Harper, Lopez and Palomino-Cardoza Named to USA Softball Player of the Year Watch List
01/29/2020 | Softball
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TUCSON, Ariz. -- Arizona softball seniors Jessie Harper, Mariah Lopez and Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza have been named to the USA Softball Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List, the association announced on Wednesday.
Arizona's three players are the second most nationally, marking the fourth straight season that the Wildcats have had at least three players named to the list. This marks Harper's third consecutive appearance on the preseason watch list and the second straight for Palomino-Cardoza.
Harper, who was one of 25 finalists for the award last season, led the NCAA in home runs last season with 29, fourth most in a season in Arizona history. The junior is a two-time All-American in her career; she was a first-team All-American first baseman as a freshman and a second-team All-American shortstop last year. Harper enters her senior year with 66 career home runs, seventh most in Arizona history and ninth most in Pac-12 history.
Lopez transferred to Arizona this season after a successful three-year career at Oklahoma, where she went 51-2, good for a .962 career winning percentage, best in Sooner history. Last season, Lopez went 19-1 with a 1.25 ERA, holding opponents to a .159 batting average and striking out 159 batters in 117.2 innings.
Palomino-Cardoza has been a first-team All-American each of the last two seasons, including last year when she hit .385 with 19 home runs and finished top-10 in the Pac-12 in nearly every offensive category. Palomino-Cardoza enters her senior year with 54 career home runs, 12th most in school history.
The Top 25 Finalists for the 2018 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be announced April 22. While an athlete does not have to be on the "Watch List" to be considered for the Top 25, the eventual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will come from the Top 25 Finalists. The Top 10 Finalists will be announced May 6 and the Top 3 announced May 20. The 2020 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed May 26.
The Wildcats open the season next week at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Arizona. UA opens the season on Friday, Feb. 7 vs. Kansas and Seattle University. The Cats will then face Portland State and Western Michigan on Saturday before wrapping up the weekend vs. No. 12 Tennessee on Sunday.
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TUCSON, Ariz. -- Arizona softball seniors Jessie Harper, Mariah Lopez and Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza have been named to the USA Softball Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List, the association announced on Wednesday.
Arizona's three players are the second most nationally, marking the fourth straight season that the Wildcats have had at least three players named to the list. This marks Harper's third consecutive appearance on the preseason watch list and the second straight for Palomino-Cardoza.
Harper, who was one of 25 finalists for the award last season, led the NCAA in home runs last season with 29, fourth most in a season in Arizona history. The junior is a two-time All-American in her career; she was a first-team All-American first baseman as a freshman and a second-team All-American shortstop last year. Harper enters her senior year with 66 career home runs, seventh most in Arizona history and ninth most in Pac-12 history.
Lopez transferred to Arizona this season after a successful three-year career at Oklahoma, where she went 51-2, good for a .962 career winning percentage, best in Sooner history. Last season, Lopez went 19-1 with a 1.25 ERA, holding opponents to a .159 batting average and striking out 159 batters in 117.2 innings.
Palomino-Cardoza has been a first-team All-American each of the last two seasons, including last year when she hit .385 with 19 home runs and finished top-10 in the Pac-12 in nearly every offensive category. Palomino-Cardoza enters her senior year with 54 career home runs, 12th most in school history.
The Top 25 Finalists for the 2018 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be announced April 22. While an athlete does not have to be on the "Watch List" to be considered for the Top 25, the eventual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will come from the Top 25 Finalists. The Top 10 Finalists will be announced May 6 and the Top 3 announced May 20. The 2020 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed May 26.
The Wildcats open the season next week at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Arizona. UA opens the season on Friday, Feb. 7 vs. Kansas and Seattle University. The Cats will then face Portland State and Western Michigan on Saturday before wrapping up the weekend vs. No. 12 Tennessee on Sunday.
CAT CLICKS
2020 Schedule
Purchase Season Tickets
FOLLOW @ARIZONASOFTBALL
Players Mentioned
Sunday, August 16
Tuesday, April 28
Sunday, April 26
Wednesday, April 22
