore.
Lauren Chamberlain (Oklahoma) – Freshman – Infield – Trabuco Canyon, Calif.
Raven Chavanne (Tennessee) – Junior – Third base/Outfield – Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Rachele Fico (LSU) – Junior – Pitcher – Oxford, Conn.
Ashley Hansen (Stanford) – Senior – Infield – Chandler, Ariz.
Jolene Henderson (California) – Junior – Pitcher/First base – Elk Grove, Calif.
Kaitlin Inglesby (Washington) – Sophomore – Pitcher/First Base – Portland, Ore.
Ashley McClain (FIU) – Senior – Outfield/Pitcher – Brandon, Fla.
Michelle Moultrie (Florida) – Senior – Center field – Jacksonville, Fla.
Sara Nevins (South Florida) – Sophomore – Pitcher – Pinellas Park, Fla.
Christi Orgeron (UL) – Senior – Outfield – New Orleans, La.
Sara Plourde (UMass) – Senior – Pitcher – Bristol, Conn.
Kimi Pohlman (Washington) – Senior – Outfield – Sammamish, Wash.
Jamia Reid (California) – Senior – Outfield – Buena Park, Calif.
Ellen Renfroe (Tennessee) – Sophomore – Pitcher – Jackson, Tenn.
Keilani Ricketts (Oklahoma) – Junior – Pitcher – San Jose, Calif.
Hannah Rogers (Florida) – Senior – Pitcher – Lake Wales, Fla.
Jordan Rutkowski (Valparaiso) – Senior – Catcher/Outfield – Alden, N.Y.
Jessica Shults (Oklahoma) – Junior – Catcher – Valencia, Calif.
Chelsea Thomas (Missouri) – Redshirt Junior – Pitcher – Pleasantville, Iowa
Jackie Traina (Alabama) – Sophomore – Pitcher/Designated player – Naples, Fla.
Delaney Willard (BYU) – Senior – Outfield – Camarillo, Calif.

--Ragin' Cajuns--

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics

Orgeron Named Top 25 Finalist for USA Softball POY

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