Primetime Performers  (April 30-May 6, 2012)

RELEASE: May 9, 2012    
Contact: Pete LaFleur (editor@collegesoftball360.com)

Pair of Seniors – Syracuse Ace Jenna Caira & Maryland Outfielder Vandie Galindo – Top Honorees on CSB360 Primetime Performers Honor Roll (April 30-May 6) 

The most-recent weekly awards from CollegeSoftball360.com have been announced – with the honorees led by Syracuse senior righthanded pitcher Jenna Caira (Toronto, Ontario) and Maryland senior leftfielder Vandie Galindo (Fontana, Calif.). They are joined by 12 others in comprising the CSB360 Primetime Performers Weekly Honor Roll (for the week of April 30-May 6, 2012; all 14 listed below), with Galindo and Caira receiving top honors as the respective CSB360 Primetime Player of the Week and Primetime Pitcher of the Week. 

CLICK HERE for the CSB360 Primetime Performers Honor Roll from the previous week (April 22-29).

Player info. on all 14 honorees is included below (with action photos; headshots located in right-sidebar).

The Primetime Performer awards program – also utilized on affiliate sites CollegeBaseball360.com, CollegeSports360.com, CollegeSoccer360.com and CollegeFencing360.com – seeks to recognize players based on more than simple raw stats, instead also taking into account quality of opponent, contribution to team success and various situational factors (such as clutch play, all-around performance, leadership, adversity overcome, etc.).

Here are links to some earlier D-I softball players that received Primetime Performer designation during the first few weeks of the 2012 season, on CollegeSports360:

• Feb. 27 ... • Feb. 20 ... • Feb. 13

Jenna Caira A 230

CAIRA (pictured at left) delivered pair of shutout victories (2-0, 7-0) vs. visiting RPI #19 South Florida team that entered the weekend with 44-8 record. Those wins  helped secure the #3 seed for an Orange team seeking its third straight BIG EAST Tournament title.

After opening the South Florida series with 10 strikeouts in a 2-hit effort (BB-24 BF-99p), Caira added a shutout relief inning to close the tight game-2 loss (4-3; K-3BF). She then wrapped up the close series with 8 Ks in her fourth career no-hitter (second of season). Caira nearly posted a perfect game in that gm-3 matchup, with USF's only baserunner coming in the 5th (via an error).

Caira closed the regular season with a 1.53 ERA, 25-6 record, a whopping 258 strikeouts (in 206.1 innings) and a lowly .156 opp. batting avg. (113 H). She is averaging 8.8 Ks per 7 IP (20th in nation), with a 3.1 K-to-walk ratio.

7724190

GALINDO (pictured at right) hit .583 (7-for-12) and factored into six of her team's runs (4RBI-2R) during the tightly-contested series vs. RPI #16 Florida State (3-4, 4-1, 4-3 in 10). While batting out her usual #2 spot, Galindo provided a huge game in the series-deciding vitory, batting 4-for-5 with two RBI, a pair of runs scored, a double and a stolen base. She delivered in the clutch twice during that tense extra-inning game – first on 2-run, opposite-field double into the left-center gap during the Terps' 2-out rally that tied game in the 7th.

After the series finale vs. FSU had progressed into extra innings, Galindo led off the 10th with a leadoff single (making her Maryland's career hits leader, with 220) and ultimately came around to score the eventual winning run. She earlier had an RBI single and stolen base in the narrow series-opeing loss, then hit 2-for-4 with an RBI in the game-2 win. Galindo ranks second on the Maryland team with a .372 batting average, plus a team-best 41 runs scored (22 RBI). She has totaled eight more "free passes" (19 walks, 4 hit-by-pitch) than strikeouts (15) for the season.

The seven other pitchers (all RHPs) among the Primetime Performers include: Kentucky senior Chanda Bell (Indianapolis, Ind.) ... Pennsylvania freshman Alexis Borden (Yorba Linda, Calif.) ... Stanford junior Teagan Gerhart (Norco, Calif.) ... Louisiana-Monroe junior Samantha Hamby (Monroe, La.) ... UMass senior Sara Pourde (Bristol, Conn.) ... Georgia Southern sophomore Sarah Purvis (Warner Robins, Ga.) ... and Marshall junior Andi Williamson (Harts, W.Va.). 

