Arizona Wildcats softball likely to win handful of Pac-12 awards

(It's a little too difficult to judge defensive player of the year/all-defense from afar so I left that out. Mo Mercado would seem to be a candidate for that award, though.) 

Player of the year

• Arizona's candidate: Katiyana Mauga (.343 average, 22 HR, 55 RBI, 43 runs)
• Other contenders: Hannah Flippen, Utah (.436 average, 9 HR, 50 RBI); Nikki Udria, Oregon (.400 average, 10 HR, 45 RBI); Delaney Spaulding, UCLA (.381 average, 14 HR, 38 RBI, 51 runs)
• Will Arizona win? Probably not. Will likely go to Flippen or Udria. 
• Last time Wildcats won: 2005, Caitlin Lowe. 

Pitcher of the year

• Arizona's candidate: Danielle O'Toole (27-4, 1.08 ERA, 191 strikeouts)
• Other contenders: Maggie Balint, Oregon (19-3, 1.13 ERA, 135 K), Taran Alvelo, Washington (28-6, 1.90 ERA, 170 K)
• Will Arizona win? Easily. O'Toole is as close to a lock as anyone. 
• Last time Wildcats won: 2004, Alicia Hollowell. 

Freshman of the year

• Arizona's candidates: Jessie Harper (.354 average, 19 HR, 52 RBI), Dejah Mulipola (.333 average, 11 HR, 46 RBI, 50 runs), Alyssa Palomino (.302 average, 16 HR, 54 RBI, 49 runs)
• Other contenders: Maggie Balint, Oregon (19-3, 1.13 ERA, 135 K); Rachel Garcia, UCLA (18-7, 1.99 ERA, .329 average, 5 HR)
• Will Arizona win? Harper seems like a good bet to take the trophy, though Garcia and Balint certainly have their case. 
• Last time Wildcats won: 2014, Katiyana Mauga. 

Coach of the year

Not much to say here. Mike Candrea is winning this thing. First time he's won the award since 2007, and his 11th time winning overall. 

All-Conference selections

There are 20 selections for the Pac-12's first team, 10 for the second and 10 for the third. The Wildcats could have legitmate cases for as many as nine all-conference selections, and are at least locks for six. Here are the candidates.

Locks

• P Danielle O'Toole: 27-4, 1.08 ERA, 191 K in 195.1 IP
• P Taylor McQuillin: 15-3, 1.87 ERA, 143 K in 105 IP
• 1B Jessie Harper: .354 average, 19 HR, 52 RBI, 34 runs
• SS Mo Mercado: .391 average, 10 HR, 49 RBI
• 3B Katiyana Mauga: .343 average, 22 HR, 55 RBI, 43 runs
• OF Mandie Perez: .375 average, 4 HR, 33 RBI, 60 runs

Other contenders

• OF Alyssa Palomino: .302 average, 16 HR, 54 RBI, 49 runs
• C Dejah Mulipola: .333 average, 11 HR, 46 RBI, 50 runs
• OF Ashleigh Hughes: .378 average, 29 runs, 5 stolen bases

All-Freshman selections

Harper, Mulipola and Palomino are locks for the 15-person team. It wouldn't surprise if second baseman Reyna Carranco (.309 average, 30 runs scored) snuck in too.