College Softball 360 Primetime Performers #5 (2013)

March 14, 2013     Contact: Pete LaFleur (editor@collegesoftball360.com)

2013 Primetime Performers:  Week-1  |  Week-2  |  Week-3  |  Week-4
… 
2012 Primetime – May 2  |  May 9

Western Kentukcy Junior Centerfielder Katrina Metoyer 
and LSU Ace Pitcher Rachele Fico Lead 
CSB360 Week-5 Primetime Performers Honor Roll

A pair of senior leaders – LSU ace pitcher Rachele Fico (Oxford, Conn.) and Western Kentucky centerfielder Katrina Metoyer (Garden Grove, Calif.) – are the top honorees on the CSB360 Primetime Performers Weekly Honor Roll for the week of March 4-10, 2013 (all eight honorees listed below). Fico is the the CSB360 National Primetime Pitcher of the Week and Metoyer the Primetime Player, for the fifth week of the 2013 season.

Scroll down for listing of all eight week-5 honorees, plus action photos and player info. capsules).

Rachele Fico A250FICO (pictured at right) – already a two-time recipient of the CSB360 Primetime Pitcher of the Week award in 2013  tied an SEC record with 22 strikeouts in a 14-inning conference opener at (28/30) Mississippi State, with the Tigers ultimately scoring the game's lone run for the 1-0 win. The LSU ace went 2-0 in the series, allowing only two runs (one earned; 0.33 ERA) in 21 total innings, with 30 strikeouts, six walks and 10 hits allowed. Her 206-pitch outing in the marathon opener included facing only 49 batters (4 hits, 3 walks). She also won the 9-2, series-deciding third game (7IP, 2 runs/1 earned, 3BB-8K).

Katrina Metoyer A250METOYER (pictured at left) hit .462 (6-for-13) and reached base 10 times (4 BB) during a 4-1 week that included winning the Sun Belt Conference opening series at (15/18) Louisiana-Lafayette (0-10, 12-2, 3-2). Batting in the key third spot in the lineup, the senior centerfielder factored into 11 of WKU's 21 runs during the week (8 RBI, 4 runs, home run) while compiling a .923 slugging pct. over the five games (adding three doubles to the home run, plus two stolen bases.

After reaching on a pair of walks during a midweek win over Bowling Green (stolen base), Metoyer then hit 3-for-4 with 4 RBI (2R-HR-2B) to close the doubleheader vs. Falcons (3-1, 6-8). She led the way in WKU's stunning reversal during a doubleheader split at ULL, reaching base there times and factoring into four runs (1-for-2, 2BB-2RBI-2R-2B-SB) in the series-tying, 12-2 win. Metoyer sparked the series-deciding win with an RBI double in the 5th and game-tying single in the 6th, as the only WKU player with multiple hits in that game-3 win. 

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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.). Note that conference races (even for teams outside the national polls) will be added to the Primetime Honor Roll later in the season.

• 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 #5
(week of May 4-10 ... courtesy of CollegeSoftball360.com)

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

NAOMI AMU  (Utah)  
– RHP … Jr. … Oceandside, CA … #10
* RACHELE FICO  (LSU)  
– RHP … Sr. … Oxford, CT … #37
BRIANA LITTLE  (Florida)  
– LF/RF/CF … So. … cleanup hitter … bats: R  … Middleburg, FL … #55
* KATRINA METOYER  (Western Kentucky)  
– CF … Sr. … #3-hitter … bats: switch  … Garden Grove, CA … #10
SARA MOULTON  (Minnesota)  
– RHP … Jr. … Eagan, MN … #9
MELISSA SHIPMAN  (Tennessee)  
– SS … Jr. … cleanup hitter … bats: R  … Valencia, CA … #44
TAYLOR THOM  (Texas)  
– SS … Jr. … #3-hitter … bats: R  … Cedar Park, TX … #11
ALICJA WOLNY  (Louisville)  
– 1B … Sr. … #3-hitter … bats: L  … El Dorado Hills, CA … #6

* – Fico is the CSB360 National Primetime Pitcher of the Week and Metoyer the Primetime Player of the Week

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

Naomi Amu A250

NAOMI AMU
Utah … RHP … Jr.
Oceandside, CA … #10

Allowed only one earned run spanning 23 innings (0.30 ERA) and four appearances, highlighted by 2-1 win over (27/29) South Alabama in tournament action at Long Beach State, with the Jaguars run coming unearned (4H-2K) … totaled 12 strikeouts and only three walks during the week (12 H) … posted pair of wins in tournament day at Cal State Fullerton, in short start  vs, Idaho State (2IP-H-K; 9-3) and the complete-effort to beat host Titans, 1-0 (4H-3BB-5K) … also logged seven innings as starter in 10-inning midweek win at Utah Valley, allowing one earned run (7H-2K) … has a 2.05 ERA in 75 innings this season (30 K, 17 BB, 85 H) … product of El amino High School.

