Posted By Press Democrat Staff Writer Michael Coit:

Leading the nation in strikeouts and recording a remarkable 31 wins, Sonoma State ace Samantha Lipperd has earned the Daktronics NCAA Division II All-West Region Softball Pitcher of the Year award.
Joining her as an All-West Region selection was teammate Hayley Condon, named to the second team.
Taking over as Sonoma State’s one and only pitcher for much of the season, Lipperd fanned 396 batters to lead Division II. Lipperd’s durability was clear in a March tournament when struck out a national record 26 batters just hours after setting the then school mark with 17 strikeouts.
On the season, Lipperd set 12 school pitching records including all-time wins – she is 78-29 – and career strikeouts with 862.
Lipperd, a junior right hander from Boulder Creek, yielded just four runs over the Seawolves three NCAA West Regional tournament games.
Sonoma State went 1-2 to end the season 36-19. Sonoma State made its fourth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance.
A big bat in the Seawolves lineup this season was Condon, who transferred from Iowa Lakes Community College just ahead of the 2012 campaign.
Sonoma State’s third baseman, Condon led the team with a .337 batting average. Condon led the Seawolves in hits, home runs, runs batted in, total bases and slugging percentage after becoming a starter.