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Amber Patton Named a Top-10 Finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. --- DePaul’s Amber Patton is among the 10 finalist for the 8th Annual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award it was announced today by the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA), the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States. 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. Patton a senior from Forsyth, Illinois currently leads the nation with a .522 average. The All-American has been ranked in the top-15 for batting average since March 22, and took over top spot on April 19. She currently ranks sixth in the country with a .569 on base percentage while she is the 18th toughest player to strikeout. This season Patton broke the BIG EAST Conference record for hits, while her league average and on base percentage are the second best in league history. The All-American enters the BIG EAST Championship on a 10-game hitting streak, while she has registered multiple hits in 27 games. Patton has tallied 82 hits on the season, while 15 of those have gone for extra bases. As a lead off, Patton has 27 RBI and has scored 44 runs. A feared hitter with runners in scoring position, seven of her 17 walks have been intentional. Patton is the second Blue Demon to reach the top 10 as Lindsay Chouinard (2000-03) made the list in 2003. The Top 10 list represents 10 schools and five different NCAA Division I Conferences. The list is comprised of five seniors, four juniors, and one sophomore. The 2009 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be chosen from the 10 finalists. The three finalists will be announced May 20th while the winner of the 2009 USA Softball 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. The Blue Demons (35-11, 18-3) are the top seed in the BIG EAST Championship and look to defend their 2008 Championship title. DePaul’s opening round game with Seton Hall is slated for Thursday, at 11:30 a.m. 2009 Top 10 Finalists for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year
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