College Softball 360 Primetime Performers #3 (2013)

Feb. 28, 2013   |   Contact: Pete LaFleur (editor@collegesoftball360.com)

2013 Primetime Performers: Week-1  |  Week-2 … 2012 Primetime May 2  |  May 9

Oklahoma Dominant Lefthander Keilani Ricketts and
Northwestern Third-Base Veteran Marisa Bast
Lead CSB360 Week-3 Primetime Performers Honor Roll

Oklahoma senior lefthander and cleanup batter Keilani Ricketts (San Jose, Calif.) joins Northwestern senior third-bast standout Marisa Bast (Orange, Calif.) as the top honorees on the CSB360 Primetime Performers Weekly Honor Roll for the week of Feb. 18-24, 2013 (all 12 honorees listed below). Ricketts is the CSB360 National Primetime Pitcher of the Week (she also hit 5-for-12 with six walks) while Bast is the Primetime Player of the Week.

(Scroll down for listing of all 12 week-3 honorees, plus action photos and player info. capsules; we also hope to add player info. for all honorees on the week-1 and week-2 Primetime pages).

Keilani Ricketts A230

It's impossible to overlook the numbers that Oklahoma players have put up each of the first three weeks this season, despite continually facing a collection of the nation's top teams. Sooners leadoff batter Lauren Chamberlain was on the Primetime Honor Roll for the first two weeks of the 2013 season, followed by Ricketts (pictured) for week-3.

Ricketts joins UCLA freshman Paige McDuffie (The Woodlands, Texas) and Cal Poly sophomore Chloe Wurst (La Vernce, Calif.) as lefthanded pitchers on the week-3 Primetime Honor Roll, which also includes three RHPs: Stanford freshman Kelsey Stevens (Albuquerque, N.M.), Missouri fifth-year senior Chelsea Thomas (Pleasantville, Iowa) and Washington junior Bryan Walker (La Quina, Calif.).

Bast is one of four infielders among the week-3 honorees, along with: Illinois State junior 1B/SS Laura Canopy (Hopedale, Ill.), Utah senior shortstop Kelsi Hoopiiaina (Riverton, Utah) and Michigan 2B/DP Ashley Lane (Escondido, Calif.). A pair of seniors – Louisiana-Lafayette centerfielder Brianna Cherry (Petal, Miss.) and Southern Illinois versatile veteran Morgan Barchan (Arcadia, Calif) – round out the week-3 Primetime Performers (Barchan played all three outfield positions last week).

The dozen week-2 honorees include the fifth-year senior Thomas, five traditional seniors, three juniors, one sophomore, and the freshman pitching duo of McDuffie and Stevens. Half of them hail from California hometowns, plus one each from Iowa, Illinois, Mississippi, New Mexico, Texas and Utah.

RICKETTS once again rose to the challenge on the big stage, this time at the Marry Nutter Collegiate Classic with 34 strikeouts in her 23.1 shutout innings that spanned three wins (vs. #16 Georgia, #23 Florida State and a Nebraska team receiving votes in the national polls) plus a save of the 5-2 win over UC Santa Barbara. She led the Sooners to a 5-0 finish at the tournament, boosting the team's season record to 15-0 despite facing a formidable list of opponents that also has included Oregon, Arizona, Washington, Stanford, Kentucky, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Oregon State and San Diego State (12 of 15 games vs. ranked teams or those receiving votes).

The imposting 6-foot-2 let hander's strikeout total in Cathedral City was better than four times the combined number (8) of walks (3) plus hits (5) she allowed over the 23.1 innings. Ricketts posted her 100th career complete game in the opening 1-hitter vs. Georgia (5-0; 10 Ks) and then collected a rare save in the win over UCSB (2.1 hitless innings, with 4 Ks). She later kept Nebraska off the scoreboard (3H-BB-9K) to counteract a strong start from Huskers ace Tatum Edwards, who took a no-hitter into the 7th before OU rallied to win. 

Ricketts closed her strong week by racking up 11 Ks and allowing a lone single in the first inning of the 6-0 win over FSU (with one walk). She retired the final 16 Seminoles batters and did not allow a baserunner after the second inning. The OU cleanup battter also hit 5-for-12 during the tournament (RBI-2R-HR-2B), reaching six other times via walks. 

Marisa Bast A230BAST (pictured at left) delivered four clutch RBI on the first day of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic while helping Northwestern register a pair of quality 3-2 wins: vs. Georgia Tech and vs. previously unbeaten, 4th-ranked Tennessee. She also contributed to three more wins, as the Wildcats headed home with a 5-0 tournament mark that quickly offset some subpar early-season results.

