Utah softball's Flippen named first-team Pac-12

This year's talent infusion for Utah's softball team — detailed by The Tribune's Kyle Goon just last week — received the Pac-12 Conference's mark of approval Wednesday.

Freshman second baseman Hannah Flippen was named first-team all-conference, and honorable mention nods went to freshman shortstop Anissa Urtez and freshman first baseman Bridget Castro. Junior left fielder Kate Dickman also earned honorable mention, meaning players got at least one vote for all-conference teams, and starting pitcher Sammy Cordova was a vote-getter for the All-Freshman Team. All five hail from California.

"We had one of our most successful seasons and these five led us all year," said Utah head coach Amy Hogue in a release. "I'm supper happy for each of them."

The Utes (31-24 overall, 8-15 conference) finished the season on an eight-game winning streak.

Flippen hit .362 in Pac-12 play and .392 overall while leading the conference in assists (163) and tying for second in double plays (27). Steady defense was a theme this season for Utah's young infielders, and Castro (36 double plays) and Urtez (149 assists, second in conference) also likely won some votes with their gloves.

It's the third consecutive year Dickman has been honored by the conference. She was second in the conference in hits (80) and runs (59) and hit .415, good for seventh.

Castro hit .353 and was especially clutch, finishing sixth in the Pac-12 with 55 RBIs.

Cordova was named Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week on May 5 after two complete-game wins against Cal, and she totaled eight complete games on the year.

— Matthew Piper

mpiper@sltrib.com

Twitter: @matthew_piper