OKLAHOMA CITY – With the 2019 international season just days away for the members of Team USA, several USA Softball National Team athletes finished their NCAA and high school softball seasons by garnering national recognition.
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Two members of the 2019 Women’s National Team (WNT) roster racked-up some of NCAA Softball’s highest honors while four members of the U-19 WNT were honored as Gatorade State Softball Players of the Year.
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Women’s National Team Athletes:
Rachel Garcia (Palmdale, Calif.) - Garcia helped lead the UCLA Bruins to their first NCAA Women’s College World Seriesâ (WCWS) title since 2010 and concluded a dominant junior campaign with multiple post-season honors. Voted as back-to-back USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, the highest honor for an NCAA Softball Division I athlete, Garcia also earned back-to-back espnW Softball Player of the Year awards. Throwing all but two innings for the Bruins in Oklahoma City, Garcia was tabbed Most Outstanding Player for the NCAA WCWS and made the All-Tournament team. In addition to those accolades, Garcia was named NFCA Division I Pitcher of the Year and is one of four finalists for the Honda Sport Award for softball.
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Dejah Mulipola (Garden Grove, Calif.) – Mulipola finished her 2019 junior season in Oklahoma City as the Arizona Wildcats were one of eight teams to make the NCAA WCWS. A threat both at and behind the plate, Mulipola was named NFCA Division I Catcher of the Year, the first for a Wildcat since 1998, after allowing just 13 stolen bases on the year. Additionally, Mulipola also earned the Johnny Bench Award for top female NCAA Softball catcher.
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U-19 Women’s National Team Athletes:
Bailey Dowling (St. Joseph, Ill.) – Bailey Dowling captured back-to-back Gatorade Illinois Softball Player of the Year honors after batting .674 with 22 home runs and 47 RBI for St. Joseph-Ogden High School. Leading the Spartans to the Class 2A sectional semifinals, Dowling’s junior season ended with a .760 on-base percentage and a 1.495 slugging percentage.
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Montana Fouts (Grayson, Ky.) – Montana Fouts was lights out in the circle for Alabama during both the regular season and the Crimson Tide’s post-season run. A Top 3 Finalist for the NFCA Freshman of the Year, Fouts earned a spot on the NCAA WCWS All-Tournament Team after picking up a pair of wins in Oklahoma City.
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Lexi Kilfoyl (Land O’Lakes, Fla.) – Lexi Kilfoyl also captured back-to-back Gatorade Florida Softball Player of the Year accolades in her senior season. Leading Academy at the Lakes on offense and in the circle, Kilfoyl posted a 14-1 record in the circle as the Wildcats captured the Florida Class 2A State Championship. With a 0.48 ERA and 134 strikeouts in 73 innings pitched, Kilfoyl also contributed with a .563 batting average, 12 home runs and 37 RBI.
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Kelley Lynch (Newnan, Ga.) – Kelley Lynch earned the highest honor for a high school softball player after being named the Gatorade National Softball Player of the Year. A two-time Gatorade Georgia State Softball Player of the Year, Lynch was dominant in her final season at East Coweta. Leading her team to a 32-2 record and second-consecutive Class 7A State title, Lynch compiled a 17-0 record with a 0.27 ERA and had a .436 batting average, three home runs and 25 RBI.
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Rylee Trlicek (Hallettsville, Texas) – Rylee Trlicek made history after becoming the first Gatorade Texas Softball Player of the Year chosen from Hallettsville high school. Trlicek led the Brahmas to a 36-1 record and berth to the Class 3A state semifinals. Posting a 22-1 record with a 0.85 ERA, Trlicek struck out 243 batters in 131 innings in the circle. Also producing at the plate, Trlicek batted .584 with seven home runs and 53 RBI. |
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