CAA Softball Awards Banquet

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (May 8, 2012) - James Madison senior Ashley Burnham was selected as the 2012 Colonial Athletic Association Softball Player of the Year by a vote of the league's eight head coaches. Her honor highlights this year's All-CAA awards, which were presented Tuesday evening on the campus of Hofstra University, which is the host of the 2012 CAA Softball Championship.

Joining Burnham as major award winners was teammate Heather Kiefer, who was selected as Rookie of the Year, Hofstra junior Olivia Galati, who was selected as the Pitcher of the Year for the third straight season, and Hofstra's Bill Edwards, who was voted CAA Coach of the Year.

Burnham, who was also named CAA Player of the Year in 2010, finished the regular season with a .342 batting average, including a .362 performance at the plate in conference play. She led the Dukes in five categories, including runs scored (37), doubles (14), home runs (11), RBI (40), and slugging percentage (.671). Burnham struck out just once in conference play and added 12 runs, 17 hits and 10 RBI in CAA action. Burnham is the second JMU player to be honored as the CAA Player of the Year, joining Jenn Chavez who received the award in 2007.

Galati, who also collected CAA Pitcher of the Year honors in 2010 and 2011, led the league with a 27-5 overall record and three saves. She also enters the tournament leading the nation with a 0.95 ERA and 15 shutouts. The junior pitcher topped the league with 213.2 innings pitched and 296 strikeouts, while holding opponents to a .158 batting average this season. In conference action, Galati led the league in all pitching categories. In addition to her nation-leading ERA and shutouts numbers, Galati ranks sixth in strikeouts and strikeouts per seven innings (9.7) as well as seventh in victories. Galati also excelled as a hitter and enters the tournament with a .370 batting average.

Kiefer is James Madison's second CAA Rookie of the Year. The freshman pitcher completed the regular season with a 13-5 overall record, including 9-2 in CAA play, and also had a pair of saves. Kiefer enters the tournament with the league's second-best ERA at 1.71 ERA after 27 appearances, 131.1 innings of work and five shutouts. She led the Dukes with 90 strikeouts and held opponents to a .232 batting average.

Currently in his 23^rd season at the helm of the Pride, Edwards led Hofstra to its 10th CAA regular season title in 11 years with a perfect 19-0 conference record, marking the first time in CAA history that a team accomplished a perfect conference record. Edwards guided the Pride to the 35-win plateau for the 18^th time in the last 20 years. It is his fifth straight CAA Coach of the Year honor.

In addition to the major awards announced, the CAA recognized its all-conference first and second teams and the all-rookie squad.  Hofstra placed a league-high five players for six positions on the All-CAA first team.  Galati, who earned first-team honors as a pitcher and designated player/pitcher, was joined by third basemen Krista Thorn, outfielders Rachael Senatore and Tessa Ziemba, and designated player/non-pitcher Erin Trippi. James Madison was represented by shortstop Burnham, outfielder Morgan Heath and pitcher Kiefer. Drexel's Paige Collings earned her third straight first-team honor as a catcher, while Georgia State's first baseman Lauren Coleman and George Mason's Brooke Blankenship also received first-team accolades. Georgia State saw a league-best three players honored on the All-CAA second team, while Georgia State and James Madison placed a conference-high three players on the All-Rookie squad.

2012 ALL-CAA SOFTBALL TEAM

FIRST TEAM

SECOND TEAM

2012 CAA Player of the Year: Ashley Burnham, James Madison

2012 CAA Pitcher of the Year:  Olivia Galati, Hofstra

2012 CAA Rookie of the Year:  Heather Kiefer, James Madison

2012 CAA Coaches of the Year:  Bill Edwards, Hofstra

* - 1^st team All-CAA in 2011                                                   # - 2^nd team All-CAA in 2011

2012 CAA ALL-ROOKIE SOFTBALL TEAM