The five other position players among the honorees include: Texas Tech junior first base Sandy James (Dallas, Texas) ... Oklahoma freshman second base Georgia Casey (Sydney, Australia ... Tulsa junior shortstop Samantha Cobb (Garland, Texas) ... Alabama junior leftfielder Kayla Braud (Eugene, Ore.) ... and Missouri senior rightfielder Ashley Fleming (Silex, Mo.). ... (Note: The Monday series finale vs. Oklahoma State was included for consideration of James.)

The 14 honorees include five seniors, five juniors, one sophomore and three freshmen – with three hailing from California hometowns, two more from Texas, and one each from: Australia, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, Ontario, Oregon and West Virginia.

Selection for these 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 top-40 RPI team; or excelled in games that are key to the team's postseason qualification.

• 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).

PRIMETIME PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK
(for week of April 30-May 6, 2012 ... courtesy of CollegeSoftball360.com)
              "It's not so much what you do, as it is when you do it."

7760465CHANDA BELL
Kentucky ... Sr. ... RHP ... #2
Indianapolis, IN

Won both of her decisions and saved team's third win, again leading the way during a key weekend as Kentucky (rpi-39) further improved its NCAA resume with a series sweep of RPI #20 LSU (4-3 in 8, 2-1, 1-0) ... limited Tigers to a .085 team batting avg. (4H) and three earned runs, spanning 15.2 innings (1.34 series ERA) ... racked up 16 strikeouts over the third games, with only five walks ... went toe-to-toe opposite LSU ace Lauren Fico while going the distance and striking out 10 in extra-inning opener (8IP-3R-4H-3BB)... returned to the circle in tense late-game moment the next day, with 1-out and runners on 1st & 2nd ('Cats held 2-1 lead) ... earned save in that gm-2, after retiring LSU's top two hitters (Ashley  Langoni on foulout to catcher and, after a double-steal, Cassie Trosclair on a game-ending groundout) ... posted her fifth career no-hutter to deliver series-sweeping win, again opposite Fico, in 1-0 thriller (2BB-6K-23BF) ... ended regular season with 2.49 ERA, 16-10 record, .201 opponent batting avg. (119 H) and 31 more strikeotus (194) than innings pitched (163).

__________________________________

Alexis Borden A 230

ALEXIS BORDEN
Pennsylvania ... Fr. ... RHP ... #9
Yorba Linda, CA

Delivered perfect game in big-game situation, leading Quakers to 4-0 win over surging Cornell to win 1-game playoff that determined Ivy League South Division champion (Penn next will face Harvard in the best-of-3 Ivy League Championship Series, on May 11-12 at Harvard) ... became first Ivy League pitcher since 2006 to register a perfect game (although both PGs by Ivy League pitchers in '06 came in 5-inn. games) ... struck out six of her 21 batters faced, with 14 of the 15 other outs coming via groundouts (4), foulouts (5), infield popups (3) and infield lineouts (2) ... allowed only one ball to reach the outfield all day (on a 1st-inning flyout to center field) ... her strong season has included a 1.33 ERA, 24-4 record, .211 opp. batting (145 H) and a 4.4 K-to-walk ratio (186/42, in 183.2 innings).



__________________________________

Kayle Braud 230 AKAYLA BRAUD
Alabama ... Jr. ... LF ... #1
Eugene, OR

Lefthanded-hitting leadoff batter who reached base six times during showdown series vs. RPI #8 Florida, as Tide won series to claim SEC regular-season title on final day (1-4, 9-1 in 6, 5-3) ... hit 5-for-10 with a walk, two runs scored and three stolen bases in the series ... opened title-deciding third game with leadoff single (on 1-2 pitch), adding stolen base and run scored as part of 4-run bottom of the 1st ... followed with leadoff double on full-count in the 2nd, coming around to score (w/ 2-outs on the board) for what proved to be valuable insurance run ... ended up hitting 3-for-4 with pair of doubles to help deliver the SEC title ... earlier set the pace in run-rule second game, batting 2-for-4 with a stolen base ... also had a walk and stolen base in series opener ... ended regular season batting team-best .359, with team-leading 47 runs scored, 33 stolen bases, 30 walks (.465 on-base pct.) and 10 doubles.