In the opening win over Georgia Tech, Bast's 2-run single in the bottom of the 7th stunningly ended the game, moments after the 'Cats had allowed two unearned runs in the top of the inning. Shortly thereafter, Northwestern was back on the field and Bast quickly put her stamp on the game vs. Tennessee with a 2-run blast in the opening frame. She went on to register an RBI double and run scored in the decisive 3-run top of the 7th vs. BYU (a 4-1 win). 

Bast later executed a sacrifice bunt during a 9-inning win over Loyola Marymount (7-3) before closing the tournament with a big game (3-for-5; 2 RBI, 2 R, home run) in the 10-9 finale vs. Long Island-Brooklyn. The Northwestern #3 hitter factored into eight of her team's runs during the week (7RBI-3R-2HR) while compiling a .684 slugging pct. (6-for-19, 2HR-2B).    

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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).

CSB360 PRIMETIME PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK #3
(week of Feb. 18-24 ... courtesy of CollegeSoftball360.com)

"It's not so much what you do, as it is when you do it."

MORGAN BARCHAN  (Southern Illinois)
– (RF/LF/CF … Sr. … bats: R … #2 hitter/leadoff … Arcadia, CA … #1)
*MARISA BAST  (Northwestern)
– (3B … Jr. … bats: R … #5 hitter … Orange, CA … #21)
BRIANNA CHERRY  (Louisiana-Lafayette)
(CF ... Sr. … bats: R …#2 hitter ... Petal, MS ... #23)
LAURA CANOPY  (Illinois State)
– (1B/SS … Jr. … bats: L … #2 hitter ... Hopedale, IL … #10)
KELSI HOOPIIAINA  (Utah)
– (SS ... Sr. ... bats: R … leadoff ... Riverton, UT ... #24) 
ASHLEY LANE  (Michigan)
– (2B/DP ... Sr. ... bats: R … #7 hitter ... Escondido, CA ... #8)
PAIGE McDUFFIE  (UCLA)
– (LHP ... Fr. ... The Woodlands, TX ... #55)
*KEILANI RICKETTS  (Oklahoma)
– (LHP … Sr. ... San Jose, CA ... #10) 
KELSEY STEVENS   (Stanford)
– (RHP ... Fr. ... Albuquerque, NM ... #18)
CHELSEA THOMAS  (Missouri)
– (RHP ... 5th-Yr.-Sr. ... Pleasantville, IA ... #18)
BRYANA WALKER  (Washington)
– (RHP ... Jr. ... La Quinta, CA ... #17)
CHLOE WURST  (Cal Poly)
– (LHP ... So. ... La Verne, CA … #28)

* – Ricketts is the CSB360 National Primetime Pitcher of the Week and Bast the Primetime Player of the Week.

All photos courtesy of the respective schools and their photography staffs.

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Morgan Barchan A230

MORGAN BARCHAN  
Southern Illinois
(RF/LF/CF … Sr. … bats: L 
#2 hitter/leadoff … Arcadia, CA … #1)

Hit 11-for-17 (.647) during challenging week at the NFCA Classic in Clearwater, helping lead SIU to wins over 14th-ranked South Florida and Hofstra (rec. votes in national polls), plus opening win over UC Davis and close losses to UMass and UCF (both of which received votes in the preseason polls) … scored eight runs and drove in another during the 5-game trip … was constantly on base (15 times, with four walks) throughout the tournament, with her totals also including a double and stolen base … hit 3-for-4 and scored a crucial run in 5-4 upset of USF … also hit 3-for-4 (with an RBI and two runs scored) to lead the 7-5 win over Hofstra … had multiple hits in four of the five games – also 3-for-3 with two runs, two walks and a stolen base in 8-7 opener vs. UCD, plus 3-for-4 with a run scored in 5-2 loss to UCF … drew a walk and scored in 4-3 loss vs. UMass … leads Salukis with .419 batting acg. (3RBI-9R-2 2B-7BB-2SB) … a second team all-Missouri Valley Conference performer as a sophomore in 2011 … product of arcadia High School … cousin of former SIU softball shortstop Haley Gorman.

