PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference announced its annual softball awards on Wednesday, which were voted on by the league's seven head coaches.
USF collected three of four 2016 accolades, as Juli Weber was named The American Player of the Year, Erica Nunn garnered The American Pitcher of the Year honors, and USF was voted The American Coaching Staff of the Year. UCF freshman Cassady Brewer was tabbed The American Rookie of the Year.
Weber ranked top five in the conference during league play in numerous offensive categories, including doubles (1st; six), hits (3rd; 23), total bases (3rd; 34) and batting average (4th; .390). The junior outfielder was named The American Player of the Week on March 28, during USF's 23-game win streak. Weber earned The American Rookie of the Year honor in 2014, and is the first Bulls player to be named The American Player of the Year.
Nunn was the conference leader in earned run average (0.74), strikeouts (90) and wins (12) in 2016 league play. In 17 appearances in the circle, the senior threw a total of 84.2 innings during conference play and allowed the second-lowest opposing batting average (.184). Nunn garnered The American Pitcher of the Week honors four times this season. The Apex, N.C., native joins Sara Nevins as the second USF player to receive The American Pitcher of the Year honor.
USF was voted The American Coaching Staff of the Year after winning the league's regular-season title with 15 victories in league play. The Bulls led the conference with a .310 batting average against league opponents. The team has been ranked in the top 25 of both the USA Today/NFCA Division I Poll and the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 since March 29.
Brewer led The American in batting average (.455) and on-base percentage (.547) in conference play. The rookie second baseman played in all 16 of UCF's conference games, and started 15 of those. Brewer led the Knights with eight multi-hit games and five multi-RBI games during league play.
The all-conference first and second teams consist of 24 student-athletes from five teams. UCF's Shelby Turnier, Houston's Savannah Heebner, USF's Lauren Evans, Nunn and Weber, and Tulsa's Maddie Withee were unanimous first-team selections. The Bulls and Golden Hurricane each placed four players on the first team to lead the league. Additionally, Heebner and UCF’s Brewer were unanimously chosen for the six-player All-Rookie Team.
2016 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SOFTBALL AWARD WINNERS
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Juli Weber, OF, Jr., USF*
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Erica Nunn, Sr., USF*
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Cassady Brewer, 2B, Fr., UCF
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR
USF*
ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
P - Erica Nunn, USF*
P - Shelby Turnier, UCF*
C - Samantha McCloskey, UCF
C - Lee Ann Spivey, USF
1B - Lauren Evans, USF*
2B - Cassady Brewer, UCF
3B - Maggie Withee, Tulsa
SS - Shelby Estocado, Tulsa
OF - Juli Weber, USF*
OF - Maddie Withee, Tulsa*
OF - Katie St. Pierre, Houston
DP/U/P - Savannah Heebner, Houston*
DP/U/NP - Julia Hollingsworth, Tulsa
ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
P - Caitlin Sill, Tulsa
P - Jamie Ujvari, UCF
C - Catherine Horner, Tulsa
IF - Kalyn Cenal, UCF
IF - Kristen Wyckoff, USF
IF - Lexi Gifford, UConn
IF - Courtney Rotton, UCF
OF - Astin Donovan, USF
OF - Maya Thomas, Houston
OF - Elise LeBeouf, Houston
DP/U/P - N/A
DP/U/NP - Jessica Ujvari, UCF
ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Cassady Brewer, 2B, UCF*
Savannah Heebner, P, Houston*
Elise LeBeouf, RF, Houston
Maya Thomas, LF, Houston
Julia Hollingsworth, DP/OF, Tulsa
Morgan Neal, 2B, Tulsa
[*] Denotes unanimous selection
Ties are not broken
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