Ricketts, Iwata Named Easton All-Americans - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL

Ricketts, Iwata Named Easton All-Americans

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla – (Hawaii Athletics) University of Hawai`i softball players Stephanie Ricketts and Jessica Iwata both earned Easton All-America honors on Monday. It is the second-straight season both Ricketts and Iwata were selected to the elite group of players. Athletes selected to the Easton All-American teams are those "who have had an outstanding season in the circle, and those who have shown Easton power and prowess at the plate." 
 
Players selected to the Easton All-American Division I teams include 31 athletes from 17 institutions—including five players from the Western Athletic Conference. Joining Ricketts and Iwata representing the WAC were BYU's senior outfielder Delaney Willard and junior middle-infielder JC Clayton, and Utah State's junior infielder Christine Thomsen.
 
Ricketts, a four-year starting pitcher from San Jose, Calif., posted a 28-6 record this season with career-best statistics in shut outs (10); ERA (1.49); hits allowed (153); runs allowed (57); earned runs allowed (48); and opposing batting average (.191). A four year starting pitcher for Hawai'i, Ricketts leaves as the program's career record holder in wins (102); appearances (164); starts (139); complete games (116); shutouts (33); innings pitched (938.1); and strike outs (818). As a senior, she helped lead UH to its fourth Western Athletic Conference regular season title and its 10th appearance in the NCAA tournament. She became the first Rainbow Wahine to earn three WAC Pitcher of the Year awards. She is just the second Rainbow Wahine to earn All-Region honors all four seasons of her career and the fifth UH player to earn all-WAC honors all four years. Earlier this month she was named a National Fastpitch Coaches Association second-team All-America and a CoSIDA Academic third team All-America. Last season, Ricketts was named to the Easton All-America third team.
 
Iwata, a three-year starter at shortstop from Lihu`e, Kaua`i (Kaua`i HS), was named to the Easton All-American second team for the second straight year. She led UH at the plate with a .400 batting average with a team-high 60 hits and 57 RBI. Iwata also led the Rainbow Wahine with a .740 slugging percentage and a .503 on-base percentage. She was second on the UH squad with 37 runs scored, nine doubles and 14 home runs. Iwata was named to the first team all-WAC team for the third straight season. Last year, she was selected to the Easton All-America second team.