__________________________________

JENNA CAIRA  (pictured at top of page)
Syracuse ... Sr. ... RHP ... #29
Toronto, Ontario

Veteran pitcher who delivered pair of shutout victories (2-0, 7-0) vs. visiting RPI #19 South Florida team that entered weekend with 44-8 record, helping secure #3 seed for Orange team seeking its third straight BIG EAST Tournament title ... opened series with 10 strikeouts in 2-hit effort (BB-24 BF-99p) ... added shutout inning to close tight gm-2 loss (4-3; K-3BF), then closed series with 8 Ks en route to her fourth career no-hitter (second of season) ... nearly posted perfect game, with USF's only baserunner coming in the 5th (via an error) ... closed regular season with 1.53 ERA, 25-6 record, a whopping 258 strikeouts (in 206.1 innings) and a lowly .156 opp. batting avg. (113 H) ... averaging 8.8 Ks per 7 IP (20th in nation), with a 3.1 K-to-walk ratio.

__________________________________

Georgia Casey A 230

GEORGIA CASEY
Oklahoma ... Fr. ... 2B ... #42
Sydney, Australia

Talented newcomer who helped Sooners close in on Big 12 title, following series win over RPI #4 Texas (5-2 in 8, 9-3, 5-12) ... ended series opener in stunning fashion, driving full-count pitch from Longhorns ace Blaire Luna (after falling behind 0-2) for 3-run home run over the fence in left-center ... Oklahoma had trailed 2-0 in that game, before scoring twice in the 6th and going on to win in the 8th ... her plate discipline helped team rally again in game-2, with pair of walks and run scored ... helped put Sooners in position to sweep the series, with a pair of RBI and a run scored (2B-BB), but Texas scored eight times in 6th (after rare off-inning from OU pitching standout Keilani Ricketts) ... hit from the #5 position throughout the key series ... (season stats are not made available by OU).    

__________________________________

7664953SAMANTHA COBB
Tulsa ... Jr. ... SS ... #10
Garland, TX

Delivered the big hit in showdown series at RPI #40 UAB, with the Golden Hurricane going on to win Conference USA title on final day of regular season (1-2, 3-0, 3-0 ... hit 4-for-10, scored three runs and drove in three (with no strikeouts) during low-scoring series ... showed her power and clutch hitting from the #3 spot in the batting order, connecting on a full-count pitch for 3-run blast over leftfield fence for 1st-inning lead in gm-2 (no more runs were scored in that pivotal game) ... one day earlier, collected pair of hits and scored team's lone run in 201 loss ... closed series with a single and another run scored ... batting .351 for the season, with team-best totals in home runs (11) and RBI (46) ... has nearly as many home runs as srikeouts (13) this season. 

__________________________________

Ashley Fleming A 230ASHLEY FLEMING
Missouri ... Sr. ... RF ... #30
Silex, MO

Reached base 11 times (5-14, 5BB-HBP) from the #3 spot during 4-1 week, while having a hand in six of her team's runs (5RBI-3R-2HR) ... helped Tigers take 2-of-3 games in rare lateseason non-conference series, at RPI #7 Oregon (5-4, 3-8, 7-3) ... those wins kept Missouri in the mix for a #1 seed and one of 16 host positions for the NCAAs ... pulled 2-out, 2-run home run inside rightfield foul pole for 3-1 lead in 3rd inning of opener vs. the Ducks ... reached twice (BB-HBP) and scored a run in gm-2 loss ... closed with strong game to lead series-final win, doubling three times with a walk and pair of RBI ... earlier reached base four times in midweek split vs. Murray State (5-4/2-3; HR-3BB-2SB) ... Missouri does not provide ... leads team in batting average (.388), RBI (4) and home runs (14), along with 41 runs scored, 11 doubles and nine stolen bases ... has twice as many total "free passes" (24 walks, 7 hit-by-pitch) as strikeouts (15) ... has an on-base of nearly 50% (.489), plus a .748 slugging pct.

