TUCSON, Ariz. – USA Softball named its Female Athletes of the Year last week and the award was swept by a pair of Wildcats. Two-time All-American Kellie Fox, who played her final season at Arizona in 2015, was named USA Softball Female Athlete of the Year while freshman Alyssa Palomino was selected as the USA Softball Junior Female Athlete of the Year.
“It is an extreme honor to be selected as a player of the year in the USA National Team program,” said Arizona head coach Mike Candrea, who served as the head of Team USA from 2002-08. “To have both Kellie and Alyssa selected at the same time is unbelievable! We are very proud of both as they represent the past and future of The University of Arizona softball program. We join in congratulating these outstanding players and even better young ladies.”
Both Fox and Palomino led their teams to Gold Medals in the summer playing with Team USA and the U.S. Junior National Team, respectively.
In her second season as a member of the USA Softball Women's National Team, infielder Fox showed why she's considered one of the best fielders in the game. The 24-year-old saw action in 14 games as a member of the Red, White and Blue and helped lead Team USA to Gold at the World Cup of Softball X in Irvine, Calif., a Silver at the Toronto Pan American Games and Gold at the Japan Cup in Ogaki, Japan this past summer.
“It is such an honor and privilege to be named the USA Softball Female Athlete of the Year,” said Fox. “I'm so thankful to be given this honor and to have been able to end my playing career on such a high note while representing my country. I'd like to thank ASA/USA Softball, my coaches, teammates and family for everything they've done for me during my career. I'm thankful to have such a great support system.”
Fox, the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2014, had a breakout year for the Women's National Team, compiling a .378 (17-for-45) batting average on the year with four home runs, 12 RBI and six runs scored. She compiled an astonishing .711 slugging percentage and a .412 on-base percentage. Fox also took care of business on defense, recording just two errors in her 14 outings.
“Kellie had a breakout year for us,” said Women's National Team Head Coach Ken Eriksen. “Not only did she break out defensively, but her offense was off the charts. There was a reason we were successful and it was because of Kellie.”
On the Junior Women's side, Palomino established herself internationally as a feared slugger during her first year in the National Team Program. Palomino, who is redshirting 2016 after tearing her ACL in the fall, saw action in every game for the Junior Eagles and played a vital role in the Gold Medal finish for Team USA at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Junior Women's World Championship (JWWC) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and a fifth-place finish at the World Cup of Softball X.
“It is such an honor to be named the USA Softball Junior Female Athlete of the Year,” said Palomino. “The summer this team had was incredible and it was the best experience of my life! I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity that was given to me and I will cherish every memory that was made! Being able to play with USA across my chest is something I have always dreamed of and just being able to play was a dream come true. I would like to thank the ASA/USA Softball staff for this honor and the team and coaches for an amazing summer. Without them, this summer would have never been possible.”
The lefty power-hitter could not be stopped at the WBSC JWWC as Palomino shattered several records en route to a Gold Medal and led the tournament with five home runs, 27 RBI and a 1.333 slugging percentage. The previous record for most RBI was Team USA's Stacey Nuveman (La Verne, Calif.) in 1995 with 18. She also tied Nuveman's 1995 record of five home runs in the Championship. Palomino ended the 2015 season with a .396 (19-for-48) average, 28 RBI, 18 runs scored and a .483 on-base percentage.
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