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Marisa Bast A230

MARISA BAST 
Northwestern

(3B … Jr. … bats: R … #5 hitter Orange, CA … #21)

Delivered four clutch RBI on the first day of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic while helping Northwestern register a pair of quality 3-2 wins: vs. Georgia Tech and vs. previously unbeaten, 4th-ranked Tennessee … also contributed to three more wins, as Wildcats headed home with a 5-0 tournament mark that quickly offset some subpar early-season results … her 2-run single in the bottom of the 7th stunningly ended the game vs. Georgia Tech, moments after the 'Cats had allowed two unearned runs in the top of the inning … shortly thereafter, Northwestern was back on the field and she quickly put her stamp on the game vs. Tennessee with a 2-run blast in the opening frame … had an RBI double and run scored in the decisive 3-run top of the 7th vs. BYU (a 4-1 win; she also drew walk earlier in that game) … executed a sacrifice bunt during 9-inning win over Loyola Marymount (7-3) before closing the tournament with a big game (3-for-5; 2 RBI, 2 R, home run) in 10-9 finale vs. Long Island-Brooklyn … factored into eight of the Wildcats runs during the week (7RBI-3R-2HR) while compiling a .684 slugging pct. (6-for-19, 2HR-2B) … batting .308 for the season, with team-best 14 RBI and team-leading four home runs (7R, 2 3B, 2 2B, BB) … earned third team All-America and first team All-Big Ten honors as  sophomore in 2012, after leading the conference in batting avg. and RBI … second team all-Big Ten in 2011.    

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Laura Canopy A230

LAURA CANOPY  
Illinois State
(1B/SS … Jr. … bats: L … #2 hitter Hopedale, IL … #10)

Hit 7-for-18 (.389) during the week and factored into 13 of her team's runs (11RBI-3R-HR) at the NFCA Classic in Clearwater, while facing several top opponents … led the way in 7-0 upset win over 14th-ranked South Florida, with  the Redbirds also posting 3-2 win over a Hofstra team receiving votes in the national polls (plus narrow losses to #12 Louisiana-Lafayette, #15 Michigan and UMass) … had a pair of RBI, run scored, a single and excited a sacrifice bunt in 10-inning loss vs. Michigan (11-0)… drew a walk vs. Hofstra and singled vs. UMass before smacking 4th-inning grand slam for midgame lead vs. ULL (also reached on a walk and HBP in that 8-5 loss) … closed on final day with pair of 2-for-3 games, in 8-inning win over UCD (2-1) and 7-0 route of USF … her key contributions vs. Davis included mid game, 2-out RBI triple and sacrifice bunt that put eventual wining run on third in the 8th (also doubled earlier in the game) … capped her week with a 2-run and 2-run single to spearhead the big win over the Bulls … leads team with 13 RBI while batting .292 (8R-HR-2 3B-3 2B-6BB-6HBP-2SB) … earned second team all-Missouri Valley Conference honors as a sophomore in 2012 … product of Olympia High School … sister Erin played softball at Augustana College while her cousin Marlayna Stoetzel was a volleyball player at Western Carolina.

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Brianna Cherry A230

BRIANNA CHERRY  
Louisiana-Lafayette
(CF ... Sr. … bats: R …#2 hitter
Petal, MS ... #23)

Paced the Cajuns during 4-1 showing at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, with ULL claiming the tournament title following quality wins over Hofstra, #14 South Florida, James Madison and Illinois State (plus a 3-1 loss to #15 Michigan) … hit 7-for-19 (.368) during the tournament, with eight RBI, seven runs scored and four home runs (also a pair of walks) … drove in team's lone run in close opener vs. Michigan … drew a walk and hit solo home run in 3-0 win over USF … delivered 2-out, 2-run blast the next day as Cajuns broke 5-5 tie vs. Illinois State with three runs in the 5th (for 8-5 final; also walked and had sacrifice fly) … homered for third straight game in 4-2 win over Hofstra team that was receiving votes in the national polls (2R, 2B) … closed tournament with a single, RBI and run scored in 9-2 win over JMU … leads team with .429 season batting avg., 21 RBI, 20 runs and six home runs (3B, 2 2B, 11 BB, SB) … product of Petal High School.

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Kelsi Hoopiiaina A230

KELSI HOOPIIAINA 
Utah

(SS ... Sr. ... bats: R … leadoff
Riverton, UT ... #24) 

Veteran leadoff batter who paced Utes during unbeaten showing at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, highlighted by 5-4 win over Ohio State team that was receiving votes in the national polls … hit 8-for-17 (.471) during the week while factoring into 10 of her team's runs (8RBI-3R-HR) … had 15 total bases during the tournament (3B, 2 2B; .882 slugging pct.), adding a pair of walks and a sacrifice fly … went 2-for-3 with an RBI, run and sac-fly in the win over OSU … had a pair of RBI in 7-3 opening win vs. Colorado State (single, walk) … homered and tripled in 7-0 win vs. LIU Brooklyn (2RBI-R-BB), then delivered 2-out, 3-run double that capped Utah's 5-run top of the 7th in 5-2 win over Nevada … closed week by batting 2-for-3 with a double and her team's only RBI in game that ended 1-1 vs. Cal Poly … batting .426 with several team-best totals: 16 RBI, 13 runs, three home runs, six doubles and three stolen bases (3B, 7 BB) … an honorable mention all-Pac-12 selection as a junior in 2012, after earning all-Mountain West Conference honors in 2011 … product of Riverton High School and the Victory USA travel team. 

