The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Osterman, Desiree Williams and Willis named 2006 Easton-Bell Softball All-Americans
06.07.2006 | Softball
VAN NUYS, Calif. -- The University of Texas softball team and three of its starters-- senior lefthander Cat Osterman, sophomore shortstop Desiree Williams and junior catcher Megan Willis-- were recognized Wednesday when Easton-Bell Sports announced its 2006 All-American Teams, Schools of the Year and Cover Teams of the Year.
Osterman (Houston, Texas) was one of 15 first-team All-America honorees by Easton-Bell, while Williams (Tucson, Ariz.) was a second-team All-America pick and Willis (Chandler, Ariz.) was named to the third team. The three standouts led Connie Clark's Longhorns (55-9) to the program's fourth NCAA Women's College World Series berth and to the 2006 Big 12 Conference regular season championship.
The awards are given to those players and schools sponsored by Easton-Bell Sports. Players from 29 schools are represented on the Easton-Bell All-American Teams. All-American consideration is based on individual performance throughout the year. "Schools of the Year" honors are based on overall team performance and success, while "Cover Teams of the Year" are selected based on promotion and awareness of Easton-Bell Sports through team media guides and other promotional materials.
"Easton-Bell Sports is honored to have such outstanding players and schools represent our products and equipment," said Pam Newton-Fleming, Easton Bell Promotions Manager, Women's Sports. "Selecting our All-American teams, `Schools of the Year' and `Cover Teams of the Year' is always difficult because we have so many deserving nominees. We are extremely proud of all of our sponsored programs.
Easton-Bell Sports had an unbelievable year in collegiate softball, with half of the field in the 2006 NCAA Women's College World Series (Alabama, Oregon State, Texas and UCLA), the second place finisher in the NAIA National Championship (Cal Baptist), and the California Junior College Champs (Cypress College). These awards are one way of honoring those many significant individual and team accomplishments."
In addition to her Easton honor, Osterman is the three-time USA Softball National Player of the Year (in 2003, 2005 and this year) and also is a three-time first-team All-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). In her final collegiate season, she led the nation in both ERA (0.42) and strikeouts-per-seven innings (15.4) and was second nationally in victories (going 38-4). Her 630 strikeouts were the second-highest single season total in NCAA history. Osterman finishes her career with the NCAA records for strikeouts (2,265) and for strikeout ratio (strikeouts-per-seven-innings, 14.35), obliterating the old records of 1,773 K's (set by Courtney Blades of Southern Mississippi/Nicholls State from 1997-2000) and 11.6 K's-per-seven-inning, held by Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's Sarah Pauley (from 2002-05). Those records are for all pitchers, across all three NCAA Divisions (I, II and III).
Williams started 63 of UT's 64 games at shortstop. A NFCA All-Midwest Region First Team and All-Big 12 First Team standout, Williams led the Longhorns in seven offensive categories. She had team-highs in batting average (.333), homers (school-record 12), RBI (39), total bases (109), slugging percentage (.637), walks (school-record 39) and on-base percentage (.468). Additionally, she was second on the squad in runs (41), hits (57), doubles (10) and triples (3) and went 15-for-20 in stolen bases. In the field, her fielding accuracy was .952 as she handled 104 total chances with just five errors.
Earlier this season, Willis was named the 2006 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and earned second-team All-Big 12 honors. The catcher finished fourth in UT batting with a .281 average, and was third in base hits with 47. Her 25 RBI were third-best on the team, while she also had a .344 on-base percentage. Behind the plate, Willis was a defensive force, with just four passed balls. She committed just three errors in 795 total chances, for a fielding average of .996.
The 2006 Easton-Bell honorees are listed below:
Division I First-Team All-America
Caitlin Benyi, UCLA
Christina Clark, Fresno State
Andrea Duran, UCLA
Erin Floros, San Diego State
Ianeta Le'i, BYU
Kellie Middleton, Georgia
Cambria Miranda, Oregon State
CAT OSTERMAN, TEXAS
Anjelica Selden, UCLA
Jessica Strickland, Colorado State
Kristina Thorson, California
Stephanie VanBrakle, Alabama
Jackie Wong, Utah
Haley Woods, California
Veronica Wootson, Florida State
Division I Second-Team All-America
Lauren Castle, LSU
Jessica Doucette, Georgia
Whitney Haller, Georgia Tech
Amerra Kesterson, Biola
Leslie Klein, LSU
Jodie Legaspi, UCLA
Megan McAllister, Georgia
Brianne McGowan, Oregon State
Whitney Mollica, Massachusetts
Brittany Rogers, Alabama
Amber Smith, Illinois State
Candice Thomas, Cal Baptist
Tami Trujillo, Cal Baptist
Emily Turner, LSU
Desiree Williams, TEXAS
Division I Third-Team All-America
Brandice Balschmiter, Massachusetts
Lauren Cisneros, Creighton
Sonja Garnett, San Francisco State
Alyse Hasty, Delta State
Amy Hosier, Georgia Tech
Natasha Jacob, Florida State
Meagen Johnson, Coastal Carolina
Robin Mackin, Fresno State
Chantal Millard, Cal Baptist
Candice Molinari, Massachusetts
Staci Ramsey, Alabama
Gina Rango, Bowling Green
Tyleen Tausaga, Hawaii
Megan Willis, TEXAS
Emily Zaplatosch, UCLA
2006 Teams of the Year
Alabama
Oregon State
TEXAS
UCLA
Cypress College
2006 Cover Teams of the Year
Florida State
Mt. San Antonio
Massachusetts
Oregon State
TEXAS