Courtesy of West Coast Conference
SAN BRUNO, Calif. – San Diego’s freshman pitcher/utility Paige von Sprecken and Santa Clara’s sophomore catcher/first basemen Gianetta France have been selected the West Coast Conference Softball Pitcher and Player of the Week, respectively, it was announced by the league on Monday.
In the circle von Sprecken went 2-1 for San Diego last week, pitching 21.0 innings to finish with a 2.00 ERA, and added 14 strikeouts to her performance. She opened the season striking five batters in just five innings, en route to a 7-6 victory against the University of Texas at El Paso. Against No. 16 Arizona State, von Sprecken retired the first 12 batters she faced after fanning seven innings, tossing two strikeouts, while giving up six hits in the Toreros’ 5-3 win that gave USD its fourth all time win against a ranked program.
France batted .421 (8-of-19) with a 1.263 slugging percentage last week during Santa Clara’s participation in the Grand Canyon Kick Off in Phoenix, Ariz. On the week, she registered 11 RBI’s, 8 hits, and six runs. To start the season, she swatted five home runs, two each in the first two games of the season on Friday, and had 11 RBI. The Granite Bay, Calif., native finished the week with a .450 OBP.
The honor is von Spectren first of her career, and the first for a San Diego pitcher since Cassidy Coleman won the award on April 7, 2014, while France earns both her and Santa Clara’s initial weekly distinction.
Also nominated Sydney Broderick, BYU, McKenna Bull, BYU, Katelyn Mamizuka, St. Mary’s, Dani Bonnet, Pacific, Olivia Sandusky, San Diego
2014 WEST COAST CONFERENCE PITCHER OF THE WEEK
February 9: Paige von Sprecken, San Diego
2014 WEST COAST CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
February 9: Gianetta France, Santa Clara
