SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The list of honors continued Wednesday for Sacramento State senior pitcher Nicole Deatherage as the Cameron Park, Calif., native was named second team all-West Region after posting a 13-12 record with a Pacific Coast Softball Conference-best 0.96 ERA. Deatherage becomes the second Hornet in as many years to be named all-West Region as center fielder Lindy Winkler was named to the team last season. Prior to Winkler earning the honor last year, Susie Bugliarello was the last Sacramento State player to receive all-region honors in 1997.
The all-region honor wraps up an incredible year for Deatherage, who was named Hornet Bookstore Female Student-Athlete of the Year and first team academic all-district last week. In addition, the team co-captain was named second team all-conference and received five PCSC Pitcher of the Week honors during the season.
Deatherage’s ERA was the 21st-best mark in the nation as she became the first Hornet with a sub-1.00 ERA since Bugliarello accomplished the feat in 1997. The right-hander set career highs this season in ERA, shutouts (seven), innings (188.2) and opponents'' batting average (.206). She had a stretch of 14 appearances earlier in the year in which she allowed just two earned runs over 97.2 innings.
Deatherage was among five pitchers to receive all-West Region honors, joining Long Beach State’s Meredith Cervenka (first team), Lindsey Knoff (first team) and Marcel Torres (second team), and San Diego State’s Celena Velasquez (second team). A total of 12 players were named to the first team and 17 players were named to the second team.
Among Sacramento State Div. I (1990-pres.) career pitching leaders, Deatherage is ranked third in innings pitched, wins, starts, complete games, shutouts and strikeouts. She was drafted by the Sacramento Sunbirds of the National Pro Fastpitch League (sixth round) this past December.
Sacramento State concluded the 2004 regular season with a 32-28 overall record and a 10-10 mark in the PCSC. The 32 victories marked the fourth-consecutive season in which the team had improved upon its win total.
Deatherage''s 2004 Honors
Second Team All-West Region
Hornet Bookstore Female Student-Athlete of the Year
Second Team All-Pacific Coast Softball Conference
First Team Academic All-District VIII
Five-Time Pacific Coast Softball Conference Pitcher of the Week
Capital Classic All-Tournament Team
