Huskers Named Senior CLASS Award Candidates

Seniors Ashley Guile and Ashley Hagemann were among the 30 players nationally named candidates for the 2012 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award for softball on Wednesday.

Nebraska was the only school in the country to have two candidates for the award, while the Big Ten Conference boasted six total candidates, the most of any conference. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence - community, classroom, character and competition.

The Huskers boasted a candidate for the second straight season, as Julie Brechtel became the first Husker softball player to be considered for the award last season. The 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, Division I head coaches and fans who will selected the winner.

A native of Olathe, Kan., Guile is a four-year starter for the Huskers. She has earned all-conference, all-region and academic all-conference accolades in her career. The reigning Big Ten Player of the Week, Guile ranks third in school history in hit-by-pitches, fifth in walks, 14th in batting average and is just outside the career top 10 in doubles and RBIs.

Hagemann, an Eklhorn, Neb., native, was a first-team all-conference, second-team all-region and second-team CoSIDA Academic All-America selection last season. She went 31-13 last season with a 1.75 ERA and 344 strikeouts, ranking eighth nationally in strikeouts and 10th in victories. Hagemann ranks seventh in NU career history in strikeouts, eighth in innings, wins and saves and 10th in shutouts and complete games.

2012 Softball Lowe's Senior CLASS Award Candidates
Valerie Arioto, Pitcher/First Base, California
Gracie Barstad, Third Base, Western Michigan
Emily Bledsoe, Infield, Texas TechKatelyn Boyd, Shortstop, Arizona State
Rachel Brown, Pitcher, Harvard
Ashley Burnham, Shortstop, James Madison
Molly Coldren, Infield, Central Michigan
Kacee Cox, Catcher/First Base, St. John's (N.Y.)
Mallory Duran-Sellers, Outfield, Southern Illinois
Bree Evans, Outfield, Michigan
Julie Fernandez, First Base, Lehigh
Michelle Fuzzard, Pitcher/DP, Chattanooga
Chelsea Garcia, Shortstop, Oklahoma State
Molly Garst, Infield, Purdue
Ashley Guile, Infield, Nebraska
Ashley Hagemann, Pitcher, Nebraska
Ashley Hansen, Shortstop, Stanford
Shayla Jackson, Outfield, Florida State
Natalie Land, Shortstop, Central Florida
Brittany Mack, Pitcher, LSU
Ashley McClain, Outfield/Pitcher, Florida International
Jen Mineau, Pitcher, Fordham
Adrienne Monka, First Base, Northwestern
Michelle Moultrie, Centerfield, Florida
Christi Orgeron, Utility, Louisiana
Cassie Reilly-Boccia, Outfield/First Base, Alabama
Stephanie Ricketts, Pitcher, Hawaii
Rachel Riley, Pitcher/DP, Kentucky
Liz Watkins, Catcher, Iowa
Niki Williams, Utility, Washington