June 1, 2004

Erin Peterson Named NCAA Division I-II Independent Player of the Year

EDINBURG, Texas - University of Northern Colorado senior catcher Erin Peterson was named the NCAA Division I-II Independent Softball Player of the Year and two other UNC teammates were named to the squad which was announced Tuesday.

Peterson edged out Kristina Schweikert of Tiffin by two points for Player of the Year. Peterson had six doubles, two triples, nine home runs, scored 23 runs, drove in 25 runs, had a slugging percentage of .786 while hitting .408.

Freshman OF Erika Trujillo and junior C/1B Whitney Platten were also named to the team. Trujillo started 25 games in the outfield and saw action in 32 contests. She ranked second on the team in runs (15) and had at least one hit in 19 games. Trujillo tallied four multi-hit games in her first season with the Bears.

Whitney Platten

Platten saw action in 36 games and split time between first base and catcher. She led the team in at-bats (117) and hits (41) and tied for the team lead in doubles (9). Platten ranked second on the team in hitting (.350) and RBI (22). She went 2-for-4 with two home runs, five RBI and three runs scored in a 9-1 win against Harvard (3/27) at the North Texas Tournament. Platten set the school record for hits in a game with five at Regis (4/1).

Utah Valley State led the way with seven All-Independent selections for the 2004 season. Tiffin was the top team among Division 2 with five selections. The team was selected by representatives of Columbia Union, Florida Gulf Coast, IPFW, Northern Colorado, Texas-Pan American, Tiffin and Utah Valley State.

Pitcher of the Year went to Kelly Powe of Florida Gulf Coast. Powe was 22-7 with 28 complete games in 34 appearances, had three saves, struck out 220 batters in 210 and one-third innings for a 0.63 ERA.

Freshman of the Year was shared by Annie Voyles of Florida Gulf Coast and Steph Orr of Tiffin. Voyles was 13-3 with 10 complete games in 22 appearances, struck out 73 batters in 114 and two-third innings for a 1.54 ERA. Orr had 11 Doubles, 4 Triples and 3 Home Runs, scored 24 runs, drove in 44 runs, had a slugging percentage of .606 while hitting .408. Co-Coaches of the Year were Dave Deiros of Florida Gulf Coast and Brian Campbell of Tiffin. Florida Gulf Coast was 41-13-1 in just their second year at Division II while Tiffin was 39-15 and an NAIA Regional Finalist.

2004 NCAA DIVISION I-II
ALL-INDEPENDENT SOFTBALL

Pos.  Name                 School              Gr.  Hometown
P     Ericka Jones         Utah Valley State   So.  Orem, Utah
P     Kelly Powe           Florida Gulf Coast  Jr.  Naples, Florida
P     Rachel Richardson    Tiffin              Jr.  Fairfield, Ohio
P     Annie Voyles         Florida Gulf Coast  Fr.  Bronson, Florida
C     Stacey Johnson       Utah Valley State   Jr.  Lehi, Utah
C     Erin Peterson        Northern Colorado   Sr.  Great Falls, Montana
INF   Angie Long           Columbia Union      Jr.  Ijamsville, Maryland
INF   Steph Orr            Tiffin              Fr.  Columbus, Ohio
INF   Whitney Platten      Northern Colorado   Jr.  Edgewater, Colorado
INF   Denita Robinson      Tiffin              Jr.  Cambridge, Ohio
OF    Ashley Cecil         Florida Gulf Coast  Jr.  Naples, Florida
OF    Katie McBroom        Tiffin              Sr.
OF    Kristina Schweikert  Tiffin              Jr.  Rochester, New York
OF    Erika Trujillo       Northern Colorado   Fr.  Littleton, Colorado
UTL   Shyanne Durant       Utah Valley State   So.  South Jordan, Utah
UTL   Amanda Kendzior      Utah Valley State   Jr.  Sandy, Utah
AL    Jenna Beachy         IPFW                So.  Woodburn, Indiana
AL    Kelli Hardy          Utah Valley State   Jr.  Meridian, Idaho
AL    Rachel Hartgrove     Utah Valley State   So.  Pleasant Grove, Utah
AL    Lindsay Ijjas        Florida Gulf Coast  Sr.  Clearwater, Florida
AL    Kristy Miller        Utah Valley State   Jr.  Salem, Utah
AL    Mindy Pomeroy        IPFW                Sr.  Mishawaka, Indiana

Erika Trujillo