Boston University's Jamie Haas (Houston, Texas/Klein) and UMBC's Kristie Pickeral (Hughesville, Md./Thomas Stony) share the first America East Player of the Week award of the 2005 season for softball. Amanda Morin (Gansevoort, N.Y./South Glens Falls) of Albany and Vermont's Aimee Kern (Wrentham, Mass./Kim Philip) have been named Pitcher of the Week and Rookie of the Week, respectively. The honors were announced on Monday (March 14).
Haas, a senior shortstop, led the Terriers in batting (.341), runs (12), hits (15), slugging (.477), on-base percentage (.408), and stolen bases (four) in the team’s first 13 games, all played in Florida and Georgia. Against South Carolina, she hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to pull Boston U. to within 7-6 in a game it would drop. Haas has tallied hits in 10 of the team’s 13 games and has scored runs in nine games and two runs in three contests. She’s committed only two errors in 48 chances at short and has struck out only twice in her last 37 at-bats.
Pickeral currently leads the team in batting (.389), homeruns (4), total bases (34), slugging (.704), and is tied for the lead in hits (21). She has started every game this season, and had a grand slam against Coppin State on March 7. The senior third baseman also had a two-run and three-run home run in the 18-4 win over St. Francis (Pa.).
Morin tossed two one-hit shutouts at the UTEP Tournament in El Paso, Texas. Against Northern Colorado, the right-handed pitcher threw six innings of no-hit ball before allowing a single to lead off the seventh inning. She retired the first eight hitters she faced and finished with eight strikeouts. In the UTEP contest, she allowed a first-inning single and retired 13 straight hitters and struck out 10 UTEP hitters and pitched to the minimum in four of seven innings.
Kern made an immediate impact for Vermont in her first career collegiate games. The freshman came in to pitch two innings and pick up a save in the Catamounts first game, a 4-3 win over Howard on Friday. She came back later that day and made her first career start at UVM, pitching a complete game without allowing an earned run in a 7-1 victory. Kern gave up only one unearned run while striking out seven. On Saturday she went the distance, shutting out host Hampton 3-0 with a two-hit performance. She only allowed one walk while striking out eight and earned tournament MVP honors for her three-game performance.