Oaks, Topping Named Player of the Year Finalists Apr. 5, 2002 – Fullerton, Calif.
Cal State Fullerton juniors Gina Oaks and Jenny Topping were named as
two finalists for the inaugural USA Softball Collegiate Player of the
Year award, the Amateur Softball Association announced on Friday.
The award is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by
female collegiate softball players around the country. Oaks and Topping
are listed along with 23 other players.
The list will be reduced to 10 players on May 3, and the three finalists
will be announced on May 31st. The winner will be announced on June 7
and will be presented with the award at the ASA National Council Meeting
in Reno, Nev., in November.
A replica of the award will be placed in a permanent display in the ASA
National Softball Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, Okla., along with photos
of the winner. An additional replica of the award will be presented to
the player's university.
Oaks (Alta Loma, Calif./Rancho Cucamonga HS) is currently 15-2 overall
this season for the Titans in the circle with a 0.74 ERA. She has thrown
13 complete games, six shutouts, and has struck out 129 batters in 113
2/3 innings. Oaks has scattered 60 hits and allowed just 12 earned runs
thus far.
Topping (Whittier, Calif./University of Washington), who missed the first
11 games for the Titans, is hitting .466 through Friday with eight home
runs, 24 RBI and 23 runs scored. She has walked 21 times in 88 at bats
and is slugging .807 in 33 games this season.
In all, the Titans have faced 16 of the finalists on the field this season.
The finalists for the award, listed in alphabetical order, are:
Alana Addison, Louisiana-Lafayette
Sarah Beeson, Stanford
Kara Brun, Arizona State
Jaime Clark, Washington
Christina Enea, Oklahoma
Jocelyn Forest, California
Amanda Freed, UCLA
Jennie Finch, Arizona
Keira Goerl, UCLA
Peaches James, Nebraska
Lovieanne Jung, Arizona
Oli Keohohou, BYU
Kelsey Kollen, Michigan
Leneah Manuma, Arizona
Jessica Mendoza, Stanford
Nicole Myers, Florida Atlantic
Stacey Nuveman, UCLA Gina Oaks, Cal State Fullerton
Cat Osterman, Texas
Trena Peel, LSU
Britni Sneed, LSU
Jamie Southern, Fresno State Jenny Topping, Cal State Fullerton
Natasha Watley, UCLA
Phelan Wright, Arizona State