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Ashley Lane A230

ASHLEY LANE  
Michigan
(2B/DP ... Sr. ... bats: R … #7 hitter Escondido, CA ... #8)

Earned spot on the all-tournament team at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, after batting 7-for-12 (.583) with several key plays – as the Wolverines went 4-1 vs. assortment of top teams … her 2-out, 2-run home run gave Michigan early lead en route to 3-1 win over #12 Louisiana-Lafayette … had rare 5-hit game (in six ABs, with an RBI) during 10-inning win over Illinois State (11-9) … singled in 3-0 win over Hofstra (rec. votes) and reached on a hit-by-pitch in 4-3 loss to DePaul … played error-free at second base, on 21 fielding chances … batting .361 for the xeon, with four RBI, four runs scored and a pair of home runs (BB-2HBP) … NFCA second team All-American as a sophomore in 2011 (third team all-Bug Ten in 2012) … product of Escondido High School and the Orange County Batbusters club program … father Dan Lane played baseball at Marymount College.

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PAIGE McDUFFIE 
UCLA

(LHP ... Fr.
The Woodlands, TX … #55)

Paige McDuffee A230

Rookie lefty who shut out 10th-ranked LSU to hand the Tigers their second loss of the season (compared to 14 wins), emerging with the 2-0 victory opposite LSU senior ace Rachele Fico … the clutch win helped the Bruins to a 5-0 showing vs. an assortment of top teams at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, boosting the once-beaten Bruins into the top-10 … scattered seven hits in the win over LSU but did not walk a batter (one HBP), with a pair of strikeouts … earlier in the week, she came out of the bullpen for a similar big-game effort – relieving Ally Carda with two shutout innings vs. 4th-ranked Tennessee to close out another tension-packed, 2-0 game (BB-3K) … product of The Woodlands High School and the Sudden Impact Gold travel team.



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Keilani Ricketts A230

KEILANI RICKETTS 
Oklahoma

(LHP/DP … Sr. … bats: L
cleanup batter
 … San Jose, CA ... #10) 

Dominating 6-foot-2 lefthander who once again rose to the challenge on the big stage, this time at the Marry Nutter Collegiate Classic with 34 strikeouts in her 23.1 shutout innings that spanned three wins (vs. #16 Georgia, #23 Florida State and a Nebraska team receiving votes in the national polls) and a save of the 5-2 win over UC Santa Barbara … led Sooners to 5-0 finish at the tournament, boosting the team's season record to 15-0 despite facing a formidable list of opponents that also has included Oregon, Arizona, Washington, Stanford, Kentucky, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Oregon State and San Diego State (12 of 15 games vs. ranked teams or those receiving votes) … her strikeout total in Cathedral City was better than four times the combined number (8) of walks (3) plus hits (5) she allowed over the 23.1 innings … posted her 100th career complete game in opening 1-hitter vs. Georgia (5-0; 10 Ks) … collected a rare save in the win over UCSB (2.1 hitless innings, with 4 Ks) and then kept Nebraska off the scoreboard to counteract a strong start from Huskers ace Tatum Edwards, who took a no-hitter into the 7th before OU rallied to win … nearly reached double-digit Ks in that win (9; 3H-BB) … closed her strong week by racking up 11 Ks and allowing a lone single in the first during 6-0 win over FSU (one walk) …retired the final 16 Seminoles batters and did not allow a baserunner after the second inning … also hit 5-for-12 during the tournament as OU's cleanup batter (RBI-2R-HR-2B), reaching six other times via walks … returned to Norman with a 0.78 season ERA, 7-0 record (106 career wins) and six shutouts, with 80 strikeouts vs. only 11 walks in 53.2 innings (5 hits batters, 2 wild pitches, no balks) … her 20 hits allowed this season (.111 opp. batting avg.) include only two for extra bases (no home runs) … also ranks second on team with .447 batting avg. (10 RBI, 7 R, 3 HR, 2 2B, 13 BB, 9 K, 2 SB) … her stellar college career already has included being named 2012 national player of the year and earning NFCA All-America honors each of her first three seasons (first team in '11 and '12) … 2009 national high school player of the year, after starring for Archbishop Mitty High School and the Sorcerer GOLD-Phil travel team … part of an accomplished softball family that includes older sisters Samanta (an All-American at Oklahoma) and Stephanie (who wrapped up her stellar career at Hawaii in 2012) … brother Richard played football at the Air Force Academy, as a defensive end from 2007-10.

