Gatorade Player of the Year awards
National Sports Winners -- Softball ( girls only )
Table:
Year

Winner

Hometown

College

1998

Amanda Freed

Cypress, CA

UCLA

1999

Maureen LeCocq

West Hills, CA

Stanford

2000

Tia Bollinger[14]

Santa Ana, CA

Washington

2001

Cat Osterman

Cypress, TX

Texas

2002

Alicia Hollowell

Fairfield, CA

Arizona

2003

Lisa Dodd

San Diego, CA

UCLA

2004

Anjelica Selden

Fairfield, CA

UCLA

2005

Dani Hofer

Palm Harbor, FL

LSU

2006

Kirsten Shortridge

Keller, TX

Baylor

2007

Ashley Brignac

River Ridge, LA

Louisiana-Lafayette

2008

Kenzie Fowler

Oro Valley, AZ

Arizona

2009

Kenzie Fowler

Oro Valley, AZ

Arizona

2010

Kasey Fagan

Dunnellon, FL

Florida/Arkansas

2011

Paige McDuffee

The Woodlands, TX

UCLA

2012

Geri Ann Glasco

Watkinsville, GA

Georgia/Oregon

2013

Carley Hoover

Central, SC

Stanford/LSU

2014

Taylor McQuillin

Mission Viejo, CA

Arizona

2015

Rachel Garcia

Palmdale, CA

UCLA

2016

Madilyn Nickles

Merced, CA

UCLA

2017

Taylor Dockins

Norco, CA

CSUF

Leveraging the following table along with the relevant paragraphs listed at the end.

State the answer to the question: The winner of the Gatorade Player of the Year who was born on December 26 , 1979 came from a hometown in what region of California ? Respond with the correct answer (omit explanations) in JSON format as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}.

