After earning a spot as Top 10 Freshman of the Year last season, Georgia softball’s Cortni Emanuel was named a Top 25 Finalist for the USA Softball Player of the Year, the organization announced Wednesday.
 
 
Emanuel is building off of last year’s stellar season, as she is one of the nation’s top hitters in 2016 with a .461 average and 65 total hits. Her batting mark ranks 14th in the nation while her hits are third nationally. Once on base, Emanuel is dangerous, ranking fourth in the conference with 46 runs scored and third with 26 stolen bases.
 
 
A NFCA All-American last year, Emanuel is already placing her name in the Georgia record books. The sophomore is sixth in stolen bases, going 71-for-76 in her career, while earlier this season she broke the school record with a 23-game hitting streak.
 
 
Emanuel is one of five sophomores named to the list while one of seven from the SEC. It’s the sixth time in program history that a Bulldog has been among the top 25, as the prestigious honor is now in its 15th year of existence.
 
 
Just prior to the start of postseason play, the list will be narrowed to the Top 10 Finalists on May 11. The Top 3 Finalists will be announced May 25, while the winner of the 2016 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be revealed on May 31 prior to the start of the NCAA WCWS in Oklahoma City.
 
 
The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award is voted on by coaching representatives of 10 Division I conferences in the 15 ASA/USA Softball Regions, members of the media who consistently cover Division I Softball across the country as well as past winners of the award.
 
 
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