College Softball 360 Primetime Performers #1 (2013)

Feb. 12, 2013   |   Contact: Pete LaFleur (editor@collegesoftball360.com)

2012 Primetime Performers May 2  |  May 9

Florida Newcomer Kelsey Stewart, LSU Ace Rachele Fico & 
DePaul's "Do-Everything" Kirsten Verdun Highlight 
CSB360's Opening-Week Primetime Performers Honor Roll 

The Primetime Performers Weekly Honor Roll made its debut at CollegeSoftball360 late in the 2012 season and now will be a mainstay throughout 2013 – starting with this first group of honorees, following a busy opening week that featured most of the nation's top-40 teams playing at tournaments throughout the country.

(Scroll down for listing of all 16 week-1 honorees, plus action photos; player info. being added to the capsules below; headshots in right sidebar).

Three players who rose to the occasion during week-1 – LSU senior pitcher Racele Fico (Oxford, Conn.), Florida freshman middle infielder and leadoff batter Kelsey Stewart (Wichita, Kan.), and DePaul junior LHP/IB Kirsten Verdun (Coal City, Ill.) – headline the week-1 Primetime Performers and are joined by 13 others in comprising the CSB360 Primetime Performers Weekly Honor Roll for the week of Feb. 4-10, 2013 (all 16 listed below). Stewart is the CSB360 National Primetime Player of the Week, while Fico is the Primetime Pitcher of the Week and the versatile Verdun the week's top Primetime Utility Player.

Kelsey Stewart A230

Florida freshman middle infielder and leadoff batter Kelsey Stewart (right)

STEWART – the only freshman among the 16 Primetime honorees – stepped into the spotlight with impressive results, batting leadoff against a challenging string of opponents at the annual Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. As one of the newcomers to a Gators team looking to move past the loss of several key departed players, the lefthanded-hitting Stewart reached time 13 times while scoring or driving in 13 of her team's runs, as the Gators started 5-0 with top wins over #3 California, #5 Oregon and #13 Arizona (plus Creighton and Cal State Northridge).

In addition to batting a team-best .556 (10-for-18) during the week, to go along with three walks, Stewart scored 10 runs with five RBI and two home runs among her five-extra base hits (also a triple and pair of doubles). The rookie speedster was successful on all five of her stolen-base attempts and made only one error during the tournament, playing primarily at second base with some time at shortstop. She hit safely in her first time to the plate during four of the five games, and her runs against Cal, Arizona and Northridge all produced the winning margin. Her on-base plus slugging (OPS) was a lofty 1.730. 

Rachele Fico A230

LSU senior ace pitcher Rachele Fico (left)

FICO compiled a lowly 0.41 ERA during three appearances at the Tiger Classic, racing up 20 strikeouts versus only four walks in 17 innings of work. Her appearances during the week came against #22 North Carolina and Tulsa (a 10-inning, 1-0 thriller), with both teams coming off 40-win seasons and trips to the 2012 NCAAs (Tulsa was among the top-40 votegetters in the preseason polls).

After retiring 11 of the first 12 Tulsa batters, Fico also closed the game by retiring 11 of 12 en route to a 14-strikeout game (second-most of her career), leaving the veteran 16 shy of the 600-K milestone. Fico matched Tulsa's Lacey Middlebrooks in a game that was scoreless through nine innings, before LSU broke through in the 10th. She faced only 35 batters in the extended outing, with five hits allowed (none for extra-bases), no walks or hit batters.

Fico earlier shut down UNC in a five-inning, 8-0 win, striking out five (5H-3BB). She limited opponents to .167 batting (10 H), four walks and only one HBP during the tournament, which also included a brief relief stint in a rematch with UNC that had a bizarre ending (two LSU slow defensive plays gave UNC a couple extra outs in its 3-run 6th, then LSU appeared to win on a fluke infield popup that landed near second base and spun all the way back to the catcher, ultimately ruled a foul ball intend of a 3-run play).

