Sis Bates, Washington, Senior, Shortstop
It’s not often that a short stop is as well known as Bates is for both her defense and her hitting. The reigning two-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and two-time First Team All-American ranked fourth in the Pac-12 in hits last year and seventh in on-base percentage, all while recording 111 assists with only two errors. Expect Bates to once again be the favorite to win the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year award this year as she continues to deliver the most jaw-dropping plays of any shortstop in college.
2. Jessie Harper, Arizona, Senior, Shortstop
A two-time All-American (and a first-teamer in 2017), Harper led the NCAA in home runs last year with 28 and had five multi-homer games. Her 66 career home runs are the fifth most in NCAA history for a player in their first three seasons, and since she’s been a freshman, Harper has either ranked first or second for home runs in the Pac-12. Harper’s bat is good enough to win games on its own for the Wildcats, and she’s only 22 HRs away from surpassing former teammate Katiyana Mauga’s program record, a mark she should hit this year.
• NCAA leader in home runs (28)
• First-team all-region, all-Pac-12 and all-defense
• Leads Pac-12 in home runs, RBI (69), total bases (162) and second in slg% (.835)
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3. Gabbie Plain, Washington, Junior, Pitcher
At over six feet tall, Plain is one of the most intimidating players to take the mound. Named to USA Softball’s Collegiate Player of the Year Preseason watchlist, Plain is a two-time All-American and the fastest Husky ever to reach 50 career wins. In 2019, she became just the third-ever Husky with three or more no hitters in a single season. Expect Plain to continue to rack up strikeouts this season as she strives to help Washington win their second national championship before heading to Tokyo, where Plain will be pitching for the Australian national team.
Gabbie Plain threw her second consecutive no-hitter today, the first Husky EVER with back-to-back no-hitters!
4. Giselle “G” Juarez, Oklahoma, Senior, Pitcher
The 2019 Big-12 Pitcher of the Year, Juarez went 28-4 in 2019 with a sub 1.4 ERA in her first season at Oklahoma after transferring from Arizona State. The rare left-handed pitcher, Juarez is the only returning pitcher in a major conference to average more than 10 strikeouts a game last season. She threw three shutouts in the 2019 NCAA tournament as she led Oklahoma to the finals against UCLA, where they lost in a hometown heartbreaker. Expect Juarez to be on a revenge tour this year as she continues to dominate opposing batters while leading Oklahoma on a deep tournament run.
G Juarez KNEW how important that strikeout to start the inning was
5. Aaliyah Jordan, UCLA, Redshirt Junior, Outfielder
In 2019, Jordan led the national champion Bruins as well as the Pac-12 in doubles (20) and ranked second on her team in home runs (13). She had the performance of a lifetime during the Women’s College World Series, where she hit .571 (8-for-14) with three homers, six RBI, six runs and six walks. Her offensive heroics led UCLA to an upset championship win over No. 1 Oklahoma, against whom she hit two home runs and had four hits en route to being named to the All-Tournament Team. Overshadowed for much of last year by teammate Rachel Garcia (who is sitting out this season to train for Tokyo with Team USA), expect the 2018 First-Team All-American and Pac-12 Freshman of the Year to build on her first two seasons as she establishes herself as the Bruins’ chief offensive workhorse.
Aaliyah Jordan hit it hard, and she knew it!
6. Jocelyn Alo, Oklahoma, Junior, Utility
Alo absolutely killed it during her freshman campaign in 2018, when she led the nation in home runs with 30 and was named NCAA and Big-12 Freshman of the Year (as well as a First-Team All-American). She was third in the country with a .977 slugging percentage, meaning almost all of her hits were doubles or more, which is frankly just absurd. Alo had to come back down to earth eventually, and she did so her sophomore year, during which she struggled to come close to her first year’s numbers. After hitting .346 during Oklahoma’s opening tournament last weekend, however, hopes are high in Sooners country that Alo might soon regain her freshman form.
7. Amber Fiser, Minnesota, Senior, Pitcher
Fiser led Minnesota to its first ever WCWS appearance in 2019, when she ended the season with 31 wins, third-most in the NCAA and second all-time for the Gophers. Over 45% of her outs came on strikeouts, meaning almost half the time, she didn’t even need her defense to help her. Fiser already ranks fifth in program history in career wins (72) and strikeouts (666), and this year she’ll still be expected to spearpoint the Minnesota defense with her pitching arm. If she can get an assist from her team’s offense, Fiser will have a good chance to lead Minnesota to its second-ever WCWS appearance.
Things Amber Fiser does on the regular: THIS.
8. Danielle Williams, Northwestern, Sophomore, Pitcher
The 2019 NCAA Freshman of the Year, Williams was the first ever Big-10 player to win the award (she was also the Big-10’s Freshman of the Year.) Williams ranked sixth nationally in strikeout-to-walk ratio while limiting Big-10 hitters to a combined .152 batting average. Although Northwestern is currently sitting near the bottom of the Top-25, expect Williams’ arm to power the Wildcats as they look to turn their season around and make a run at the WCWS.
No surprise that pitching phenom Danielle Williams is our Female Newcomer of the Year after her dominant debut season.
9. Sydney Sherrill, Florida State, Sophomore, Infield
A 2019 All-American, Sherrill was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year last season after leading her team in eight different categories, including batting average, when she hit an impressive .405. She tied the NCAA record for doubles in season (29) as a freshman in 2018, as she helped lead the Seminoles to their first-ever national championship. In this year’s St. Pete Clearwater Elite Invitational, the first big tournament of 2020, Sherrill had a perfect fielding percentage while hitting .320. Expect her to be the best hitter on her team again this year as she looks to lead FSU back into title contention.
The HOMETOWN GIRL does it AGAIN!!
Sydney Sherrill gives it’s THIRD home run of the game!
10. Kendyl Lindaman, Florida, Senior, Utility
In her first year at Florida after transferring from Minnesota, Lindaman was First-Team SEC and a Third-Team All-American. She ranked 7th in the SEC in RBI’s and tenth in walks, meaning she not only scored runs with her bat but also used her eyes to get herself on base. A middle of the lineup hitter, Lindaman has the potential to have a huge impact on Florida’s offense each game as she advances teammates around the bases and racks up RBIs. Expect her consistent power to anchor Florida’s offense as they battle their way through SEC play.
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