Aggies Catcher Julia Cottrill Named To NFCA All-America Third-Team
Texas A&M softball seems to be turning the corner under first-year coach Trisha Ford. Adding in veteran talent like catcher Julia Cottrill certainly has helped the Aggies make it to the regional round of the NCAA postseason.
Cottrill was named to the All-America third team by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, the school announced on Wednesday. She becomes the 26th Aggies to earn All-American status on the diamond and the 42nd overall player to garner the accolades in program history.
A transfer from Oklahoma State, Cottrill led A&M in home runs (10), doubles (12), RBIs (43) and slugging percentage (.617) this season while posting a .331 batting average. She played in 51 games, starting 39 behind the dish and 10 more as the team's designated hitter.
In Southeastern Conference play, Cottrill ranked third in RBIs (22), fourth in doubles (6), fifth in total bases (49), sixth in hits (25), seventh in home runs (6), and eighth in slugging percentage (.636). Behind the backstop, she held a .992 fielding percentage, ranking top 10 among all NCAA catchers.
The Aggies finished with a 35-21 overall record and 12-12 in conference play. Garnering a spot in the Austin Regional, A&M picked up two victories over Texas State to advance to the finals but ultimately was swept by Texas. The Longhorns would lose both matches in the super regionals to Tennessee, allowing the Lady Vols to advance to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Cottrill, a native of Wichita, Kan., finished the Austin Regional 0-for-10 at the plate with two walks and two strikeouts. She scored a run in the Aggies' 4-2 win over Texas State to advance to the regional final.
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