OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.- The Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA), the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States, has selected its initial "Watch List" for the 9th Annual USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Award.

Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball's Donna Bourgeois was named to the initial watch list.

Bourgeois, a junior from Lafayette, La., is the second consecutive pitcher for the Cajuns to be named to the watch list.

Last season as a sophomore, Ashley Brignac was named to the list.

Bourgeois was tabbed as the Sun Belt's Pitcher of the Year after becoming the third straight pitcher to post a 30-win season for Louisiana. She also garnered Pitcher of the Year honors from the Louisiana Sports Writers' Association and was named Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Region.

Last season, she posted a 1.07 ERA which ranked eighth in the NCAA. In 235.1 innings pitched, Bourgeois held opponents to a .169 batting average, registering 297 strikeouts with just 50 walks. Her record of 30-9 ranked seventh for totals wins and she shutout the opposition 11 times. Her strikeout total was ranked 16th in the nation. She was also earned Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week honors on four different occasions during the 2009 campaign.

She recorded a career-high 14 strikeouts on two occasions last year against McNeese State (4/7/09, 6.0 ip) and against Ole Miss (2/8/09, 10.0 ip). In 12 games, the right-handed hurler reached double-digit strikeouts.

This award, which is considered the most prestigious honors in Division I women's collegiate softball, is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the country. Past winners of this award include UCLA's Stacey Nuveman, Florida State's Jessica Van der Linden, three-time winner Texas pitcher Cat Osterman, Tennessee's Monica Abbott, Virginia Tech's Angela Tincher and 2009 winner Washington pitcher/hitter Danielle Lawrie.

The 2010 Pre-Season Watch List is comprised of 50 players representing 35 schools and 14 different NCAA Division I Conferences. The list includes 27 seniors, 17 juniors and six sophomores.

The ASA will announce the 25 finalists on April 7. A player does not have to appear on this initial watch list to be considered as a top 25 finalist. However, once the top 25 finalists are named the winner of the award will come from that list. *Freshman qualify for the top 25 list once they have competed at the collegiate level.

Just days before the start of post-season play, a list of 10 finalists will be named and released on May 12. The final three finalists will be announced May 26 while the winner of the 2010 USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Award will be announced prior to the start of the 2010 NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.

UL SI
The rest of the Watch List