Aleshia Ocasio wins Athletes Unlimited softball title
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<p>Puerto Rican National Softball Team two-way player Aleshia Ocasio became the 2021 Athletes Unlimited Softball champion by topping the leaderboard with 2,096 points following a five-week season at Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Illinois. </p>
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<p>USA’s corner infielders Amanda Chidester (1,714 points) and Kelsey Stewart (1,612 points), and pitcher Carrie Eberle (1,592 points) rounded out the top four finishers.</p>
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<p>Anissa Urtez, the Mexican Olympic shortstop, was named Defensive Player of the Year. </p>
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<p>Ocasio led the league with a 6-5 record on the mound, 66 innings pitched and 55 strikeouts, and tied for the lead with 13 appearances. She also threw four complete games and compiled a 2.32 ERA, earning MVP honors on eight occasions, one behind the record set in 2020 by champion Cat Osterman, who wrapped up her illustrious playing career. Ocasio’s 66 innings eclipsed Osterman’s single-season mark of 64 set last year.</p>
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<p>“While this is a solo accolade, I wouldn’t be here without my teammates – a wonderful group of women who are the top talent in our sport. It’s an honor to play alongside them and they’ve made this journey unforgettable,” said Ocasio. “Big thanks to Athletes Unlimited for allowing us to be ourselves, for giving us a platform and a space to be free, to be supported, to be heard and to be valued. It’s been an incredible season, and it was so good to be back with our fans.”</p>
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<p>Ocasio played for the Puerto Rican National Softball Team, claiming a bronze medal at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, a fifth place at the WBSC Women’s Softball World Championship 2018 and a third place at the WBSC Americas Softball Olympic Qualifier.</p>
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<p>Chidester and Stewart are coming from a silver-medal campaign at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games with USA. Chidester led the league in multiple categories, including hits (19), home runs (7), batting average (.413) and slugging percentage (.891). Meanwhile, Stewart tied for a league-topping 5 doubles, while boasting 18 hits, 8 RBI and a .375 batting average. </p>
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