Kentucky Softball players Erin Coffel and Kayla Kowalik have been announced as finalists for the prestigious 2023 USA Softball National Player of the Year award. The organization revealed the list of 25 finalists on Wednesday morning, with the shortlist set to be narrowed down to 10 on May 3.
Coffel currently leads the nation in walks and has recently moved up to second place in all-time career home runs at UK, hitting her 14th of the season and 50th career homer. On Tuesday afternoon, she hit her 15th home run of the season and 51st of her career, bringing her within 10 of Abbey Cheek’s all-time Kentucky lead. Coffel has a batting average of .424 this season, with 15 home runs, 48 RBI, 47 walks, nine doubles, and 39 total hits.
Kowalik, who leads all UK players with a .440 batting average on 59 hits in 134 total at-bats, was drafted No. 8 overall in the second round of the 2023 WPF Draft by the USSSA Pride on Monday night. She has recorded a home run, 15 RBI, and 10 extra-base hits this season while hitting leadoff in 39 of Kentucky’s 40 games.
The Wildcats are scheduled to host No. 11/12 Arkansas over the weekend for a three-game Southeastern Conference series at John Cropp Stadium, starting Friday night at 6:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network+. Dave Baker and Jenny Dalton-Hill will provide commentary. Tickets for the weekend series are available at UKathletics.com.
The list of Top 25 Finalists will be reduced to 10 athletes on May 3, with the Top 3 Finalists announced on May 17. The 2023 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed before the Women’s College World Series, scheduled for June 1-9 in Oklahoma City. In addition to the Player of the Year award, USA Softball is in its 21st season of presenting the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll, which is released every Tuesday during the regular season.