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Rachele Fico A250

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

Already a two-time recipient of the CSB360 Primetime Pitcher of the Week award in 2013, after tying an SEC record with 22 strikeouts in 14-inning conference opener at (28/30) Mississippi State, with the Tigers ultimately scoring the game's lone run for the 1-0 win … went 2-0 in the series, allowing only two runs (one earned; 0.33 ERA) in 21 total innings, with 30 strikeouts, six walks and 10 hits allowed … her 206-pitch outing in the marathon opener included facing only 49 batters (4H-3BB) … won the 9-2, series-deciding third game (7IP-2R/ER-3BB-8K) … her senior season has included a 1.73 ERA and 12-3 record, while facing an assortment of top teams (127 K, 35 BB, 8 HB, 66 H/.189 opp. avg.) … earned second team all-SEC honors in 20120 and 2012 (also was the 2010 SEC Co-Freshman of the Year and member of the SEC All-Defensive Team … product of Masuk High School.   

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Briana Little A250

BRIANA LITTLE
Florida … LF/RF/CF … So. … cleanup bats: R  … Middleburg, FL … #55

Hit 2-for-4 and scored pair of key runs, as Gators staged late rally to win non-conference game at (1/2) Alabama, 8-4 (the Tide, which led 4-2 thru five innings, suffered their first loss of the season) … hit 6-for-9 overall during 4-game week, which included winning SEC opening series at Auburn (13-0, 4-5, 2-0) … reached base nine times during the week (BB, 2 HBP) and factored into 10 of the Gators runs (4RBI-7R-HR) spanning the four games … scored four times in series-opening rout at Auburn (2-for-2, BB-HBP-2B) before launching 3-run blast that accounted for all but one of Florida's runs in game-2 (2-for-3; SB) … closed trip by reaching base three more times, after a walk and a pair of HBPs … batting .362 for the season, with five home runs, 17 RBI and 20 runs scored (3 2B, 6 BB, 11 HBP, 5 SB) … product of Middleburg High School and the Jacksonville Bandits travel team.

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Katrina Metoyer A250

KATRINA METOYER 
Western Kentucky … CF … Sr.
#3-hitter … bats: switch
Garden Grove, CA … #10

Hit .462 (6-for-13) during 4-1 week that included winning Sun Belt Conference opening series at (15/18) Louisiana-Lafayette (0-10, 12-2, 3-2), a huge road success for a Hilltoppers team picked 6th in the Sun Belt preseason poll … factored into 11 of WKU's 21 runs during the week (8RBI-4R-HR) while compiling a .923 slugging pct. over the five games (HR, 3 2B) … was on-base 10 total times during the week (4 BB), with two stolen bases … reached on a pair of walks during midweek win over Bowling Green (SB), then hit 3-for-4 with 4 RBI (2R-HR-2B) to close doubleheader split vs. Falcons (3-1, 6-8) … led the way in WKU's stunning reversal during doubleheader split at ULL, reaching base there times and factoring into four runs (1-for-2, 2BB-2RBI-2R-2B-SB) in the series-tying, 12-2 win … sparked the series-deciding win with an RBI double in the 5th and game-tying single in the 6th (only WKU player with multiple hits in that game-3 win) … leads team in batting avg. (.421), doubles (6) and walks (11), plus 15 RBI, 8 R, 3 HR and 5 SB … product of Los Alamitos High School and the elite OC Batbusters travel team.

