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ELLENSBURG (Feb. 8) -- Former Central Washington University infielders
Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace, who won an ESPY Award in 2008 for Best Moment in Sports, are among 15 current and former Wildcat student-athletes named to the CWU All-Decade softball team for the decade from 2000 to 2009.
The team, chosen by current head coach
Gary Frederick, includes a total of five players who played on the Wildcats’ 2009 squad that posted a school-record 33 victories and came one win shy of the program’s first-ever NCAA Division II tournament appearance. That 2009 team was also tabbed as the “team of the decade” by Frederick.
Both Holtman and Wallace helped put Central Washington University and its softball program on the national map in 2008 after their act of sportsmanship in a game against Western Oregon University.
Holtman, who is currently in her second season as a graduate assistant coach for the Wildcats, was Central’s top offensive standout in most major categories during the decade of the 2000s. She finished with a .365 batting average, a .662 slugging percentage, and holds school records for hits (206), runs scored (127), doubles (47), home runs (35), and runs batted in (128) among others. Holtman was also the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year during her senior season in 2008.
Wallace was one of a total of seven infielders to earn all-decade team status after setting school records for games played (182) and ranking second in school history for hits (158) and runs scored (79).
Other members of the 2009 squad to earn all-decade team selection were Great Northwest Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year Linse Vlahovich (2006-09), catcher Holly Rossman (2008-09), second baseman
Jackie Hawkins (2008-09), and outfielder
Danielle Monson (2009-present). Three of those four earned first-team all-GNAC honors last season and Monson is a senior on the Wildcat squad this year.
Among Frederick’s all-decade team selections were three pitchers, two catchers, and three outfielders in addition to the seven infielders. Joining Vlahovich, the school-record holder for pitching victories (46), appearances (104), complete games (51), shutouts (10), and innings pitched (523), in the pitching circle are former Wildcats Sara Badgley (2004-05, 2007) and Jill McCarthey (2002-04).
In addition to Rossman, three-time all-GNAC first-team selection Kelli Spaulding (2004-07) was tabbed as an all-decade team catcher.
Jill Powell, who had arguably the best two-year offensive career in school history, joined Wallace as an all-decade team shortstop. Powell batted .408 with 18 home runs and 77 RBI in her two seasons (2000-01), and she also owns the school record for career slugging and on-base percentage.
Also selected on the infield were second baseman Logan Mohr (2007-08), third baseman Nicole Lantau (1998-2001), and utility infielder Catrina Robertson (2004-07).
In the outfield, Monson was joined by fellow slapper/speedster Kasey Druffel (2006-07) and the power-hitting Patty Martinez (2003-06).
CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SOFTBALL ALL-DECADE TEAM: 2000-09
Team of the Decade: 2009 (33-20 record, school record for wins, highest conference finish in school history)
Pitcher:
Sara Badgley, 2004-05, 2007 (Montesano)
Jill McCarthey, 2002-04 (Port Ludlow/Chimacum HS)
Linse Vlahovich, 2006-09 (Spokane/University HS)
Catcher:
Holly Rossman, 2008-09 (Olympia/Black Hills HS)
Kelli Spaulding, 2004-07 (Battle Ground)
First Base:
Mallory Holtman, 2004-08 (White Salmon/Columbia HS)
Second Base:
Jackie Hawkins, 2008-09 (Olympia/North Thurston HS)
Logan Mohr, 2007-08 (Bainbridge Island/Bainbridge HS)
Third Base:
Nicole Lantau, 1998-2001 (Chehalis/W.F. West HS)
Shortstop:
Jill Powell, 2000-01 (Kelso)
Liz (Ashworth) Wallace, 2006-09 (Florence, Mont./Florence-Carlton HS)
Utility:
Catrina Robertson, 2004-07 (Rochester)
Outfield:
Kasey Druffel, 2007-08 (Colton)
Patty Martinez, 2003-06 (Othello)
Danielle Monson, 2009-present (Marysville/Marysville-Pilchuck HS)