Speers Named USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 Finalist
4/25/2018 10:37:00 PM | Softball
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Kent State senior infielder Holly Speers has been named one of the 25 finalists for the 2018 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, as announced by USA Softball. Speers, who currently leads the country in batting average (.495), on base percentage (.621), slugging percentage (1.038) and walks per game (1.15), is the first Golden Flash to ever be named a finalist for the award.
Speers is coming off a week in which she swept both national weekly awards and was named the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Week and the Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of the Week. She put up monster numbers with a .778 batting average (7-for-9) with four home runs, two doubles, two walks, 11 RBI while recording a 2.333 slugging percentage. The Surrey, B.C. native has claimed four Mid-American Conference East Division Player of the Week awards this season.
"What a well-deserved honor for Holly to be named one of the 25 finalists for player of the year," said Kent State head coach Eric Oakley. "It's so satisfying to see someone who works so hard at their craft get the recognition they deserve."
She has a .495 batting average this season with 14 home runs, 11 doubles, two triples, 50 RBI and 39 runs scored. She is 15th nationally in RBI and 22nd in total bases (109). Speers is second in Kent State history with 45Â career home runs and sixth in MAC history. In school history she trails Maddy Grimm (2014-17) who is second in league history with 69 bombs.
Speers is one of only three players not from a Power 5 conference to be named a Top 25 finalist, joining Drake pitcher Nicole Newman and Texas State pitcher Randi Rupp.
Prior to the start of post season play, the Top 10 Finalists will be announced on May 9th while the Top 3 will be announced on May 23rd. The 2018 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed May 29th.