__________________________________

VANDIE GALINDO  (pictured at top of page)
Maryland ... Sr. ... LF ... #22
Fontana, CA

Hit .583 (7-for-12) and factored into six of her team's runs (4RBI-2R) during tightly-contested series vs. RPI #16 Florida State (3-4, 4-1, 4-3 in 10) ... provided huge game in series-deciding victory, batting 4-for-5 with two RBI, pair of runs scored, double and stolen base ... delivered in the clutch twice during that tense extra-inning game – first on 2-run, opposite-field double to left-center gap during 2-out rally that tied game in the 7th ... led off 10th in that series finale with leadoff single (making her Maryland's career hits leader, with 220) and ultimately came around to score the eventual winning run ... had an RBI single and stolen base in series opener, then hit 2-for-4 with an RBI in gm-2 ... batted out of the #2 spot throughout the series ... ranks second on team with .372 batting avg., plus team-best 41 runs scored (22 RBI) ... has totaled eight more "free passes" (19BB-4HBP) than strikeouts (15) for the season.  

__________________________________

Teagan Gerhart A 230TEAGAN GERHART
Stanford ... Jr. ... RHP ... #15
Norco, CA

Pushed her season record to 30-10 while posting pair of wins (plus her first save of 2012) during 4-0 week that included huge sweep of RPI #15 Washington (4-0, 1-0, 10-0 in 5) ... posted midweek win in 12-1, run-rule game vs. Santa Clara (5IP-R-6H-3K-21BF-80p) ... did not yield a run in 12 innings vs. the Huskies ... worked in and out of james en route to winning series opener (7IP-6H-6BB-K-32BF-132p) ... saved tense gm-2 (1-0), retiring all three batters she faced in the 7th ... returned to the circle to win run-rule finale (5IP-4H-2BB-K-21BF-85p) ... fourth Stanford pitcher ever to reach 30-plus wins in a season ... carries a 2.71 season ERA, with 180 strikeouts in 225 innings and a .223 opp. batting avg. ... her five siblings include former Stanford football All-America running back Toby Gerhart, along with two fellow college softball players that comprise their family triplet combo (Kelsey is a reserve catcher for the Cardinal, while Whitley is a starting outfielder and one of the top hitters at Cal Poly) ...  brother Garth was starting center on offensive line for Arizona State football team (played during 2007-11).

__________________________________

Samantha Hamby A 230SAMANTHA HAMBY  
Louisiana-Monroe ... Jr. ... RHP ... #9
Monroe, LA

Rose to the occasion in series opener vs. RPI #12 Louisiana (Lafayette), going the distance en route to handing ULL only its third loss of the season (44-3) ... allowed two runs while working around five hits and a pair of walks (K, 27 BF) ... held back potent Cajuns office that entered postseason leading the nation with 8.3 runs per game (4th in nation with .346 team batting avg.).






__________________________________

Sandy James A 230SANDY JAMES
Texas Tech ... Jr. ... 1B ... #18
Dallas, TX

Helped Red Raiders bounce back from series-opening loss vs. RPI #33 Oklahoma State (0-5), batting in the 5th position while playing lead role in pair of wins (8-4, 2-1) that allowed Texas Tech to remain in contention for a #1 regional seed (and host role) in NCAAs ...  drew a walk in series opener, as one of only six total baserunners allowed by Cowgirls ace Kat Espinosa ... homered twice and drove in four runs during pivotal gm-2 win, while batting 3-for-3 ... drew another walk vs. Espinosa in Monday series finale, as Texas Tech win close battle to take the series ... ranks third on team in batting avg. (.303) and home runs (11), plus second in RBI (44), while totaling seven more "free passes" (36 BB, HBP) than strikeouts (29).

