OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - UNCW junior catcher Carley Hughes has been named to the Amateur Softball Association’s Pre-Season Watch List for the 7th Annual USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Award, organization officials announced.”We as a program are honored that Carley has been included on the watch list for National Player of the Year,” UNCW head coach Melissa Jarrell said. “It is a great honor for her to be considered among such high-caliber players and I know that Carley is humbled by the recognition.”The award, considered one of the most prestigious honors in women’s collegiate softball, is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the country. Past winners of this award include UCLA’s Stacey Nuveman, Florida State’s Jessica Van der Linden, three-time recipient Texas pitcher Cat Osterman and 2007 winner Monica Abbott of Tennessee.The 2007 Colonial Athletic Association Co-Player-of-the-Year and Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-Region Team honoree, Hughes led the CAA in and ranked among the nation’s elite in numerous offensive categories, including runs batted in per game (1.16), home runs per game (.33), slugging percentage (.808) and batting average (.448).A native of Pittsboro, N.C., Hughes was the toughest player to strike out in the nation last season, with only three strikeouts in 172 at-bats. She also established single-season school marks in slugging percentage, home runs (18) and total bases (139) while equaling program bests in hits (77) and runs batted in (62).The 2008 Pre-Season Watch List is comprised of 50 players representing 34 schools and 14 different NCAA Division I Conferences. A 25-player mid-season list will be released April 9 before the three finalists are announced May 21. The winner of the 2008 USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Award will be announced prior to the start of the 2008 NCAA Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.2008 USA Softball Player of the Year Watch ListName - School - Year - Position - HometownCallista Balko (Arizona) - Senior - Catcher - Tucson, Ariz.Brandice Balschmiter (Massachusetts) - Junior - Pitcher - Manasquan, N.J.Chelsea Bramlett (Mississippi State) - Sophomore - Catcher/Infield - Cordova, Tenn.Savannah Brown (Georgia Tech) - Senior - Catcher/Third Base - San Diego, Calif.Katie Burkhart (Arizona State) - Senior - Pitcher - San Luis Obispo, Calif.Tonya Callahan (Tennessee) - Senior - Infield - Holden, Mo.Ashley Charters (Washington) - Senior - Infield - Beaverton, Ore.Kaitlin Cochran (Arizona State) - Junior - Outfield - Yorba Linda, Calif.Krista Colburn (UCLA) - Senior - Outfield - Mukilteo, Wash.Meagan Denny (Texas) - Senior - Pitcher - Crowley, TexasLauren Eckermann (Oklahoma) - Senior - Pitcher - Brenham, TexasCristi Ecks (South Florida) - Junior - Pitcher - Manassas, Va.Angela Findlay (Michigan) - Sophomore - Outfield - Lockport, Ill.Samantha Findlay (Michigan) - Senior - First Base - Lockport, Ill.Rachel Folden (Marshall) - Senior - Catcher/Utility - Baldwin Park, Calif.Megan Gibson (Texas A&M) - Senior - Pitcher/First Base - Spring, TexasAlissa Haber (Stanford) - Sophomore - Outfield- Newark, Calif.Whitney Haller (Georgia Tech) - Junior - First Base - Marietta, Ga.Molly Hill (Nebraska) - Junior - Pitcher - Wayne, Neb.Dani Hofer (LSU) - Junior - Pitcher - Safety Harbor, Fla.Becca Heteniak (DePaul) - Sophomore - Pitcher - Simi Valley, Calif.Tiffany Huff (Tennessee) - Sophomore - Catcher/First Base - Saugus, Calif.Carley Hughes (UNC Wilmington) - Junior - Catcher - Pittsboro, N.C.Annie Kinsey (Pennsylvania) - Senior - Second Base - West Hills, Calif.Sam Marder (Ohio State) - Sophomore - Catcher - Calabasas, Calif.Cambria Miranda (Oregon State) - Senior - Second Base- Camarillo, Calif.Taryne Mowatt (Arizona) - Senior - Pitcher - Corona, Calif.Kara Nelson (Illinois State) - Sophomore - Third Base - Moline, Ill.Stacey Nelson (Florida) - Junior - Pitcher - Los Alamitos, Calif.Emily Nichols (Iowa) - Senior - Catcher/Infield - Portland, Ore.Chrissy Owens (Alabama) - Senior - Pitcher - Miami, Fla.Lauren Parker (Alabama) - Junior - Infield - Port Neches, TexasNicole Pauly (Northwestern) - Sophomore - Infield - Palatine, Ill.Missy Penna (Stanford) - Junior - Pitcher/Utility - Miami, Fla.Melissa Pura (Cal Poly) - Junior - Shortstop - Salinas, Calif.Brette Reagan (Baylor) - Junior - Third Base - Magnolia, TexasAmanda Renth (Missouri) - Junior - Infield - Mascoutah, Ill.Samantha Ricketts (Oklahoma) - Junior - First Base - San Jose, Calif.Kate Robinson (Hawaii) - Senior - Pitcher/First Base - Honolulu, HawaiiKillian Roessner (LSU) - Senior - Catcher - Manasquan, N.J.Brittany Rogers (Alabama) - Junior - Outfield - Dacula, Ga.Amanda Scarborough (Texas A&M) - Senior - Pitcher/First Base - Magnolia, TexasAnjelica Selden (UCLA) - Senior - Pitcher - Vacaville, CAKirsten Shortridge (Baylor) - Sophomore - Pitcher/Outfield- Keller, TexasHolly Tankersley (Louisiana-Lafayette) - Senior - Designated Player - Kirbyville, TexasAngela Tincher (Virginia Tech) - Senior - Pitcher - Eagle Rock, Va.Jessica Valis (Houston) - Junior - Shortstop - Shiner, TexasSandy Vojik (DePaul) - Senior - Utility - Riverside, Ill.Kim Waleszonia (Florida) - Junior - Utility - Fontana, Calif.Tammy Williams (Northwestern) - Junior - Infield - Roscoe, Mo.