Fifteen strikeouts in eight innings pitched has earned Minnesota ASA athlete Allie Roberts (Rogers, Minn.) the second-ever ASA Junior Olympic (JO) Player of the Week award, presented by Worth Fastpitch and StudentSportsSoftball.com the Amateur Softball Association (ASA)/ USA Softball announced today.

Roberts’ outstanding performance on the mound helped her 12U B Northwest Diamonds team to clinch third place with a 3-1-1 run at the Edina MayFly Classic in Edina, Minn.

Roberts was nominated by Northwest Diamonds Head Coach Joe Primus. Primus said the award is something the entire team and Northwest Diamonds organization can be proud of.

“This tournament was our team’s first games of the year,” Primus said. “Allie was instrumental in our team taking third place with a 3-1-1 record for the tournament.”

Through five games, Roberts maintained a .545 batting average going 6-for-11 at the plate. Roberts also scored three runs.

Finishing with a 3-0 record from the circle, Roberts handed out 15 strikeouts in the tournament. In eight innings pitched, Roberts only allowed five runs. For her efforts, Roberts will receive a brand new Worth bat, courtesy of Worth Fastpitch.

“Her hard work in the offseason showed in her opening day performance,” Primus said. “It was a great way to start off the season.”

Established to recognize JO players 18 years or younger for outstanding play in an ASA/USA sanctioned event, the ASA/USA Softball JO Player of the Week will honor 14 athletes, male or female, from May 9 – August 8 following the conclusion of the ASA/USA JO National Championships.

Nominations will be taken on a week-by-week basis (see below schedule) and will be submitted and accepted through this form found on StudentSportsSoftball.com  until noon ET every Tuesday.

In order to be eligible for the award, athletes must be registered with their local ASA/USA association and must have participated in ASA/USA Softball sanctioned events or tournaments during the week nominated.

2014 ASA/USA Softball JO Player of the Week award schedule 

Week 1 (April 30 – May 6): Faith Willis (Liberty, Mo.) – Originals-Shanks
Week 2 (May 7 – 13): Allie Roberts (Rogers, Minn.) – Northwest Diamonds
Week 3 (May 14 – 20): Winner announced May 23
Week 4 (May 21 – 27): Winner announced May 30
Week 5 (May 28 – June 3): Winner announced June 6
Week 6 (June 4 – 10): Winner announced June 13
Week 7 (June 11 – 17): Winner announced June 20
Week 8 (June 18 – 24): Winner announced June 27
Week 9 (June 25 – July 1): Winner announced July 4
Week 10 (July 2 – 8): Winner announced July 11
Week 11 (July 9 – 15): Winner announced July 18
Week 12 (July 16 – 22): Winner announced July 25
Week 13 (July 23 – 29): Winner announced August 1
Week 14 (July 30 – August 5): Winner announced August 8

 

Honorable Mentions:

Emma Williams (Byron, Ga.) – Emma helped lead her 10U East Cobb Bullets to three wins at the ASA National Qualifier 10U.  Emma faced 53 batters and threw 201 pitches in 14 innings pitched. Out of 201 pitches, Emma threw 136 strikes and tallied 24 strikeouts. She only allowed five hits and four runs and ended the tournament with a .429 ERA.

Haylee Petre (Atlanta, Mo.) – Haylee held an ERA of 1.867 at the Lady Rebels Mother’s Day Tournament in Burlington, Iowa. In 15 innings pitched, Petre allowed only 12 hits, eight runs and three walks.