MAY 31 UPDATE

PLAYER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

For Immediate Release: 5/31/05

Top Three Finalists Announced for USA Softball
Collegiate Player of the Year

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. --- The Amateur Softball
Association, the National Governing Body of Softball
in the United States, announced today the three
finalists for the fourth annual USA Softball
Collegiate Player of the Year Award. The initial list
of 25 finalists was announced April 6 with that list
being narrowed down to 10 on May 10. This award is
designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement
by female collegiate softball players across the
country.

The 2005 winner will be announced Wednesday evening

during the opening ceremonies of the 2005 Women's College World

Series.

The three finalists for the 2005 USA Softball
Collegiate Player of the Year Award, listed in
alphabetical order, are:

Caitlin Lowe (Tustin, Calif.), Outfielder, University
of ArizonaSeries.

Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas), Pitcher, University of
Texas

Jennie Ritter (Dexter, Mich.), Pitcher, University of
Michigan

Leading the Wildcats back to Hall of Fame Stadium,
sophomore lead off slap hitter Caitlin Lowe has topped
the hitting charts nationally this season batting .527
with a .576 on base percentage.  Against Oklahoma in
the NCAA Super Regional, the 5’5” speedster was
5-for-7 leading the Cats to Oklahoma City.  She has
totaled 57 runs on the year with 97 hits, five home
runs, 25 RBI, and is 27-for-30 in stolen bases.  A
total of 31 multiple hit games, she shared the Pac-10
Player of the Year with Top 10 Finalist Kristen Rivera
and also received all Pacific Region Honors. Entering
the WCWS with a 14-game hit streak, she is just three
hits away from reaching the century mark with 100
hits.

“It’s definitely an honor to be included in this list
of athletes,” said Lowe.  “We are extremely excited to
be back in Oklahoma City.  I have been trying to do my
job all year in the lead off position for our 3, 4, 5
hitters and have brought leadership from last year to
the field.” 

“Caitlin has been the most dominant lead off hitter in
the country,” said Arizona head coach Mike Candrea.
“She is truly the catalyst for our offense and when we
she on base we usually have a pretty good chance of
scoring. She has put up great numbers and even has
included the long ball as of late.  She is very
deserving of this honor.”

The 2003 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year,
Osterman returned in 2005 for her junior season with
the Texas Longhorns after an Olympic red-shirt year.
A 6’2” left handed pitcher, her dominance from the
circle is well known in the collegiate ranks.
Sporting the nation’s best ERA of 0.32, this Longhorn
has led her team back to the World Series after taking
home the 2005 Big 12 Tournament title.  In Regional
action, she combined for two no-hitters including a
perfect game, allowing just one hit in 21 innings.  In
the Super Regional, she rallied in a nine inning 1-0
victory over Bethune Cookman where she totaled 20
strikeouts. 

Posting a 28-6 overall record, she has 20 shutouts on
the season and averages 2.2 strikeouts per inning.
She has fanned 539 batters on the season and was a
two-time USA Softball Player of the Week.  Osterman
took home Big 12 Pitcher of the Year honors and has
pitched six no-hitters this season including three
perfect games. 

“It’s a terrific honor being recognized as one of the
top players in the country,” said Osterman.  “To be in
the company of these athletes is an outstanding honor
in itself.  All three of us have put up great numbers
and great performances this year. Our team has been
through some ups and downs this year, but we have
pulled together and are anxious to get on the field
and play Texas softball.”

“We are extremely proud of Cat,” said Texas head coach
Connie Clark.   “She has definitely had a season that
is deserving of this honor.  To come back after a
world wind tour with the Olympic team and have this
kind of success just shows she is not only one of the
top pitchers in the college level but also in the
world.”

A member of the No. 1 ranked Michigan Wolverines,
right-handed pitcher Jennie Ritter has been the top
workhorse driving the Maize and Blue this season.
With a minuscule ERA of 0.92, Ritter has combined for
a 33-2 record allowing just 31 earned runs in 235.2
innings pitched and notching 357 strikeouts.  In the
Super Regional, she fired a one-hitter against
Washington to capture game one before a 3-2 lost tied
the series at 1-1.  The Wolverines bounced back with
an 11-2 run rule to advance to the WCWS while Ritter
contributed four innings of hitless play with five
strikeouts. Capturing the Big 10 season and tournament
title, the 5’8” junior was also honored as the Big 10
Pitcher of the Year. 

“It’s an incredible honor and pretty amazing to be on
the same level with these athletes,” said Ritter.
“This season I have tried to play as well as I can for
my team and set the tone for the defense.  We have
done a great job and that is why we are here and we
want it.”

