2016 All-PacWest Softball Teams

IRVINE, Calif. – Just three days after the conclusion of the 2016 Academy of Art University softball season, a pair of Urban Knights were recognized with All-PacWest Team honors as announced by the conference office on Wednesday. Junior outfielder Jessica West was named to the Second Team while sophomore pitcher/utility Brenna Mitchell made it back-to-back Third Team honors in her career.

"In such a competitive conference, it is an honor to receive recognition for our athletes and our program," said head coach Sonja Garnett. "Jessica West and Brenna Mitchell have been huge contributors and leaders for our program both on and off the field. We are excited both of these athletes will return to build on their success next year. "

This season, the PacWest coaches or designated representatives from each school selected a total of 42 student-athletes for All-Conference accolades. The squad consisted of a First Team, Second Team, Third Team, as well as Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, and Freshman of the Year.

Thriving at the top of the lineup all season, West finished 2016 ranked among the PacWest's top 10 in runs scored (28), batting average (.406), doubles (8), and triples (2) among conference-only statistics. Overall, she finished with the fourth-most runs scored by an Urban Knight in a single season with 40 touches of home plate to go with 20 runs batted in and 10 stolen bases.

"Jessica West was a sparkplug for our offense," said Garnett. "She was able to get on and produce runs consistently. She is a true competitor and we are very proud of her achievements."

A 'hit artist' from bunts to the long ball, West had her batting average above .333 in mid-March and never saw it come down the remainder of the season. She enjoyed a season-best eight-game hit streak during that time all while posting the most multi-hit games on the team (14). Her best single-game performance came in the Urban Knights' 8-7 upset of No. 16 California Baptist when she went 3-for-4 with two home runs and three runs batted in. She would earn her first career PacWest Player of the Week and HERO Sports HERO of the Week honors for that effort.

Mitchell showed she was much more than a stellar pitcher in 2016, adding at-bats as a designated player and first baseman to her repertoire. She would finish the year ranked fourth in the PacWest in innings pitched (145.1) and fifth in strikeouts (86) in the circle, but also top 20 in both doubles (7) and slugging percentage (.551) among conference-only statistics. She was also ninth in fielding percentage (.988), committing just one error all season.

"Brenna Mitchell had a great sophomore year," said Garnett. "She continued to shine on the mound while becoming an offensive threat. She stepped up and filled a role as a designated player and first baseman this year in addition to performing well in each of her roles. In the circle, Mitchell was consistent and pulled out strong performances against big hitting teams like Azusa Pacific and Humboldt."

Mitchell was locked in from the start of the year, allowing just a single run through 7.0 innings to what would become the No. 3 team in the country in Humboldt State on Feb. 4. She would strike out a season-high eight batters in a win over Northwest Nazarene (Feb. 13) and kept her ERA around 2.50 for much of the year. Up against future PacWest Conference regular season champion Azusa Pacific (Apr. 12), Mitchell again allowed just one run in the win that gave her double-digit victories for the second consecutive season.

Beyond her success defensively, Mitchell proved to be a threat with the bat as well. She launched her first career home run while amassing a career-high four RBIs in a thrilling come-from-behind win over SF State on Feb. 14. Then, as part of her season-best 11-game hit streak, the sophomore garnered her first PacWest Player of the Week award with four hits in six at-bats including another home run in the team's first conference series at Holy Names (Feb. 27).

This is the second All-PacWest honor in Mitchell's career and the first in West's career.