Aug. 14, 2006

BERKELEY - California's Haley Woods, who batting .355 as a senior this past season, has been named the 2006 national Division I Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced.

Also selected a first-team All-American, Woods completed her Cal career as the Bears' all-time leader in RBI (191) and total bases (413). In 2006, she matched her personal best with 16 home runs, while her 55 RBI rank third on the school's single-season list.

Woods started every game her final three seasons in Berkeley, and paced Cal in 10 offensive categories last year: slugging percentage (.694), runs scored (39), hits (65), RBI (55), doubles (14), home runs (16), total bases (127), walks (31), at bats (183) and total plate appearances (220).

Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year awards are presented in 10 separate divisions: NCAA (Divisions I, II and III), NAIA, NJCAA (Divisions I, II and III), Cal JC, NWAACC (Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges) and high school.

In addition to Woods, the other recipients are:

NCAA Division II - Jessica Padilla, Humboldt State University NCAA Division III - Nikki Conway, University of St. Thomas NAIA - Tami Trujillo, California Baptist University NJCAA Division I - Amanda Duran, Pima Community College NJCAA Division II - Britt Boyer, Iowa Lakes Community College NJCAA Division III - Danielle Martinez, Anne Arundel Community College Cal JC - Kendra Powers, West Valley College NWAACC - Holly Judith Rossman, Mt. Hood Community College High School - Stacie Chambers, Cactus (Ariz.) High School

For more information on the award, visit the NFCA website.