“It’s a great honor,” said Michigan head coach Carol
Hutchins.  “Jennie is very deserving and had a
tremendous year.  She is a huge part of our success.”

The winner of the 2004 USA Softball Collegiate Player
of the Year Award will be announced June 1 during the
opening ceremonies of the NCAA Women’s College World
Series, and will be recognized and presented with the
USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year trophy
during the ASA National Council Meeting in Tucson,
Arizona, in November.

A replica of the award will be placed in a permanent
display in the ASA National Softball Hall of Fame in
Oklahoma City, along with photos of the winner. An
additional replica of the award will be presented to
the player’s academic institution at a designated
event in the fall.

WORLD SERIES SCHEDULE

Women's College World Series
June 2-8, 2005
ASA Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City
Host: University of Oklahoma
Ticket Information: www.okcallsports.org

June 2, 2005
Game 1 - NOON CT (Tennessee vs. Arizona)
Game 2 - 2 PM CT (UCLA vs. California)
Game 3 - 6:30 PM CT (DePaul vs. Michigan)
Game 4 - 8:30 PM CT (Alabama vs. Texas)

June 3, 2005
Game 5 - 7 PM CT (winner gm 1 vs. winner gm 2)
Game 6 - 9 PM CT (winner gm 3 vs. winner gm 4)

June 4, 2005
Game 7 - 11 AM CT (loser gm 1 vs. loser gm 2)
Game 8 - 1 PM CT (loser gm 3 vs. loser gm 4)
Game 9 - 6 PM CT
Game 10 - 8 PM CT

June 5, 2005
Game 11 - NOON CT (winner gm 5 vs. TBA)
Game 12 - 2 PM CT (winner gm 6 vs. TBA)
Game 13 - 6 PM CT (if nec.)
Game 14 - 8 PM CT (if nec.)

June 6, 2005
Championship Series Game 1 - 6:30 PM CT

June 7, 2005
Championship Series Game 2 - 6:30 PM CT

June 8, 2005
Championship Series Game 3 - 6:30 PM CT (if nec.)

ARRIVIDERCI  ROCCI

Temple has made no formal announcement but SPY has confirmed that long-time coach Rocci Pignoli has resigned. 

NOW IT CAN BE TOLD

I freely admit: I did not know the identity of Deep Throat.  W. Mark Felt, the former second-in-command at the FBI, says he was the famous source, reports Vanity Fair magazine. There's no confirmation from the Washington Post, which uncovered the scandal that toppled the Nixon administration.  Woodward and Bernstein refuse to say Felt was the source. Given the demands of Ben Bradlee for multiple source confirmation on major stories throughout his tenure as the Post’s editor, I always believed the two reporters had more than one source, ie, that Deep Throat was their catch-all name for two or more highly placed sources – or at least another source who could confirm Deep Throat’s information.  At 91, Felt’s bus is nearing its last stop; even if he were the confirming, as opposed to the originating, source, he would want some recognition. Felt has long been rumored (among others) to have been Deep Throat. Until Woodstein, as the two reporters came to be known, name Deep Throat, it’s useful to remember that two of Washington’s favorite parlor games are taking credit and casting blame (on others).  As Jack Kennedy said, victory has a thousand fathers, defeat is an orphan.

DANICA

Not surprising: 87% of voters responding to a poll thought Danica Patrick’s race was the biggest story out of Indianpolis, not Dan Wheldon’s win.  Denver Post columnist Jim Armstrong wrote: Patrick may be a woman driver, not to mention a Sunday driver, but if anyone can save a sport leaking more red ink than oil, she's the one. Patrick, after finishing fourth at the Old Brickyard, is the new face of Indy car racing. Good thing. She's as easy on the eyes as a Christmas bonus. Not only that, she has a name most of us can pronounce, no small feat in open-wheel racing. Now comes the news: the IRL (Indy Racing League) says it has no intention of weighing Danica or any other driver.

WEEKEND JO TOURNAMENTS

As SPY readers have noticed this weekend, tournament season has begun, and SPY has published reports made available.  Steve McNee’s tournament is this weekend; despite obligations to report the World Series, SPY will attempt to publiosh reports – collective reports on scores will be welcome.

THAT EU SITUATION

Left out the penultimate paragraph.  Why worry about what the European Union does?  Because the power of the EU, which combined creates an economic market to rival the US, reaches into your pocketbook.  So does China’s position on its textile exports.  From a financial perspective, we are a world without boundaries.  All those bureaucrats at the European Union and World Trade Organization make decisions which affect the prices of almost everything you consume.  The US also seeks leverage to protect certain industries.  Congress is a player, so are Treasury and other agencies, as well as the White House. You as an individual have no voice.  You just pay for the decisions.  Pay attention!

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