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Amber Patton and Becca Heteniak Named to the ASA Top 50 Watch List
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. --- DePaul’s senior third baseman Amber Patton and junior pitcher Becca Heteniak have been named to The Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA), initial “Watch List” for the 8th Annual USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Award. This award, which is considered the most prestigious honors in Division I women’s collegiate softball, is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the country. The 2009 Pre-Season Watch List is comprised of 50 players representing 32 schools and 13 different NCAA Division I Conferences. Patton became the DePaul’s 22nd All-American in 2008. The 2009 senior, earned second-team All America honors at third base after she wrapped up her third consecutive team batting title and led the Blue Demons and the BIG EAST Conference with .403 average. Patton tallied a school record and conference-best 87 hits during her junior campaign, while her 216 at bats also set a school record. A first team All-BIG EAST selection at third, Patton recorded 158 assists and 69 putouts for an impressive .970 fielding percentage. Known for her speed and smart base running, Patton also tallied a team-best 14 stolen bases. Heteniak, who broke a school-record with 315 strikeouts in 2008, begins her junior season ranked fourth in school history with 495 Ks. The All-American averaged 8.27 strikeouts per seven inning and held batters to a stingy .165 average last season. The reigning BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year has earned the league’s Pitcher of the Week award five times in her career. Heteniak also has a presence at the plate, she owns a career .252 average with 11 home runs and 52 RBI. The ASA will announce 25 finalists on April 1, the list will then be cut to 10 on May 6. The final three finalists will be announced May 20 while the winner of the 2009 USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Award will be announced prior to the start of the 2009 NCAA Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City. Patton and Heteniak represent the only players from BIG EAST Conference on the Watch List. Heteniak was named to the initial watch list as a sophomore in 2008. The Blue Demons, who are ranked No. 15 in the USA Today/NFCA and 18 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball polls, begin their season at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic, Feb. 13-15. DePaul takes on Oregon State, Southern Miss, No. 8/5 Michigan, Kentucky and Portland State during the three-day tournament.
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