UC Davis followed up its Big West championship season with a lot of hardware as three Aggies claimed Big West major awards it was announced today. Alex Holmes claimed Pitcher of the Year, Elizabeth Santana was named the Freshman Field Player of the Year and Karen Yoder was honored as the Coach of the Year. The remaining awards saw Anna Cahn of Cal Poly named the Field Player of the Year and Pacific's Nikki Armagost named the Freshman Pitcher of the Year.
Holmes became the first Aggie to win Pitcher of the Year honors in the program’s short membership in the Big West. Holmes ranks second in the Big West in wins (16), sixth in ERA (2.94), fourth in innings pitched (169.0) and second in strikeouts (133). During conference play, Holmes spearheaded UCD’s run to the conference title with excellent numbers against league foes, posting a 9-1 record with a 2.10 ERA, four complete games, one shutout and 43 strikeouts in 73.1 innings. She also allowed opposing batters to hit just .228 and recorded a couple of saves. Holmes had a number of big moments in the circle this season, ranging from her complete game, two-hit, two-run, 11-strikeout performance against Indiana on March 6, to her complete game five-hit, three-run win against UC Santa Barbara on May 14 that clinched the conference title.
Cahn became the first player in league history to go from winning Pitcher of the Year in one season to Field Player of the Year the following year. Cahn leads the Big West in batting at a .393 clip, and also heads the league in slugging (.626), on base percentage (.586) and walks (45). The junior was a regular on the basepaths during conference play, hitting at a .463 clip, with three homers, 12 RBI and 27 walks in 21 games. Overall, Cahn posted five homers, 24 RBI, 42 hits and scored 12 runs to add to her league-best average. In addition, Cahn had 12 multi-hit games and reached base safely in 43 of her 47 games.
Santana is the second consecutive UC Davis rookie to win Freshman Field Player of the Year honors, marking the just the second time that a program has claimed the award in back-to-back seasons. Santana's freshman season has seen her bat .348 with two homers, 19 RBI and a league-leading 13 doubles. During her first go-round of conference play, Santana's numbers were even better as she batted .448 (30-67) and picked up eight doubles. Santana, who was one of only three Aggies to start in each of the clubs’ 53 games, also posted two four-hit games and struck out just 15 times in 158 at-bats.
Armagost is the second Freshman Pitcher of the Year recipient in Pacific history, joining Briana Santos in 2006. The former Gatorade Kansas Softball Player of the Year developed into an ace for the Tigers in her first season at the collegiate level. Armagost won 13 of her 23 starts this season, posting a 2.12 ERA, 19 complete games, five shutouts and 123 strikeouts in 172.0 innings. On the league leaderboard, Armagost ranks first in ERA, third in innings pitched, fourth in strikeouts, tied for fourth in wins and first in opponents' batting average (.210). Armagost was dominant against Big West foes, posting a 2.15 ERA, 10 complete games, one shutout, one save, 55 strikeouts and allowing just a .209 opponents’ batting average in 94.1 innings. She also allowed just 19 extra-base hits over 15 appearances against league opposition.
Yoder led UC Davis to its best season at the DI level after a rough start. The Aggies were just 11-20 heading into conference play, but rebounded to win 15 of their 21 outings against Big West foes. The 15 league wins are a program best, while UCD’s 26 wins are the most the team has recorded in Division I. The club is also making its inaugural appearance in the NCAA Tournament and has won 11 of its last 14 games.
Long Beach State led the way with eight All-Big West selections, but Cal State Northridge is tops with four first team selections. Both the 49ers and UC Davis are right behind the Matadors with three first team selections apiece. The rest of the of the 2010 Big West All-Conference teams are in the document above.
