The Amateur Softball Association announced the 25 players who will be competing for the Softball Player of the Year this past week. LSU was pleased to see Leslie Klein’s name among the finalists for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. This is Klein’s second consecutive year to be named a finalist. She is one of only 6 players from the SEC to be named as a finalist and the 4th LSU Tiger to be named as a finalist for this award. Former LSU Tiger All-Americans named as finalist were Britni Sneed, Trena Peel and Kristin Schmidt.
Klein, an outfielder, is a Senior from Sunrise, Florida. She is ranked No. 4 in the SEC with a .422 batting average. She holds the LSU career record for doubles, batting average and slugging percentage in the school’s history. She is close to breaking other school records in RBIs and home runs. She ranks in the Top 10 in triples, runs scored, stolen bases, hits and sacrifice flies.
Klein has several outstanding accomplishments under her belt already this season. She was named the SEC and Louisiana Player of the Week on March 19, 2007 and she played in the Husky Softball Classic and Easton Purple & Gold Challenge All-Tournament teams earlier this year. She also holds season records of a nine-game and a 10-game hitting streaks and leads the Tigers with 15 multiple hit games and 12 multiple RBI games.
The Tigers are currently ranked No. 1 in the SEC followed closely by Alabama. They are coached by Head Coach Yvette Girouard.
On May 9, 2007 the finalist list will be narrowed down to ten players. The final cut will come on May 23, 2007 when the final 3 candidates will be chosen. The 3 finalists will then travel to Oklahoma City, OK where the winner will be announced at the 2007 NCAA Women’s College World Series.
