The Oregon softball team showed its Pac-12 dominance last weekend by winning its fourth-consecutive conference title.
On Thursday, the Ducks continued that conference dominance, taking home four all-Pac-12 awards as voted on by the head coaches.
Oregon ace Cheridan Hawkins earned pitcher of the year honors, catcher Janelle Lindvall was voted defensive player of the year and pitcher Megan Kleist took home co-freshman of the year honors. Mike White was named coach of the year.
Hawkins becomes the first in Pac-12 history to win the conference’s top pitching award for three straight years. She finished the regular season with a 21-3 record with 235 strikeouts in 148.2 innings. She’s the NCAA’s active leader in strikeouts (1,059), wings (105) and shutouts (32).
Lindvall started 43 of 44 games for the Ducks behind the plate in 2016. She had 24 runs on 113 at bats. She becomes the first in Oregon history to take home the defensive player of the year honor
Kleist, an Appleton, Wisconsin, native, played in 26 games while making 20 starts. She tallied 16 wins and six complete games in 112 innings pitched.
White coached the Ducks to four straight titles, matching the longest streak in conference history. Oregon finished 20-4 in Pac-12 play and 44-8 overall. The Ducks, who are 18-0 in regional games with White as coach, earned a No. 5 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Nine other Oregon Ducks earned all-conference honors. Koral Costa, Cheridan Hawkins, Megan Kleist and Nikki Udria made the first team. Alyssa Gillespie, Geri Ann Glasco and Janelle Lindvall earned second team honors. Jenna Lilley and Lauren Lindvall took home third team honors.
The Ducks will play against Fordham in their first NCAA regional game at Jane Sanders Stadium on Friday at 8:30 p.m. (ESPN2).
Follow Jonathan Hawthorne on Twitter @Jon_Hawthorne