CEDAR CITY, Utah-Tuesday, another star Southern Utah freshman athlete received recognition from the Big Sky Conference for a job well done.
Las Vegas native Kalei Watkins was named as the Big Sky Conference freshman softball player of the year at the conclusion of a season which saw her lead the Thunderbirds in multiple categories.
The product of Sierra Vista High School played in all 47 of Southern Utah’s games on the season, amassing team bests in home runs (9) and RBI (30).
Watkins was also second on the roster in batting average (.360), slugging percentage (.648) and on-base percentage (.413), as well as doubles (10).
Watkins’ batting average was also 4th best in conference annals, and finished third in home runs/slugging percentage and sixth in RBI.
The versatile Watkins also appeared in the circle 19 times, posting a 6.22 ERA and the second-most wins on the squad.
She went the distance four times, including a 4-0 shutout of Idaho State April 28. In this game, Watkins also went 3-for-3 at the plate, netting three doubles.
This is a historic moment for SUU’s softball program as it commemorates the first time in the program’s Big Sky Conference history that the Thunderbirds have boasted a freshman of the year.