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Sara Moulton A250

SARA MOULTON
Minnesota … RHP … Jr.
Eagan, MN … #9

Surging pitcher who had another strong week during tournament action at Stanford, allowing only one earned run (0.29) ERA during four appearances and 24.1 innings (23 Ks, 3 BB, 5 HB, 14H /.151 opp. avg.) … won 1-0 game in Palo Alto vs. (30/x) Univ. of the Pacific, allowing only three hits and no walks (2 HBP) while striking out seven … also pitched in relief (3.1-2UER-H-BB-4K) and did not allow an earned un during 8-inning battle vs. the host team, with (18/19) Stanford claiming the narrow 2-1 in … posted another complete-game win vs. UOP (2R/1ER-7H-HB-5K), 4-2, before closing the weekend ith 4-1 in vs. quality Florida Gulf Coast team (CG-UER-3H-2BB-2HB-7K) … has gone 10-1 with a 0.67 ERA over the past three weekends (73.1, 91K-12BB), posting a pair of no-hitters and a 22.1-inning hitless streak during that span … owns a 0.99 season ERA (13-5), with 138 Ks and only 24 walks in 113.1 innings … her 61 hits allowed have included only for that have gone for extra-bases (one double and three solo home runs) … a third team all-Big Ten performer in 2012 … product of Eagan High School and the Minnesota Sting club program.

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Madison Shipman A250

MADISON SHIPMAN  Tennessee … SS … Jr. … cleanup
bats: R … Valencia, CA … #44

Key factor in top-5 showdown series vs. visiting (1/2) Alabama, as Lady Vols won twice to take the opening series (4-3, 2-1, 1-7) … collected two hits and factored into pair of runs during tightly-contested series opener…singled, stole second and scored in 3-run bottom of the 4th during game-1, then supplied the winning single, ripping a bases-loaded, 2-2 pitch down the leftfield line to score Whitney Hammond (the Crimson Tide had rallied to tie the game with a run in 6th and two in the 7th) … the momentum of her hit carried over into the game-2, series-clinching win … also homered in the series finale, vs. Alabama ace Jackie Traina … batting .375 for the season, with team-best 28 RBI, 13 extra-base hits (5 HR, 8 2B) and 16 walks, to go along with 25 runs scored and 10-of-11 on stolen-base attempts … prep All-American while starring for Valencia High School (2007 USA Today national championship team) and the So Cal Choppers club program … member of the USA Junior National Team.

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Taylor Thom hit A250

TAYLOR THOM
Texas … SS … Jr. … #3-hitter … bats: R  … Cedar Park, TX … #11

Continued her strong season during 4-0 week that included doubleheader sweep of (15/18) Louisiana-Lafayette (9-4, 7-1) and pair of 7-0 wins over Texas State … hit 7-for-13 (.539) over the four games while factoring into factoring into 12 of the Texas runs (8RBI-6R-2HR) and reaching base 11 total times (4 BB) … enjoyed huge day vs. ULL, batting 5-for-7 with pair of home runs and five RBI (5R-BB) … went 2-for-3 in first game vs. the Cajuns (2RBI-2R-BB) before her pair of long balls helped complete the sweep (3-for-4, 3RBI-3R) … had a single and walk in each game vs. Texas State (2RBI-R in first win, adding an RBI in the second) … batting .390 with team-best 33 RBI and eight home runs (27 R, 8 2B, 5 BB, 8-of-8 SB) … broke onto the scene in her first season with the Longhorns, earning 2011 Big 12 Freshman of the Year … product of Vista Ridge High School and the Texas Blaze club program.

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8682116

ALICJA WOLNY 
Louisville … 1B … Sr. … #3-hitter
bats: L … El Dorado Hills, CA … #6

Senior leader for Cardinals squad that has jumped out to a 20-3 start, after sweeping all four games in its home tournament (highlighted by 5-4 win over 14th-ranked Michigan and 9-3 game vs. Illinois State squad that has been receiving votes in the national polls this season) … reached base 13 times during the week, after batting 5-for-7 (.714) with eight walks … got the most out of her five hits, with two home runs and a pair of doubles … compiled a ridiculous 2.724 OPS (.867 on-base plus 1.857 slugging pct.) during the week, while factoring into 10 of the Louisville runs (6RBI-6R-2HR) … reached base four times and drove in two runs, during tense tournament opener vs. Michigan (3 BB, 1-for-1) … homered in 9-1 win over Miami Ohio (2RBI-2R, 1-for-2, BB) and then hit 2-for-3 with yet another walk in 12-0 game vs. Austin Peay (2RBI-3R-2B) … closed the weekend by launching 3-run HR and drawing three walks vs. quality Illinois State squad … batting .426 for the season (second to only Katie Keller's even .500 clip), with team-best 26 RBI, six home runs and 18 walks (19 R, 6 2B; .575 on-base pct.) … named all-BIG EAST during each of her first three seasons (second team in 2010, first team in '11 and third team in '12) … product of Oak Ridge High School and played for the Mizuno All-American Gold club team. 

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