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May 10, 2012

NORMAN, Okla. — Two student-athletes from the Oklahoma Softball program were named finalists for the 2012 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) announced. Lauren Chamberlain and Keilani Ricketts were both named to the list of 10 finalists as OU joined Cal as the only programs to place two athletes on the list.

Chamberlain is the lone freshman named to the final 10 as Ricketts was one of three juniors on the list. Five seniors and two sophomores comprise the remainder of the top 10 list for the award designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievements by female collegiate softball players across the country.

Chamberlain currently leads the Big 12 in home runs with an Oklahoma single season record of 22, just two shy of the Big 12 single-season record and the third-best total in the nation. The freshman also leads the Big 12 in runs scored (49), runs batted in (58), total bases (127) and slugging percentage (.852). Chamberlain is 10th nationally with her 58 runs batted in.

Ricketts leads the Sooners in the circle with a record of 26-6 and an ERA of 1.14. She ranks second nationally in strikeouts per seven innings (10.8), third in total strikeouts (325), fourth in hits allowed per seven innings (3.84) and eighth in shutouts (8) and ERA. Ricketts leads the Big 12 in wins, strikeouts and opposing team’s batting average, holding opponents to just a .155 clip at the plate.

At the plate, the two-time All-American is third on the Sooner squad with 14 home runs while leading the Big 12 with an on base percentage of .554, a number that is eighth nationally. Ricketts owns the Big 12’s second-best slugging percentage, .837, while ranking 10th nationally with 41 walks, an average of 0.84 per game.

The three finalists for the award will be announced May 23, while the winner of the 2012 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award will be revealed on May 29 prior to the start of the NCAA WCWS in Oklahoma City.

Now in its 11th year, the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award is voted on by coaching representatives from 11 Division I Conferences in the 15 ASA Regions as well as members of the media who constantly cover Division I softball across the country.