(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)
After finishing the regular season against UCLA on Saturday, Arizona State took home a large helping of the Pac-12 awards, with seven All-Conference players and Trisha Ford winning Coach of the Year.
Ford, who took over in 2017 after ASU had co-interim head coaches the year prior, has a 74-33 record in her two seasons. This season, she helped the Devils to a 43-11 record, their best since 2014. Arizona State began the season unranked and has worked up the ladder, hanging in the top 10 for much of the conference season despite the challenges of the Pac-12. With a strong portfolio, Arizona State is a lock to host a Regional and potentially a Super Regional.
However, a coach needs a roster, and ASU’s collection of players received substantial credit as well. Sophomore pitcher Giselle “G” Juarez and freshman infielder Danielle Gibson were named to the All-Pac-12 First Team. Juarez is in the running for USA Softball’s Player of the Year award after putting up a conference-best 276 strikeouts and a 0.92 ERA. Gibson has been a staple at first base for ASU, starting 51 games and leading the team with 12 home runs and 39 RBI.
Freshman Denae Chatman joined Gibson on the All-Freshman First Team. Chatman started 19 games for ASU and has been on a hot streak, with five of her seven home runs coming since April 28.
Kindra Hackbarth, Morgan Howe and Jade Gortarez were all named to the Second Team. All three were new to Arizona State in 2018, with Hackbarth and Howe following Ford from Fresno State and Gortarez transferring from Texas. Hackbarth served as leadoff hitter for much of the season and posted a .368 batting average while Gortarez spent much of the season making athletic plays in the field from the shortstop position. Both started every game for ASU.
Rounding out the awards, Marisa Stankiewicz was named to the Third Team. As a redshirt senior, Stankiewicz was the senior member of the Sun Devils squad. She also started every game, hitting nine homers and posting a .508 slugging percentage.
Arizona State’s quest for trophies is not yet over. With the chance to see a road to Oklahoma City go through their home of Farrington Stadium, they’ll be keeping a close eye on the selection show. ASU will learn its tournament fate Sunday at 7 pm.
