University of Arizona Athletics

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- In a vote of the league's eight head coaches, Arizona outfielder Caitlin Lowe and Washington catcher Kristen Rivera were named Co-Pacific-10 Conference Softball Players of the Year, Commissioner Tom Hansen announced today. 

Lowe’s honor is the sixth in UA Softball history, ninth including Pitcher of the Year honors.

UA sophomore shortstop Kristie Fox was named to the All-Pac-10 first team, as was junior pitcher Alicia Hollowell. Junior outfielder Autumn Champion was the only Wildcat named All-Pac-10 second team. UA's three first-team selections were matched by UCLA, California and Stanford with three apiece.

Lowe joins four former Wildcats to earn five player of the year honors -- pitcher Susie Parra in 1994, infielder Jenny Dalton in 1996, and Alison McCutcheon in 1997 and 1998. Later, the league split out pitcher of the year honors and Jennie Finch won in 2001 and 2002, and Hollowell won it last year.

Lowe is currently first in the conference and second in the nation with a .518 batting average. She is one of 10 finalists for USA Softball Player of the Year, which will be announced at the 2005 WCWS. Lowe was named Player of the Week in the Pac-10 back in March. As UA’s leadoff hitter, Lowe stole 26 of 29 bases, good for second-best in the Pac-10 this year. 

Kristie Fox was UA’s best run producer at the plate with a nation-leading 63 RBI, to go along with a .361 batting average.

Hollowell followed up her second All-American season by winning 27 games and striking out 381 batters.  Over her three years in Tucson, Hollowell holds the school record with 1,283 career strikeouts.  The junior needs to throw just 61 more innings to be the school record holder for innings pitched in a career, and is 16 wins away from current Assistant Coach Nancy Evans’ record of 124 career victories.

Champion’s all-league honor is her third after first-team selection in 2003 and 2004. Lowe was league Newcomer of the Year in 2004 and a first-team pick. Fox’ honor is her first. Seniors Crystal Farley and Jackie Coburn earned honorable mention.

PAC-10 CO-PLAYERS OF THE YEAR - Caitlin Lowe, Arizona, Kristen Rivera, Washington
PAC-10 PITCHER OF THE YEAR - Brianne McGowan, Oregon State
PAC-10 NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR - Anjelica Selden, UCLA
PAC-10 DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Lauren Lappin, Stanford
PAC-10 COACH OF THE YEAR - Kirk Walker, Oregon State

FIRST TEAM

SECOND TEAM