Feb. 6, 2008

TEMPE, Ariz. - The Amateur Softball Association, the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States, has selected its initial "Watch List" for the 7th Annual USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Award. This award, which is considered one of the most prestigious honors in women's collegiate softball, is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the country. Included in the list were Sun Devils, Katie Burkhart and Kaitlin Cochran, both of whom were candidates for the award last year.

In the 2007 season, Burkhart made the Top 10 list of finalist for the award while national batting title champion Kaitlin Cochran made it to the final three.

Also included on the watch list were:

Callista Balko (Arizona) - Senior - Catcher - Tucson, Ariz.

Brandice Balschmiter (Massachusetts) - Junior - Pitcher - Manasquan, N.J.

Chelsea Bramlett (Mississippi State) - Sophomore - Catcher/Infield - Cordova, Tenn.

Savannah Brown (Georgia Tech) - Senior - Catcher/Third Base - San Diego, Calif.

Katie Burkhart (Arizona State) - Senior - Pitcher - San Luis Obispo, Calif. Tonya Callahan (Tennessee) - Senior - Infield - Holden, Mo.

Ashley Charters (Washington) - Senior - Infield - Beaverton, Ore.

Kaitlin Cochran (Arizona State) - Junior - Outfield - Yorba Linda, Calif. Krista Colburn (UCLA) - Senior - Outfield - Mukilteo, Wash.

Meagan Denny (Texas) - Senior - Pitcher - Crowley, Texas

Lauren Eckermann (Oklahoma) - Senior - Pitcher - Brenham, Texas

Cristi Ecks (South Florida) - Junior - Pitcher - Manassas, Va.

Angela Findlay (Michigan) - Sophomore - Outfield - Lockport, Ill.

Samantha Findlay (Michigan) - Senior - First Base - Lockport, Ill.

Rachel Folden (Marshall) - Senior - Catcher/Utility - Baldwin Park, Calif. Megan Gibson (Texas A&M) - Senior - Pitcher/First Base - Spring, Texas

Alissa Haber (Stanford) - Sophomore - Outfield- Newark, Calif.

Whitney Haller (Georgia Tech) - Junior - First Base - Marietta, Ga.

Molly Hill (Nebraska) - Junior - Pitcher - Wayne, Neb.

Dani Hofer (LSU) - Junior - Pitcher - Safety Harbor, Fla.

Becca Heteniak (DePaul) - Sophomore - Pitcher - Simi Valley, Calif. Tiffany Huff (Tennessee) - Sophomore - Catcher/First Base - Saugus, Calif.

Carley Hughes (UNC Wilmington) - Junior - Catcher - Pittsboro, N.C. Annie Kinsey (Pennsylvania) - Senior - Second Base - West Hills, Calif. Sam Marder (Ohio State) - Sophomore - Catcher - Calabasas, Calif. Cambria Miranda (Oregon State) - Senior - Second Base- Camarillo, Calif. Taryne Mowatt (Arizona) - Senior - Pitcher - Corona, Calif.

Kara Nelson (Illinois State) - Sophomore - Third Base - Moline, Ill.

Stacey Nelson (Florida) - Junior - Pitcher - Los Alamitos, Calif.

Emily Nichols (Iowa) - Senior - Catcher/Infield - Portland, Ore. Chrissy Owens (Alabama) - Senior - Pitcher - Miami, Fla.

Lauren Parker (Alabama) - Junior - Infield - Port Neches, Texas

Nicole Pauly (Northwestern) - Sophomore - Infield - Palatine, Ill.

Missy Penna (Stanford) - Junior - Pitcher/Utility - Miami, Fla.

Melissa Pura (Cal Poly) - Junior - Shortstop - Salinas, Calif.

Brette Reagan (Baylor) - Junior - Third Base - Magnolia, Texas

Amanda Renth (Missouri) - Junior - Infield - Mascoutah, Ill.

Samantha Ricketts (Oklahoma) - Junior - First Base - San Jose, Calif. Kate Robinson (Hawaii) - Senior - Pitcher/First Base - Honolulu, Hawaii

Killian Roessner (LSU) - Senior - Catcher - Manasquan, N.J. Brittany Rogers (Alabama) - Junior - Outfield - Dacula, Ga. Amanda Scarborough (Texas A&M) - Senior - Pitcher/First Base - Magnolia, Texas Anjelica Selden (UCLA) - Senior - Pitcher - Vacaville, CA

Kirsten Shortridge (Baylor) - Sophomore - Pitcher/Outfield- Keller, Texas Holly Tankersley (Louisiana-Lafayette) - Senior - Designated Player - Kirbyville, Texas Angela Tincher (Virginia Tech) - Senior - Pitcher - Eagle Rock, Va. Jessica Valis (Houston) - Junior - Shortstop - Shiner, Texas Sandy Vojik (DePaul) - Senior - Utility - Riverside, Ill. Kim Waleszonia (Florida) - Junior - Utility - Fontana, Calif. Tammy Williams (Northwestern) - Junior - Infield - Roscoe, Mo.