Amanda Louise Freed ( born December 26 , 1979 ) is an American softball coach and former pitcher .
Cypress is a city in northwestern Orange County within Southern California . Its population was 47,802 at the 2010 census .
The UCLA Bruins softball team represents the University of California , Los Angeles in NCAA Division I softball . The Bruins are among the most decorated programs in NCAA softball , leading all schools in NCAA championships with 12 , overall WCWS championships with 13 , championship game appearances with 22 , Women 's College World Series appearances with 29 , and NCAA Tournament wins with 187 .
West Hills is a residential and commercial neighborhood in the western San Fernando Valley region of the City of Los Angeles , California . The percentage of residents aged 35 and older is among the highest in Los Angeles County . The neighborhood was formerly the home of many Native American tribes , and during the early Spanish and Mexican era was part of the Mission San Fernando Rey de España . In the American era , West Hills was part of Owensmouth , which was renamed Canoga Park in 1930 . West Hills was established in western Canoga Park and retained its present name in 1987 . Historic landmarks and many city parks are to be found within the community , as are commercial districts , a business district , and religious establishments . Two private high schools are among the 13 schools within West Hills .
The Stanford Cardinal are the athletic teams that represent Stanford University . As of December 22 , 2019 , Stanford 's program has won 126 NCAA team championships , as well as 25 consecutive NACDA Directors ' Cups , awarded annually to the most successful overall college sports program in the nation . As of February 15 , 2019 , Stanford-affiliated athletes have won 270 Olympic medals . Stanford 's teams compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA ) Division I ( Football Bowl Subdivision ( FBS ) for college football ) level as a member of the Pac-12 Conference , along with other schools from the western third of the United States .
Santa Ana /ˌsæntə ˈænə/ ( Spanish for Saint Anne ) is a city in and the county seat of Orange County , California in the Los Angeles metropolitan area . The city is the second most populous in the county . The United States Census Bureau estimated its 2018 population at 332,725 , making Santa Ana the 57th most-populous city in the United States . [ citation needed ] Santa Ana is in Southern California , adjacent to the Santa Ana River , about 10 miles ( 16 km ) from the coast . Founded in 1869 , the city is part of the Greater Los Angeles Area , the second largest metropolitan area in the United States , with almost 18 million residents in 2010 . Santa Ana is a very densely populated city , ranking fourth nationally in that regard among cities of over 300,000 residents ( trailing only New York City , San Francisco , and Boston ) . [ citation needed ] In 2011 , Forbes ranked Santa Ana the fourth-safest city of over 250,000 residents in the United States . Santa Ana 's northwestern and southern edges are part of the two largest commercial clusters in Orange County : the Anaheim-Santa Ana edge city and the South Coast Plaza-John Wayne Airport edge city . Santa Ana lends its name to the Santa Ana Freeway ( I-5 ) , which runs through the city . It also shares its name with the nearby Santa Ana Mountains , and the Santa Ana winds , which have historically fueled seasonal wildfires throughout Southern California . The current Office of Management and Budget ( OMB ) metropolitan designation for the Orange County Area is Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine , California . Approximately four-fifths Latino , the New York Times characterizes Santa Ana as the face of a new California , a state where Latinos have more influence in everyday life - electorally , culturally and demographically - than almost anywhere else in the country .
The Washington Huskies softball team represents the University of Washington in NCAA Division I college softball competition . A member of the Pac-12 Conference , they play their home games on-campus at Husky Softball Stadium in Seattle , Washington . Through 2017 , the Huskies have made twelve appearances at the Women 's College World Series and won the national title in 2009 .
Catherine Leigh Cat Osterman-Ashley ( born April 16 , 1983 ) is an American , former collegiate 4-time All-American and 2-time medal winning Olympian , retired 6-time pro All-Star , left-handed softball pitcher and softball Assistant Coach originally from Houston , Texas . She completed her college eligibility in 2006 at the University of Texas at Austin , where she was a starting pitcher for the Longhorns since 2002 . Osterman pitched on the USA Women 's Softball Team which won the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and the silver medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics . Osterman holds the Big 12 pitching Triple Crown for leading in career wins , ERA , strikeouts , as well as shutouts and no-hitters , additionally claiming the NCAA Division I records for strikeout ratio ( 14.34 ) , WHIP and perfect games ( 7 ) . In the National Pro Fastpitch , Osterman is the career leader in strikeout ratio ( 10.90 ) and no-hitters ( 6 ) . She owns numerous other records for the Longhorns and within the NCAA Division I , where she is also one of five pitchers to strikeout 1,000 batters with 100 wins , an ERA of under 1.00 , and averaging double digit strikeouts . Osterman was also named # 3 Greatest College Softball Player .
Cypress is an unincorporated community in Harris County , Texas , United States located completely inside the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of Houston . The Cypress area is located along U.S. Highway 290 ( Northwest Freeway ) is twenty-four miles ( 35 km ) northwest of Downtown Houston . The Cypress urban cluster ranks 50th in the top 100 highest-income urban areas in the United States . Large scale residential and commercial development beginning in the 1980s transformed the once rural area into one of the Houston area 's largest suburban communities .
The Texas Longhorns softball team represents The University of Texas at Austin in NCAA Division I intercollegiate softball competition . The Longhorns currently compete in the Big 12 Conference . The University of Texas began varsity intercollegiate competition in softball in 1997 ; the softball team competed as a club team for one year in 1996 . Texas has an all-time varsity win-loss record of 919-418-3 ( .687 ) as of the end of the 2019 season . The Longhorns have won four regular season conference championships and four conference tournament championships in softball ( the Big 12 did not hold a softball tournament during the 2011-2016 Seasons ) . Texas has made 19 total appearances in the NCAA Tournament in 22 seasons of varsity competition , reaching the Women 's College World Series ( WCWS ) five times ( 1998 , 2003 , 2005 , 2006 , 2013 ) and the super regional round , which was introduced in 2005 , on five occasions . The Longhorns play their home games at Red & Charline McCombs Field , where they have compiled a record of 473-131-2 ( .782 ) as of the end of the 2019 season . Texas hired first-year head coach Mike White , formerly head coach of the Oregon Ducks , on June 25 , 2018 .
Alicia Kay Hollowell-Dunn ( born February 29 , 1984 ) is an American , former collegiate 4-time NCAA Division I All-American , right-handed softball pitcher originally from Suisun , California . She attended Fairfield High School from 1998-2002 . She pitched for the Arizona Wildcats from 2003-2006 , collecting 144 career wins and 1,768 strikeouts , both top-10 NCAA career records . She currently holds the Arizona Wildcats records for career wins , strikeouts , shutouts , innings pitched and strikeout ratio , in addition to the Pac-12 wins and strikeout ratio crowns . Hollowell once held the NCAA Women 's College World Series strikeout record , and won the 2006 NCAA Softball World Series title . She was drafted by the Arizona Heat in the National Pro Fastpitch but went on to play for the Akron Racers in 2007 , leading them to the championship series before serving as an alternate for the Olympic softball team in 2008 . For her collegiate career , Hollowell is one of five NCAA Division I pitchers to win 100 games , strikeout 1,000 batters , with a sub-1.00 ERA and average double digit strikeouts .
Fairfield is a city in and the county seat of Solano County , California , in the North Bay sub-region of the San Francisco Bay Area . It is generally considered the midpoint between the cities of San Francisco and Sacramento , approximately 40 miles ( 64 km ) from the city center of both cities , approximately 40 miles ( 64 km ) from the city center of Oakland , less than 19 miles ( 31 km ) from Napa Valley , 16 miles ( 26 km ) from the Carquinez Bridge , and 14 miles ( 23 km ) from the Benicia Bridge . Fairfield was founded in 1856 by clippership captain Robert H. Waterman , and named after his former hometown of Fairfield , Connecticut . It is the home of Travis Air Force Base and the headquarters of Jelly Belly . With a population of 108,321 at the 2010 census , it is slightly smaller in population than Vallejo . Other nearby cities include Suisun City , Vacaville , Rio Vista , Benicia , and Napa .
The Arizona Wildcats softball team represents the University of Arizona in NCAA Division I Softball . Having claimed eight national championships ( second only to UCLA ) , the team is one of the most successful in the history of the sport . It plays its home games at Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium in Tucson , AZ . The team 's current head coach is Mike Candrea , who has been so since 1986 .
Lisa Nicole Dodd ( born September 4 , 1984 ) is an American college softball coach and former player who was the head coach at Santa Clara from 2018 to 2019 and UNLV 2013 to 2017 . Originally from San Diego , Dodd played college softball at UCLA .
San Diego ( /ˌsæn diˈeɪɡoