Bramlett, Cooley Earn SEC Awards; Bramlett Named USA Player of Year Finalist
May 12, 2010 | Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – The honors keep rolling in for Mississippi State senior Chelsea Bramlett. On Wednesday she was named All-SEC first team catcher for the third-straight season just before being selected one of the 10 finalists for USA Softball Player of the Year, an award presented to the top player in NCAA Division I softball. MSU freshman Jessica Cooley also earned her first collegiate honor as she was tabbed Freshman All-SEC outfielder in the league's annual softball awards that were announced Wednesday afternoon.
"Obviously we are very proud of both Chelsea and Jessica. These honors are a tribute to the hard work and effort they put in on a daily basis," Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller said.
Bramlett joins Keri McCallum, Kellie Wilkerson and Iyhia McMichael as Mississippi State's four-time All-SEC selections. She joins Wilkerson and McMichael as the Bulldogs with at least three first-team selections. Bramlett earned second-team utility honors en route to being named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2007.
Her top-10 selection for USA Softball Player of the Year is her first after making the top 25 finalists the past two seasons. She becomes State's first three-time finalist for the award after Iyhia McMichael made the top 10 in 2003 and the final three a year later.
Bramlett finished her MSU career one of the most-decorated athletes in Bulldog history. A three-time NFCA First Team All-American, Bramlett saved her best season for her senior campaign, setting an SEC single-season record with a .536 batting average that ranks second in the nation.
In addition to her league-best average, the Cordova, Tenn., native also paced the conference with a school second-most 98 hits and six triples. Bramlett, who leads the SEC with 34 multiple-hit games, tallied a hit in 49 of the team's 55 games this season and all but three of State's 27 league games.
"It's nice to see Chelsea finish her career on a high note," Miller said. "She is very deserving of this honor after having a fantastic year for us. She not only has proven to be one of the best players in the conference, but in the nation as well. Hopefully she will be receiving more accolades as the season winds down."
Also a finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, Bramlett set State's single-season steals record for the fourth-straight year as she swiped an NCAA-best 61 bases, the third-most in SEC single-season history. She opened the year with 55-straight steals en route to setting a school-best consecutive steals mark with 63 going back to the 2009 season.
In conference action, Bramlett topped the SEC with a .554 batting average, .586 on-base percentage, 51 hits, five triples and 23 stolen bases.
In addition to her school-record marks in batting average and stolen bases, Bramlett also set MSU's single-season standard for hits per game (1.89).
Bramlett closed her storied Mississippi State career with a .461 batting average that tops school and SEC annals. Her 207 stolen bases rank second in both SEC and NCAA Division I ranks, and she set MSU's top marks in runs scored (219) and hits (359) this season. Her 359 base hits are the third-most in SEC history and tied for eighth all-time in the NCAA record books.
Cooley's selection to the Freshman All-SEC outfield gave MSU a player on the rookie squad for the fourth-straight year. The Birmingham, Ala., native saw action in 44 games during her inaugural season in the Maroon and White, drawing 24 starts.
"It is always tough to come into the SEC as a freshman, but Jessica really grew as a player during the season," Miller said. "Watching her growth this season, she has a very bright future ahead of her here at Mississippi State."
Cooley hit at a .204 clip and added four doubles, a triple, a home run, 11 RBI and 13 runs scored. Her lone home run was the game-winning grand slam, one of a school-record five hit by MSU this season, in State's March 24 win at Mississippi Valley State.
"Obviously we are very proud of both Chelsea and Jessica. These honors are a tribute to the hard work and effort they put in on a daily basis," Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller said.
Bramlett joins Keri McCallum, Kellie Wilkerson and Iyhia McMichael as Mississippi State's four-time All-SEC selections. She joins Wilkerson and McMichael as the Bulldogs with at least three first-team selections. Bramlett earned second-team utility honors en route to being named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2007.
Her top-10 selection for USA Softball Player of the Year is her first after making the top 25 finalists the past two seasons. She becomes State's first three-time finalist for the award after Iyhia McMichael made the top 10 in 2003 and the final three a year later.
Bramlett finished her MSU career one of the most-decorated athletes in Bulldog history. A three-time NFCA First Team All-American, Bramlett saved her best season for her senior campaign, setting an SEC single-season record with a .536 batting average that ranks second in the nation.
In addition to her league-best average, the Cordova, Tenn., native also paced the conference with a school second-most 98 hits and six triples. Bramlett, who leads the SEC with 34 multiple-hit games, tallied a hit in 49 of the team's 55 games this season and all but three of State's 27 league games.
"It's nice to see Chelsea finish her career on a high note," Miller said. "She is very deserving of this honor after having a fantastic year for us. She not only has proven to be one of the best players in the conference, but in the nation as well. Hopefully she will be receiving more accolades as the season winds down."
Also a finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, Bramlett set State's single-season steals record for the fourth-straight year as she swiped an NCAA-best 61 bases, the third-most in SEC single-season history. She opened the year with 55-straight steals en route to setting a school-best consecutive steals mark with 63 going back to the 2009 season.
In conference action, Bramlett topped the SEC with a .554 batting average, .586 on-base percentage, 51 hits, five triples and 23 stolen bases.
In addition to her school-record marks in batting average and stolen bases, Bramlett also set MSU's single-season standard for hits per game (1.89).
Bramlett closed her storied Mississippi State career with a .461 batting average that tops school and SEC annals. Her 207 stolen bases rank second in both SEC and NCAA Division I ranks, and she set MSU's top marks in runs scored (219) and hits (359) this season. Her 359 base hits are the third-most in SEC history and tied for eighth all-time in the NCAA record books.
Cooley's selection to the Freshman All-SEC outfield gave MSU a player on the rookie squad for the fourth-straight year. The Birmingham, Ala., native saw action in 44 games during her inaugural season in the Maroon and White, drawing 24 starts.
"It is always tough to come into the SEC as a freshman, but Jessica really grew as a player during the season," Miller said. "Watching her growth this season, she has a very bright future ahead of her here at Mississippi State."
Cooley hit at a .204 clip and added four doubles, a triple, a home run, 11 RBI and 13 runs scored. Her lone home run was the game-winning grand slam, one of a school-record five hit by MSU this season, in State's March 24 win at Mississippi Valley State.
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