OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Fifty-four players have been named to the 2004 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-America first, second and third teams. The awards were announced Wednesday in Oklahoma City. All three teams were selected by NFCA-member NCAA Division I coaching representatives, based on nominations from the 2004 season.
Each of the eight Women’s College World Series participants is represented on the All America teams, led by California, who had four players selected. The Golden Bears had one player on the first team -- third baseman Vicky Galindo. Pitcher Kristina Thorson and outfielder Kaleo Eldredge were named to second team, while shortstop Chelsea Spencer was an at-large selection on the third team.
Florida State, LSU, Michigan and Stanford each had three players honored. The Seminoles’ Jessica van der Linden was a first team utility selection. Stanford pitcher Dana Sorensen was also a first team selection. Her battery mate, Jessica Allister, was a second team selection behind the plate. Florida State pitcher Casey Hunter, FSU second baseman Veronica Wootson, Michigan shortstop Jessica Merchant and LSU outfielder LaDonia Hughes were also second team selections while Stanford shortstop Lauren Lappin, Michigan pitcher Nicole Motycka and LSU pitcher Kristin Schmidt were at-large selections on the second team. Michigan second baseman Tiffany Haas and LSU outfielder Leslie Klein were third team selections.
Washington and UCLA each had two players selected to All-America squads. Washington catcher Kristen Rivera was named to the first team as was UCLA second baseman Caitlin Benyi. Bruin pitcher Keira Goerl was named to the second team while Washington second baseman Dominique Lastrapes was an at-large selection on the third team. Oklahoma catcher Heather Scaglione was a first team at-large selection.
Rounding out the All-America first team are Tennessee pitcher Monica Abbott, Arizona pitcher Alicia Hollowell, Georgia first baseman Kim Wendland, Fresno State shortstop Christina Clark, Georgia outfielder Nicole Barber, Arizona outfielder Caitlin Lowe, Mississippi State outfielder Iyhia McMichael, Arizona designated player Wendy Allen, Pacific outfielder Gina Carbonatto (at-large), Arizona outfielder Autumn Champion (at-large), Louisiana-Lafayette pitcher Brooke Mitchell (at-large) and Fresno State utility player Jamie Southern (at-large).
The National Fastpitch Coaches Association awards more than 300 first, second and third team All-Americans in NCAA Divisions I, II and III as well as in NAIA, NJCAA, California Community Colleges, Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges and high school.
Click here for a complete list of All-America teams.
