Fresno State Athletics
Softball's Southern Named Team MVP at Awards Banquet
5/31/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 31, 2002
FRESNO, Calif. - Capping off a remarkable freshman season that saw records written and rewritten and levels attained that were unparalleled, freshman right-handed pitcher Jamie Southern was honored with the team's Most Valuable Player award this evening at the annual Fresno State softball awards banquet.
The 2002 First Team All-American is the tenth Bulldog pitcher to collect the team MVP award as she led the nation in ERA all year and became just the third rookie in NCAA Division I history to tally 400 or more strikeouts in a freshman season. Recording 19 ten-strikeout games and throwing three no-hitters, including two perfect games, Southern went 33-10 with 22 shutouts and 400 strikeouts in 351.2 innings.
Establishing Fresno State rookie records in strikeouts, shutouts, wins, win/loss and being on the fourth 20-game winner as a freshman and just the seconed 30-game winner as a rookie, Southern completed her freshman campaign by ranking in 27 records in school, WAC and NCAA history combined.
Sophomore second baseman Pam Perez picked up her second straight Golden Glove award. Posting a career year, Perez finished second on the team in batting (.299), runs (25), sacrifices (19) while third in hits (64) and total bases (70). Taking away more than 20 hits this season, Perez turned seven of the team's 19 double plays while also seeing time at shortstop and in the outfield.
Junior catcher Pam West notched her second consecutive Coaches' Award. West threw out 21 would-be basestealers while also turning in a career year at the plate. West had two game-winning hits over Pacific in regular-season and postseason play while collecting 17 multiple-hit games. She also batted better than .350 in her last 15 games. In the past two seasons she has thrown out 41 runners for a 63% accuracy (24-65) and owns a career 51% accuracy (52-105).
Senior first baseman Vanessa Czarnecki was named Most Inspirational for the third consecutive year. Overcoming shoulder surgery, Czarnecki set the Western Athleti Conference's carer mark in sacrifices (72). Also with outstanding defensive stops at second base and in right field, Czarnecki helped turn 13 of the team's 19 double plays while being named second team all-WAC at the utility position.
The Bulldog Achievement award went to senior center fielder Tiffany Whipple. Whipple led the team in multiple hit games (19), hits (67), runs (33) and stolen bases (11).
Senior third baseman Lindsay Fossatti received two awards after being honored with the Career Achievement award and the Academic Excellence award. Fossatti concludes her career by being ranked in seven Top 10 all-time career marks at Fresno State, five in WAC and one NCAA Top 25. Fossatti, who became just the third Bulldog to be a four-time first team all-conference pick, set the school's and the league's career mark in walks (111) to rank No. 25 in NCAA Division I history.
Fossatti had a career year after batting .314 and notching season-bests in hits (65), doubles (15), home runs (6), walks (34) and total bases (101). Having been walked two or more times in 10 different games this past season, Fossatti had 12 two-out RBI games and became the ninth Bulldog in school history to post 100 or more total bases in a season.