Kirsten Verdun A230

DePaul junior utility player
Kirsten Verdun (right)

VERDUN contributed both in the circle and at the plate during DePaul's 4-1 performance at the UNLV Classic, with the Blue Demons posting wins over top opponents Texas Tech and UCF, plus the host Rebels and Minnesota (lone loss came vs. #16 Louisville, after a pair of errors led to six unearned runs). In addition to posting a record of 3-1 (no earned runs allowed in the loss) and a stellar 0.31 ERA during the tournament (one earned run allowed in 22.1 innings), Verdun averaged better than a strikeout per inning (23 Ks in 22.1 IP) and limited opposing hitters to a .195 batting avg. (16 H). 

In addition to her strong pitching week, Verdun led DePaul with .553 batting (8-for-15) during the week, adding six RBI, a home run, three doubles, a run scored and three stolen bases from the third spot in the batting order.

__________

Selection for the CollegeSoftball360 weekly awards is based on any/all of the following "primetime" criteria (i.e. not solely based on raw stats):

• Performed at a high level in a game/event that involves a team receiving votes in the preseason polls; or excelled in games that are key to the team's postseason qualification. Bonus given for all-around play (i.e. defense, execution, etc.).

• In general, preference is given based on the quality of the opponent, contribution to team success and situational factors involved in the competitor's accomplishments.

• Exhibited strong leadership and/or involved in clutch performances, such as gamewinning plays, noteworthy comebacks, late scores, momentum-shifting play, all-around performance, team spirit, etc.

• Overcame adversity or extreme circumstances (for the team and/or individual).

• Bonus consideration is given for key performances away from team's home venue and/or against a traditional rival (and for historic performances, on a national level).

The 16 week-1 Primetime position-players honorees include two from first base and two shortstops, plus a catcher, second base, designated player and two outfielders (one left, one right), plus the middle infielder Stewart. Other on the honor roll include two right-handed pitchers and four utility players (two RHP/1B, a RHP/DH and a LHP/1B).

Half of the 16 honorees (8) are juniors, plus four seniors, three sophomores and the lone freshman Stewart. Six hail from hometowns in California, plus two from Illinois and one each fem eight different states: Arizona, Connecticut, Kansas, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas and Washington.

In addition to Stewart, the infielders on the list include Iowa sophomore shortstop Megan Blank (Culver City, Calif.), Nevada junior shortstop Karley Hopkins (Sparks, Nev.) and Louisville junior second base veteran Katie Keller (Livermore, Calif.), joined by Texas A&M senior catcher Meagan May (Spring, Texas) and a pair of first-base standouts: Ohio State junior Evelyn Carrillo (Corona, Calif.) and Oklahoma sophomore Lauren Chamberlain (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.). The outfield honorees include Arizona State sophomore leftfielder Elizabeth Caporuscio (Lake Arrowhead, Calif.) and Wisconsin junior rightfielder Mary Massei (Chino Hills, Calif.). 

Seattle senior designated player Rogin Hardy (Kirkland, Wash.) also made the team, as did Tulsa junior righthanded pitcher Aimee Creger (Yukon, Okla.) and the following utility players (in addition to Verdun): Kentucky junior RHP/1B Lauren Cumbess (Normal, Ill.), Washington junior RHP/DP Kaitlin Inglesby (Portland, Ore.), and Fordham RHP/1B Jamie LeBovick (Peoriz, Ariz.).

CSB360 PRIMETIME PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK #1
(2013 Opening Week; Feb. 7-10 ... courtesy of CollegeSoftball360.com)
                        "It's not so much what you do, as it is when you do it."

MEGAN BLANK  
(Iowa … SS … So. … 3-spot … bats: L  … Culver City, CA … #4)

ELIZABETH CAPORUSCIO
(Arizona St. .. LF .. So. .. cleanup/2-/5-spot .. bats: L .. Lake Arrowhead, CA .. #55)
EVELYN CARRILLO
(Ohio State … 1B … Jr. … cleanup … bats: L … Corona, CA … #36)
LAUREN CHAMBERLAIN
(Oklahoma … 1B … So. … leadofff … bats: R ... Trabuco Canyon, CA … #44)
AIMEE CREGER
(Tulsa … RHP … Jr. … Yukon, OK … #15)
LAUREN CUMBESS 
(Kentucky … RHP/1B … Jr. … cleanup … bats: R … Normal, IL … #19)

*RACHELE FICO
(LSU … RHP … Sr. … Oxford, CT … #37)
ROGIN HARDY 
(Seattle … DP … Sr. … 5/6-spot ... bats: L … Kirkland, WA … #39)