__________________________________

Sara Plourde A 230SARA PLOURDE
Massachusetts ... Sr. ... RHP ... #10
Bristol, CT

Nation's strikeout leader with nearly 500 Ks (487, in 274 innings) while doubling as a quality hitter out of the 5th and 6th spots ... wrapped up her impressive 2012 season with four wins in 5-0 week, as UMass completed unbeaten run through Atlantic-10 season (19-0) ... 

her highlight moment came in 17-inning marathon during series opener at A-10 runner-up Fordham, going the distance with 251 pitches and 18 strikeouts for pressure-packed, 2-1 win (6H-4BB-62BF) ... 4-0 week extended her winning streak to 18 games while helping keep UMass (RPI #38) in mix for a #2 regional seed in the NCAAs ... went the distance in all four games, with lowly 0.55 ERA (3 earned runs, in 38 IP) ... totaled 53 Ks during the week, with three double-digit strikeout games ... at the plate, homered twice among her five hits (4 RBI) – extending her A-10-leading total to 10 HRs in league play ... won 6-1 gm-2 at Fordham (7IP-R-2H-BB-HB-6K-26BF-105p) while also contributing 2-run HR (2-for-4) ... went on to rack up 16 Ks in 5-1 opening win at La Salle (7IP-R-2H-5BB-29BF-136p) ... earlier had 13-K effort en route to winning 1-0 midweek game vs. Boston University, in matchup of top northeast powers (7IP-3H-3BB-13K-HB-WP-28BF-125p) ... ended regular season as national leader in Ks (487), victories (33-7), low opp. batting avg. (.114) and fewest hits allowed per 7 IP (2.7; 104 H), plus a 1.76 ERA ... averaging 12.4 strikeouts per 7 innings ... her 39 complete games this season include 12 shutouts, six no-hitters and a perfect game vs. St. Bonaventure ... went on to earn A-10 pitcher-of-the-year honors for third time in her career but also named the league's top player – an unprecedented double-honor in A-10 history ... batting .294 with a .706 slugging pct. (11 HR), plus 30 RBI ... homered in five straight games earlier this season (one shy of tying NCAA record for consecutive games with a home run). 

__________________________________

Sarah Purvis A 230SARAH PURVIS
Georgia Southern ... So. ... RHP ... #00
Warner Robins, GA

Posted pair of solo shutouts (7-0, 4-2) in sweep of Furman – allowing Georgia Southern (22-2) to edge favorite Chattanooga (20-2) atop league standings, as Eagles won Southern Conference title for the first time since 1996 and only second time in the program's history ... allowed only two hits and struck out nine in 7-0 series opener (3BB-26BF) ... with her team needing the sweep to win regular-season title, delivered 4-hit shutout in tight 2-0 finale (7K-25BF) ... first 20-game winner in program's history (20-9) ... closed regular season with 1.52 ERA, team-record 221 strikeouts (in 184.2 innings) and .162 opp. batting avg. (109 H), plus an equally-impressive 5.5 K-to-walk ratio (43 BB).




__________________________________

7755264ANDI WILLIAMSON
Marshall ... Jr. ... RHP ... #14
Harts, WV

Registered solo shutouts in all three games, as Herd swept surging RPI #34 Central Florida (5-0, 4-0, 1-0 in 10) to close regular season on a high note ... kept UCF off the scoreboard throughout the 24 innings, allowing only 12 hits in the series while striking out 19 (with 8 walks) ... totaled nearly 400 pitches (398) during the busy weekend action ... faced only 26 batters in series-opening win (3H-3BB-8K-119p), then returned for seven more shutout innings during second game of Saturday doubleheader (3H-BB-5K-26BF-121p) ... gutted out 10-inning finale (6H-4BB-6K-WP-39BF-158p) ... the sweep allowed Marshall to secure the #3 seed for the Conference USA Tournament ... has tied the school record for wins in a season (23-12) ... ended regular season as CUSA leader in overall ERA (1.47), low opp. batting avg. (.187; 144 H) and wins ... on pace to become first Marshall pitcher ever to hold opponents below .200 team batting avg. ... also leads league with 129 strikeouts in CUSA games (253 total, in 215 innings).

© College Sports 360, LLC ... editor@CollegeSoftball360.com