June 3, 2005

Platten, Barrett Earn NCAA Division I All-Independent Softball Honors

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BY SCOTT THOMPSON
UNC Media Relations Intern

GREELEY, Colo. - Two University of Northern Colorado softball players were named to the 2005 Division I All-Independent softball team as announced on Thursday. Both senior Whitney Platten and freshman Mackenzie Barrett earned All-Independent honors. Platten was a first-team selection and Barrett was a second-team selection.

Platten (Lakewood,Colo./Wheat Ridge HS) makes her second appearance on the All-Independent team, prior to this year she was a first-team NCAA Division I-II Independent team in 2004. The catcher/infielder was just one of two players to start in all 40 games this season, setting the school record for doubles in a single season with 15. She also tied the single-game double record with three twice in a season. Platten also led the team in hitting, posting a stellar .387 average, accumulating 41 hits, 15 doubles, 24 RBI's and a beyond ordinary slugging percentage of .670. Platten also demonstrated her immense arm strength throwing out 13 would-be base stealers while picking off two others. Having posted a 11 multi-hit games with six of those being multiple - RBI games, Platten also notched a hit in 28 games, all while tying the team lead in home runs with five. Lastly, she tied the team's season-high hitting streak at nine while only being walked once in a total of 19 games.

Barrett (Lakewood, Colo./Alameda HS), a walk-on freshman, started 38 games in right field for the Bears earning herself Division I softball Player of the Week honors after she posted a batting average of .381 at the Rebel Spring Games. On the season, she had eight multi-hit games, ranking her third on the team in hitting at .317. She also tied for the team lead in home runs with five. With 16 RBI and eight doubles she posted a robust slugging percentage of .538 on the season. Barrett also threw out nine base runners with a strapping young arm from right field. A major in mathematics and a UNC Scholar-Athlete, Barrett looks to provide subsequent contributions to the All-Independent softball team and to Northern Colorado next season.

Northern Colorado posted an overall record of 12-28 in its second season of a four-year transition from Division II to Division I.