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Kelsey Stevens A230

KELSEY STEVENS   (Stanford)
(RHP ... Fr. ... Albuquerque, NM ... #18)

Continued her impressive debut season with three quality wins at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, allowing only an unearned run over a 19-inning span that saw her strike out 19 while allowing only seven hits and five walks … opened tournament as winner in 6-0 game vs. 16th-ranked Georgia (4H-3BB-3K) before tossing no-hitter in 4-0 win over Virginia … faced the minimum 21 batters vs. UVa, with no walks or hit batters in the 94-pitch gem (located 67 pitches for strikes) … improved to 8-1 with 3-1 win over (23) Florida State, allowing an unearned run in five innings (3H-2BB-6K) before yielding to Tegan Gerhart to close out the win … has fashioned a 0.99 season ERA, with 68 strikeouts in 56.1 innings (18BB-5HB-4WP-28 H/.147 opp. avg.) … product of Volcano Vista High School and the Arizona StormGold-Brun club program … her brother Trevor was a wrestler at Stanford while her cousin Lindsay Jones pitched for the BYU softball team.

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Chelsea Thomas A230

CHELSEA THOMAS  
Missouri
(RHP ... 5th-Yr.-Sr.
Pleasantville, IA ... #18)

Record-setting veteran who struck out 19 while logging the full 12 innings in battle with 5th-ranked Florida, as Tigers handed the Gators their first loss, 4-3, at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic … posted two strikeouts and induced a groundout in the top of the 12th, setting the stage for Missouri's dramatic victory … gave Florida only four free passes (3 BB, 1 HBP) and limited potent Gators offense to five hits (none went for extra bases, among her 47 batters faced … also started the previous day vs. Maryland but left the game afar two innings, due to a bout with food poisoning … has compiled a lowly 0.25 season ERA, with a 3-0 record and .115 opponent batting avg. … earned first team All-America honors in 2011 and again in '12 (her 2010 season was cut short by a stress-fracture injury and she received a medical hardship waiver that ultimately earned her an additional season of eligibility for 2013) … was a key factor as a freshman on Missouri's 2009 team that advanced to the Women's College World Series … product of Pleasantville High School … her father Rich Thomas payed football at Central College.

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8625236

BRYANA WALKER  (Washington)
(RHP ... Jr. ... La Quinta, CA ... #17)

Delivered three strong performances while pitching miles from her hometown, at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, Calif. … won all three of her decisions while allowing only one earned run in 21 total innings and racking up 28 strikeouts (opposite a lone walk, plus only 10 hits allowed) … her excellent control during the week also included no hit batters, wild pitches or balks … posted career-high 12 strikeouts in 7-1 win over Virginia, allowing three walks and what would prove to be her only walk of the tournament … followed with 3-hit shutout in tense 2-0 battle vs. 23rd-ranked Florida State, outdueling FSU ace Lacey Waldrop … faced only 24 batters vs. the Seminoles (8 Ks) … closed tournament with another strong complete game, in 14-12 win over (13/16) Georgia (both runs were unearned; 4H-8K) … product of La Quinta High School and the Minor's Gold club program. 

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Chloe Wurst A230

CHLOE WURST  
Cal Poly
(LHP ... So. ... La Verne, CA … #28)

Registered several strong outings at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, while facing an assortment of top opponents …  finished the week having allowed only two earned runs spanning 20.1 innings, with 13 strikeouts, 13 hits allowed and only two walks … matched Georgia starter Geri Ann Glasco in game that was scoreless until the top of the 5th, with the Mustangs then scoring the lone run to upset the 16th-ranked Bulldogs … posted clutch 4-hit shutout in that win, with no walks allowed (one K) … closed loss vs. Ohio State by retiring only batter she faced, then turned in a commendable complete-game effort in 2-1 loss to 9th-ranked Oregon … limited the Ducks to the pair of runs on five hits and two walks, with seven Ks – but received only the one run of support from the Cal Poly offense … closed the tournament by not allowing an earned run in 1-1 tie vs. Utah (complete-game 6.0 innings, with four hits, no walks and five Ks … product of Bonita High School, along with the Orange County Dynasty, American Pastime, and Teamsmith club programs.

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