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Belarde, Denning, Jimenez and Lopez Named to Preseason All-Pac-12 Team
2/1/2024 12:37 PM | Softball
Conference preseason poll places the Utes in third
SAN FRANCISCO – The Pac-12 released its annual preseason softball coaches poll and preseason all-conference team on Thursday and Aliya Belarde, Haley Denning, Julia Jimenez and Mariah Lopez all earned all-conference nods, while the Utes were rated third in the league poll.
The Utes' placement in the preseason rankings represents their highest since joining the league, surpassing the fifth-place standing they achieved in 2017 and 2018, and the four preseason all-league honorees doubles the number the program attained in 2023.
Belarde's selection came after a 2023 campaign that earned her First-Team All-Pac-12 and Second-Team All-Pacific region honors. The senior from California tied for the conference lead in hits with 77 and ended the year in Pac-12's top five in batting average, runs scored and stolen bases, swiping 16 without being caught. Belarde spent the season's first three months crafting a .425 clip and her total of seven games with three or more hits was the most on the roster.
Denning was elected to the all-region first-team and all-conference second-team after leading the Pac-12 in steals for the third straight year, collecting 33, which put her 20th in the nation. Denning also racked up the conference's third-most hits and runs scored and finished with the Pac-12's third-highest batting average. She accomplished all this while starting every game for the Utes in 2023 and her consistency was reflected by a 15-game hit streak she strung together from Feb. 17 to March 10.
Jimenez's 2023 garnered her recognition in the form of All-Pac-12 and All-Pacific Region Second-Team spots and a Pac-12 All-Tournament Team selection. She climbed into the Pac-12's top 10 in doubles, total bases, RBIs and sacrifice flies while also blasting 10 homers, Utah's third-highest total. Those 10 long balls included three grand slams, one of which came in Utah's first win in their NCAA Super Regional series against San Diego State.
Lopez, who was also named to the USA Softball Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List, was an NFCA Third-Team All-American in 2023, as well as a first-team all-conference and first-team all-region pick. The pitcher from Peoria, Arizona tallied 23 wins and 206 strikeouts, both of which ranked in the top three in the Pac-12. She also finished in the top 10 in the league in innings pitched, complete games, strikeout rate and ERA and became the first Ute to win two Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week awards in one season. Seven of her triumphs came in the postseason, including a victory over No. 2 UCLA in the Pac-12 Tournament title game, helping her earn the tournament's most outstanding player honor.
Utah's total of four preseason all-league selections tied for the second-most in the Pac-12 with UCLA, trailing only Arizona's five. Stanford took the top spot in the conference preseason poll, piling up seven first place votes. UCLA climbed into second, followed by the Utes, who earned one first-place nod, as did fourth-place Washington. Oregon's point total placed them fifth, followed by Arizona, California, Arizona State and Oregon State.
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