2010 BIG WEST SOFTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
| FIRST TEAM |
| Player |
School |
Pos |
B-T |
Ht. |
Year |
Hometown |
| Nikki Armagost |
Pacific |
P |
L-R |
5-8 |
Freshman |
Andover, Kan. |
| Hannah Fraijo |
Cal State Northridge |
P |
R-R |
5-7 |
Sophomore |
Irwindale, Calif. |
| Alex Holmes |
UC Davis |
P |
L-L |
5-9 |
Junior |
San Juan Capistrano, Calif. |
| Brandy Reyes |
Long Beach State |
C |
R-L |
5-10 |
Senior |
Moreno Valley, Calif. |
| Jessica Ziegler |
UC Santa Barbara |
1B |
L-R |
5-6 |
Senior |
San Diego, Calif. |
| Jaci Carlsen |
Cal State Northridge |
2B |
R-R |
5-4 |
Sophomore |
Reno, Nev. |
| Elizabeth Santana |
UC Davis |
SS |
R-R |
5-3 |
Freshman |
Fontana, Calif. |
| Tracy Allen |
Cal State Northridge |
3B |
R-R |
5-11 |
Junior |
Menifee, Calif. |
| Liz Javier |
Long Beach State |
3B |
R-R |
5-7 |
Junior |
Downey, Calif. |
| ^Torrie Anderson |
Cal State Fullerton |
OF |
R-R |
5-9 |
Junior |
Castaic, Calif. |
| Jennifer Mosier |
Cal State Northridge |
OF |
L-R |
5-2 |
Junior |
Simi Valley, Calif. |
| Megan Hom |
Pacific |
OF |
L-R |
5-7 |
Freshman |
Irvine, Calif. |
| ^Anna Cahn |
Cal Poly |
UT |
L-L |
6-1 |
Junior |
Los Alamitos, Calif. |
| ^Alex Holmes |
UC Davis |
DP |
L-L |
5-9 |
Junior |
San Juan Capistrano, Calif. |
| SECOND TEAM |
| Player |
School |
Pos |
B-T |
Ht. |
Year |
Hometown |
| Anna Cahn |
Cal Poly |
P |
L-L |
6-1 |
Junior |
Los Alamitos, Calif. |
| Rebecca Patton |
Cal Poly |
P |
R-R |
5-8 |
Freshman |
Northridge, Calif. |
| Taylor Petty |
Long Beach State |
P |
R-R |
5-5 |
Sophomore |
San Pedro, Calif. |
| Karie Wilson |
Pacific |
C |
R-R |
5-9 |
Senior |
Glendale, Ariz. |
| Krysten Cary |
Cal Poly |
1B |
R-R |
5-9 |
Senior |
Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. |
| Jodi Nakawatase |
Long Beach State |
2B |
R-R |
5-3 |
Senior |
Long Beach, Calif. |
| Gabby Aragon |
Cal State Fullerton |
SS |
R-R |
5-9 |
Freshman |
Garden Grove, Calif. |
| Dana Perez |
Cal Poly |
OF |
R-L |
5-6 |
Freshman |
Downey, Calif. |
| Lindsey Pierce |
Pacific |
OF |
L-R |
5-2 |
Junior |
Camarillo, Calif. |
| Bree Stephan |
Long Beach State |
OF |
R-R |
5-5 |
Freshman |
Simi Valley, Calif. |
| Nikki Armagost |
Pacific |
UT |
L-R |
5-8 |
Freshman |
Andover, Kan. |
| Marissa Alvidrez |
UC Riverside |
DP |
R-R |
5-6 |
Senior |
Bakersfield, Calif. |
| HONORABLE MENTION |
| Player |
School |
Pos |
B-T |
Ht. |
Year |
Hometown |
| Krista Cobb |
UC Santa Barbara |
P |
R-R |
5-9 |
Sophomore |
West Hills, Calif. |
| Brooke Turner |
Long Beach State |
P |
R-R |
5-11 |
Junior |
Buena Park, Calif. |
| Dana Waldusky |
UC Davis |
P |
R-R |
5-9 |
Freshman |
Glendora, Calif. |
| Stephanie Correia |
Cal Poly |
C |
R-R |
5-7 |
Junior |
Visalia, Calif. |
| Brittany Kenney |
UC Riverside |
1B |
R-R |
5-4 |
Sophomore |
Canyon Lake, Calif. |
| Alexa Rivera |
Pacific |
2B |
L-R |
5-4 |
Sophomore |
Sacramento, Calif. |
| Nalani St. Germain |
Long Beach State |
2B |
R-R |
5-9 |
Freshman |
Chino Hills, Calif. |
| Megan Allen |
Pacific |
SS |
R-R |
5-9 |
Freshman |
Yucaipa, Calif. |
| Jessica Beristianos |
UC Santa Barbara |
3B |
R-R |
5-1 |
Junior |
Newark, Calif. |
| Alexandria Alvarado |
Cal State Northridge |
OF |
L-L |
5-3 |
Senior |
Visalia, Calif. |
| Marissa Araujo |
UC Davis |
OF |
R-R |
5-7 |
Senior |
Indio, Calif. |
| Ashley Weber |
Long Beach State |
OF |
L-R |
5-1 |
Senior |
Yorba Linda, Calif. |
| Ari Cervantes |
Cal State Fullerton |
UT |
L-R |
5-10 |
Junior |
Tustin, Calif. |
| Kylie Fan |
UC Davis |
UT |
R-R |
5-7 |
Sophomore |
San Ramon, Calif. |
| Brooke Putich |
UC Santa Barbara |
DP |
L-R |
5-6 |
Sophomore |
Whittier, Calif. |
| ^ - Two-time first team All-Conference selection |
2010 FIELD PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Anna Cahn, Cal Poly |
2010 PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Alex Holmes, UC Davis |
2010 COACH OF THE YEAR
Karen Yoder, UC Davis |
2010 FRESHMAN FIELD PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Elizabeth Santana, UC Davis |
2010 FRESHMAN PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Nikki Armagost, Pacific |