KARLEY HOPKINS 
(Nevada … SS … Jr. … leadoff … bats: L … Sparks, NV … #24)

KAITLIN INGLESBY 
(Washington … RHP/DP … Jr. ... 3-spot … bats: R … Portland, OR … #13)

KATIE KELLER  
(Louisville … 2B … Jr. … 2-spot … bats: R … Livermore, CA … #22)

JAMIE LaBOVICK  
(Fordham … RHP/1B … Sr. … leadoff … bats: R … Peoria, AZ … #6)
MARY MASSEI  
(Wisconsin … RF … Jr. … leadoff … bats: L … Chino Hills, CA … #3)

MEAGAN MAY
(Texas A&M … C … Sr. … 2-spot … bats: R … Spring, TX … #13)
*KELSEY SWEWART
(Florida … 2B/SS … Fr. … leadoff … bats: L … Wichita, KS … #7)
*KIRSTEN VERDUN  
(DePaul … LHP/1B … Jr. … 3-spot … bats: L … Coal City, IL … #7)

* Stewart is the CSB360 National Primetime Player of the Week, Fico the Primetime Pitcher of the Week, and Verdun the Primetime Utility Player of the Week)

All photos courtesy of the respective schools.


Megan Blank A230


MEGAN BLANK  
(Iowa … SS … So. … 3-spot
bats: L  … Culver City, CA … #4)

(player info. being added)











________________________________

Elizabeth Caporuscio A230

ELIZABETH CAPORUSCIO
(Arizona State … LF … So.  
cleanup/2-/5-spot … bats: L
Lake Arrowhead, CA ... #55)

(player info. being added)








________________________________

Evelyn Carrillo A230

EVELYN CARRILLO
(Ohio State … 1B … Jr. … cleanup bats: L … Corona, CA … #36)

(player info. being added)









________________________________

Lauren Chamberlain A230

LAUREN CHAMBERLAIN   
(Oklahoma … 1B … So. … leadofff  bats: R ... Trabuco Canyon, CA … #44)

(player info. being added)









________________________________ 

Aimee Creger A230

AIMEE CREGER
(Tulsa … RHP … Jr.
Yukon, OK … #15)

(player info. being added)














________________________________

Lauren Cumbess A230

LAUREN CUMBESS
(Kentucky … RHP/1B … Jr. … cleanup bats: R … Normal, IL … #19)

(player info. being added)









________________________________

RACHELE FICO
(LSU … RHP … Sr. … Oxford, CT … #37)

(player info. being added; see top of page for action photo & other info.)

________________________________

Rogin Hardy A230

ROGIN HARDY
(Seattle … DP … Sr. … 5/6-spot
bats: L … Kirkland, WA … #39)

(player info. being added)














________________________________

Karley Hopkins A230

KARLEY HOPKINS  
(Nevada … SS … Jr. … leadoff
bats: L … Sparks, NV … #24)

(player info. being added)











________________________________

Kaitlyn Inglesby A230

KAITLIN INGLESBY
(Washington … RHP/DP … Jr. 
3-spot … bats: R…Portland, OR…#13)

(player info. being added)











________________________________

Katie Keller A230

KATIE KELLER
(Louisville … 2B … Jr. … 2-spot
bats: R … Livermore, CA … #22)

(player info. being added)









________________________________


Jamie LaBovick A230 hit

JAMIE LaBOVICK
(Fordham … RHP/1B … Sr. … leadoff bats: R … Peoria, AZ … #6)

(player info. being added)










________________________________

Mary Massei A230

MARY MASSEI
(Wisconsin … RF … Jr. … leadoff  bats: L … Chino Hills, CA … #3)

(player info. being added)








________________________________

Meagan May A230

MEAGAN MAY
(Texas A&M … C … Sr. … 2-spot
bats: R … Spring, TX … #13)

(player info. being added)





________________________________

KELSEY STEWART
(Florida … 2B/SS … Fr. … leadoff … bats: L … Wichita, KS … #7)

(player info. being added; see top of page for action photo & other info.)

KIRSTEN VERDUN
(DePaul … LHP/1B … Jr. … 3-spot … bats: L … Coal City, IL … #7)

(player info. being added; see top of page for action photo & other info.)


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