McMichael One Of Three Finalists For Collegiate Player Of The Year
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. ? In the process of currently maintaining the NCAA's top batting average, Mississippi State senior all-American Iyhia McMichael (Nacogdoches, Texas/Nacogdoches HS) was named Tuesday afternoon as one of three finalists for USA Softball's Collegiate Player of the Year award, the Amateur Softball Association announced.
McMichael became the first softball player from the Southeastern Conference to be named a top 3 finalist for the award and was joined by Arizona pitcher Alicia Hollowell and Florida State pitcher/outfielder Jessica van der Linden on the list.
"Iyhia has come out and shown people the type of ball player that she is by putting up better numbers than she did last year," said Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller. "She has worked tirelessly to come in and improve herself each and every day, both as a player and as a leader. We have asked her to do some different things this year by switching her over to the leadoff spot and she has really helped our ball club offensively. But, I think it has also given her the chance to do some more things and show her versatility.
"This is a tremendous honor for our program, Mississippi State University and the Southeastern Conference. Obviously, she is one that we are going to greatly miss. She is definitely somebody that you can't replace - that type of athlete and that type of ball player. We're looking forward to Iyhia finishing out her senior year very strong."
The winner of the 2004 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award will be announced May 26 at the opening ceremonies of the NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City. The winner will be recognized and presented with the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year trophy during the ASA National Council Meeting in Mobile, Alabama, in November.
A replica of the award will be placed in a permanent display in the ASA National Softball Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, along with photos of the winner. An additional replica of the award will be presented to the player's academic institution.
The initial 40-member watch list for the award was announced on February 5 and was cut to 25 finalists on April 7. Ten finalists for the award were announced on Friday.
In the midst of a 17-game hitting streak, McMichael currently possesses the nation's top batting average, hitting .482 (81-for-168) through Saturday's regular season finale against No. 22 Georgia Tech. She has collected 35 extra-base hits (10 HR) on the campaign to go along with 40 RBI and 78 runs scored. She has also been walked 48 times and is 39-of-45 on stolen base attempts.
During her current hitting skein, McMichael has produced a .578 batting average with 2 home runs, nine RBI and 28 runs scored. She is also hitting .439 against State's nationally ranked opponents this season.
McMichael and her Mississippi State teammates will be back in action on Thursday morning in the opening round of the 2004 SEC Softball Tournament in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The seventh-seeded Bulldogs will draw No. 2 seed and SEC Eastern Division champion Tennessee in the tournament opener at 11 a.m.
Single game and tournament passes can be purchased through the University of Alabama Ticket Office at (205) 348-BAMA or toll free at (877) TIDE-TIX.