The Pac-10 conference honored senior catcher Kaylyn Castillo and freshman pitcher Dallas Escobedo for their outstanding performances in the ASU softball team’s sweep of UA last week.
Escobedo was named Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week while Castillo took home Player of the Week honors.
It was Escobedo’s second pitcher of the week nod, and the first player of the week award of Castillo’s career.
In the three-game series against the Wildcats, Escobedo was a force in the pitcher’s circle.
The right-hander picked up a pair of victories in her two starts, and also came on in relief to nail down ASU’s dramatic 13-10 win in game two. In her three appearances, Escobedo surrendered only three runs on seven hits
“It’s very cool,” Escobedo said. “I received that my first week out, and knowing that I’m still doing top-notch work feels good.”
Castillo provided outstanding defense behind the plate in addition to carrying a red-hot bat throughout the series.
She posted a .429 batting average in the three-game set. In Friday’s comeback victory, it was Castillo who smacked the game winning grand slam in the top of the seventh inning to push the Sun Devils ahead.
“Honestly, I was ecstatic because I’ve never been Player of the Week, so I was pumped,” Castillo said. “Also, I just want to keep playing good, now I’ve set the standard.”
Sun Devils control their destiny
With just two weekends left in the regular season, the Sun Devils remain atop the Pac-10 standings.
If ASU maintains its stellar play, the Sun Devils would earn just their second conference title in program history.
The Sun Devils realize they are in the driver’s seat when it comes to the Pac-10 title and postseason play.
“After UA we told the girls ‘you’re going to determine your own destiny,’” ASU coach Clint Myers said. “You’re going to go wherever you want to go. If you want to be a Pac-10 champ, win all your games. It’s guaranteed. Win all your games and you’ll be Pac-10 champs because you’re ahead.”
In the coming weeks, ASU will face off against Washington and Stanford in the regular season’s final six games.
Preparation has been a key focus for ASU and its challenges that lie ahead.
“It’s up to us to come out here every day and work hard, get in the reps and take practice seriously and not see it as just another day out here,” junior right fielder Annie Lockwood said. “Everything that we do has a purpose, and everything we do has an end result getting us to that World Series game at the end.”
Injury Update
In last Saturday’s contest against Oregon State, a pitch struck Castillo’s hands in her fifth inning at-bat. She stayed in the game, and remained in the starting lineup in Sunday’s game.
After playing most of Sunday’s game, senior catcher Lacy Goodman took over behind the plate to give Castillo some rest.
“It’s good,” Castillo said. “It’s already getting better. It was pretty sore [Sunday] especially having to catch Dallas because she throws the hardest so that was a struggle.”
Castillo hopes to not miss any playing time, and expects to be in the starting lineup in Friday’s series opener against Washington.
“Absolutely,” Castillo said. “I started on Sunday and I felt awful so I imagine that it will be fine.”
Reach the reporter at greg.dillard@asu.edu
