Two Bearcats Earn All-West Region Honors
SALEM, ORE. -- Two Willamette University softball players have been selected All-West Region by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). A total of 360 players were chosen All-Region across the country.
Winslow Named to Second Team; Pender Earns Third Team Recognition
SALEM, ORE. -- Two Willamette University softball players have been selected All-West Region by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). A total of 360 players were chosen All-Region across the country.
The teams are nominated and selected by NFCA member coaches in each of the eight Division III regions.In the West Region, selections were divided into three teams with a total of 45 athletes chosen from throughout the West.
Heather Winslow (Jr., 1B, Oregon City, OR/Oregon City HS) was named Second Team All-West Region while Ashley Pender (So., INF, Reno, NV/North Valleys HS) was a Third Team All-West Region selection.
"I am so proud of Heather and Ashley," Willamette Head Coach Damian Williams said. "They both worked extremely hard this year, and their hard work paid off."
The Bearcats wrapped up the 2014 season with an 18-22 overall record, including 14-14 in NWC play. Willamette clinched its spot in the four-team NWC Tournament after defeating #6 Linfield College 10-2 on April 13.
Second Team All-West Region
Heather Winslow (Jr., 1B)
Winslow started each of the Bearcats' 40 games in 2014, posting a team-high .420 batting average. Out of her team-best 50 hits on the season, she belted 12 doubles, two triples and two home runs.
Winslow also ranked atop Willamette's statistical charts in slugging percentage (.605), on-base percentage (.543), stolen bases (25) and runs scored (39). She ranked third on the team with 22 runs batted in.
Her on base percentage ranks second in Willamette's single season record books, while her her doubles tally and runs scored are listed third. Additionally, herhits are tied for fourth place in the record books, and her stolen bases place fifth.
Winslow's career numbers are similarly impressive. She has appeared in 110 games (107 starts) for WU with a career batting average of .347, a career on-base percentage of .468 and a career slugging percentage of .559.
Winslow has achieved 84 runs scored, 101 hits, 22 doubles, five triples, eight home runs, 54 RBIs, and 157 total bases. She is 45 of 50 on stolen bases in her career, and has notched 588 putouts while playing first base.
Earlier this spring, Winslow was a unanimous First Team All-NWC selection. She was a Second Team All-NWC honoree as a freshman in 2012.
Third Team All-West Region
Ashley Pender (So., 2B)
Pender followed up her impressive freshman season in 2013 with another outstanding year in 2014. She played in all 40 games for the Bearcats, starting 39, and finished second on the team with a .375 batting average.
Pender was a major run producer for the Bearcats this season, leading Willamette and ranking fifth in the NWC with 35 RBIs. She scored 24 runs of her own while producing 48 hits, good for second on the team.
In her two years at Willamette, Pender has achieved a .367 batting average over 77 games played (76 starts). She has scored 52 runs while accumulating 90 hits, 23 doubles, six home runs, 66 RBIs, and 137 total bases.
She has a career slugging percentage of .559 and a career on base percentage of .415. Defensively, she has earned 154 putouts and 154 assists against just 14 errors at second base.
Pender was named Honorable Mention All-NWC earlier this year. She was selected First Team All-NWC in 2013.
Junior Heather Winslow received her first All-Region honor after leading Willamette in six different statistical categories.
Sophomore Ashley Pender led Willamette and ranked fifth in the NWC with 35 RBIs.