2021 Big West Softball Awards Release
Big West softball champion Long Beach State and runner-up Cal State Fullerton evenly split the six major awards to highlight the announcement of the 2021 all-conference team.
The Beach were represented by Pitcher of the Year Kellie White, Freshman Pitcher of the Year Shannon Haddad and Coach of the Year Kim Sowder. Titan designees included Player of the Year Kelsie Whitmore, Defensive Player of the Year Julia Valenzuela and Freshman Field Player of the Year Hannah Becerra.
KELLIE WHITE, LONG BEACH STATE
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Senior • San Diego, Calif. • Utah State
• Tenth Long Beach State individual to be named Pitcher of the Year and third in the last six years
• Earned Big West Pitcher of the Week accolades twice this season
• Ranks third in the Big West in ERA (1.94) and strikeouts (116), second in wins (16), fourth in innings pitched (130.0) and fifth in opponent batting average (.230)
• In conference play, posted a 14-2 record with 10 complete games, one save and a 1.54 ERA
• Struck out 85 batters in 90.2 innings against Big West opponents
• Came up big on the final weekend of Big West play, throwing three complete games in a must sweep of Cal State Fullerton that clinched the regular season title
• In the CSF series, tallied a 1.00 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 21.0 innings pitched
• Tossed her third shutout of the season in the regular season finale, a 1-0 win in the title-clinching game
• Tallied a season-high 10 strikeouts in a win against San Diego.
KELSIE WHITMORE, CAL STATE FULLERTON
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Senior • Outfielder • Temecula, Calif. • Temecula Valley HS
• Tenth different Titan to earn the Player of the Year award, giving the program 14 citations overall since 1987
• Led the Big West in runs scored (45), on base percentage (.507) and slugging percentage (.824)
• Tied for the conference lead with 13 doubles
• Ranks sixth in the Big West in batting average (.395), tied for fifth in RBI (35), tied for ninth in hits (47), and second in home runs (12) and total bases (98)
• Ranks No. 25 in the NCAA in slugging percentage
• Had two 10-game hitting streaks and one that lasted eight consecutive
• Posted 11 multi-hit games and enjoyed one stretch with two or more hits in six straight
• Drove in a career-high six runs in May 1 win over Cal Poly
• Hit eight of her 12 home runs against Big West pitching
• During conference play, led all Big West players in average (.492), on base percentage (.612), slugging percentage (1.062), runs scored (38), doubles (11), total bases (69) and walks (18)
• Earned Big West Field Player of the Week accolades on April 26
• Posted at least one RBI in 18 games
JULIA VALENZUELA, CAL STATE FULLERTON
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Senior • Catcher • La Mirada, Calif. • Bishop Amat HS
• Second Titan Defensive Player of the Year honoree and first since 2011 – the inaugural year of the award
• Committed just four errors in 239 total chances for a .983 fielding percentage
• Threw out five would-be base stealers
• Did not commit a single error in Big West competition
SHANNON HADDAD, LONG BEACH STATE
FRESHMAN PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Simi Valley, Calif. • San Jose State
• Sixth Beach representative to be tabbed Freshman Pitcher of the Year – and first since 2017
• Transfer from San Jose State earned Pitcher of the Week honors twice in addition to one Freshman of the Week award
• Unbeaten with an 8-0 record in 11 starts, including six complete game efforts
• Ranks fourth in the Big West in ERA (2.05) and opponent batting average (.224), seventh in strikeouts (64), and tied for fifth in wins
• Against the Big West, held opponents to a league-low .205 batting average with 56 strikeouts in 48.0 innings pitched
• Tossed three shutouts against Loyola Marymount, UC Davis and UC San Diego
• Fanned a career-best 11 batters twice – at CSUN (Apr. 3) and at UC Santa Barbara (Apr. 16)
• Issued just 10 walks while striking out 64 in 65.0 innings pitched
HANNAH BECERRA, CAL STATE FULLERTON
FRESHMAN FIELD PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Third Baseman • Diamond Bar, Calif. • Diamond Ranch HS
• Second straight and third overall from Cal State Fullerton to garner the Freshman Field Player of the Year award
• Slammed a conference-best 14 home runs and led the league circuit with 103 total bases
• Tied for fourth on the Cal State Fullerton single-season list with her 14 homers
• Hit at least one long ball against seven of eight Big West opponents
• Ranked second in the Big West with 47 RBI, which is also tied for No. 6 in the Titan record book
• Ranks third in the Big West in slugging percentage (.763), tied for third in runs scored (38), tied for seventh in hits (48) and tied for fourth in walks (18)
• Had 12 multi-hit and 15 multi-RBI games
• Earned four Big West Freshman of the Week awards and one Big West Player of the Week honor
• Titans went 12-2 when she hit a homer
• In conference play, hit .380 with nine home runs, 26 runs scored and 24 RBI
KIM SOWDER, LONG BEACH STATE
COACH OF THE YEAR
• Fourth Coach of the Year award (2008, 2014, 2018)
• Guided Long Beach State to its fourth Big West title under her watch (2008, 2012, 2014) and the program’s ninth overall
• Led Beach to a 30-9 overall record, 22-2 in the Big West
• Twenty-two Big West victories is the most for the program since 1997
• Led Long Beach State to eighth 30-win season in her 14 years at the helm
• Helped program to its 25th NCAA postseason appearance
• Team had an 11-game winning streak during the season
The league’s All-Conference teams are highlighted by Long Beach State’s Naomi Hernandez earning her second first team All-Big West honor. Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State each earned six All-Big West First Team selections. Cal Poly senior Hailey Martin, UC Davis freshman Kenedi Brown and UC Santa Barbara freshman Madelyn McNally also received first team distinction. Five of the 15 first teamers are freshmen. The full All-Conference teams are available in the document linked above.