ASU's Cochran taken as No. 1 pick in 2009 NPF Draft

For the second consecutive year, the Sun Devil Softball program has produced the No. 1 NPF Draft pick as announced Tuesday night when Arizona State senior three-time First-Team All-American outfielder Kaitlin Cochran was selected first in the National Pro Fastpitch Draft by the Washington Glory before being traded to the Akron Racers in a blockbuster trade. Last season, pitcher Katie Burkhart was selected No. 1 as well.

The Racers wasted no time in selecting one of the most prolific hitters in NCAA history, Kaitlin Cochran from Arizona State. While her freshman season alone at ASU was enough to merit First-Team All-American accolades, it can barely be compared to her accomplishments at the plate in her sophomore and junior seasons. In 2007, Kaitlin hit .492 on the season, which helped her claim the 2007 NCAA National Batting Title as well as her second Pac-10 batting title in as many years. Her .492 average places her seventh all-time in Pac-10 history and her career average of .464 places her fourth all-time in Pac-10 career history as well. Along with her Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year award for her freshman campaign in 2006, Cochran was also honored again in 2007 by the Pac-10, this time with the Player of the Year award. Her talents at the plate were well known and feared by opponents as she was walked 59 times on the season good for 10th in Pac-10 history, and 15 times intentionally, which is eighth all-time in NCAA history.

In 2008 her dominance at the plate never waned despite being intentionally walked 29 times, as she still hit .439 on the season with 14 home runs and 51 RBIs for an amazing slugging percentage of .838. Her name now graces both Pac-10 and NCAA single-season and career lists with another season left to build on them. In addition to her third consecutive NFCA First-Team All-American Award, she was also named to her third straight Pac-10 first team and is the first player in Pac-10 history to win Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year and then consecutive back-to-back Pac-10 Player of the Year Awards. No slouch in the classroom, Kaitlin was named to the Pac-10 All-Academic First Team and the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine All- Academic District VIII Second Team.

The three-time First-Team All-American is also a success off the field as much as she is off of it. A math major with a phenomenal GPA, Kaitlin was named to three Pac-10 All-Academic First Teams as well as an ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District VIII First-Team in 2007 and Second Team in 2008.

Her awards don't stop there however, her overall award resume for the 2008 season reads: - First-Team Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American (Third Career Award) - First-Team All-Pac-10 (Third Career Award) - Pac-10 Player of the Year (Second Career Award with a Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year) - First-Team Pac-10 All-Academic (Third Career Award) - Third consecutive Pac-10 Batting Title - Second-Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VIII - Honda Broderick Award Finalists (Second Year as a Finalist) - USA Softball Player of the Year Award Finalist (Third Year as a Finalist).

The Sun Devil Softball Team continues their 2009 season this weekend as they head to Palm Springs, Calif. to face some of the best teams in the nation at the Palm Springs Classic.