A 1.75 slugging percentage and 12 RBI has earned Kansas City ASA athlete Faith Willis (Liberty, Mo.) the inaugural ASA Junior Olympic (JO) Player of the Week award, presented by Worth Fastpitch and StudentSports.com the Amateur Softball Association (ASA)/USA Softball announced today.

Willis’ dominant performance at the plate helped her 16U Originals-Shanks squad to a perfect 7-0 weekend at the ASA/USA Invitational in the Kansas City Metro area.

“Faith has in my mind always been a gamer and she is more than willing to do what is needed by our team to have success,” said Originals-Shanks Head Coach Brand Shanks, who nominated Faith for the award.

“She has as much heart as any kid I have ever coached. There is never a dull moment with Faith in the dugout and she keeps us laughing and having fun.”

Over the course of their seven games, Willis went the distance for her team, tallying a .687 batting average (11-for-16) with two doubles, a triple and four home runs.  The shortstop also produced 12 RBI and scored eight runs.

Not only does Willis perform on the field, she also excels in the classroom.  Willis has a perfect 4.0 grade-point average and serves as President of her class.  For her efforts, Willis will receive a brand new Worth bat, courtesy of Worth Fastpitch.

“Coach Shanks and his athletes make up a great organization,” said Kansas City ASA JO Commissioner Mary Mahoney.  “It is truly an honor to have one of our athletes selected as ASA JO Player of the Week.”

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): Winner announced May 16
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:

Tori Gilbert (Powhatan, Va.) – Tori helped lead her 14U Virginia Glory Elite to a 3-2 record at the ASA Spring Kickoff at the Botetourt Sports Complex in Virginia.  Tori had a .643 batting average (9-for14) with two doubles, four home runs and 15 RBI.

Lindsay O’Neil (Faribault, Minn.) – Lindsay combined for a .615 batting average (9-for-13) and helped her 12U Faribault Blazers to a 4-0-1 record at the Woodbury Wildpitch Tournament in Minnesota.  Lindsay had nine hits with six RBI and eight runs scored.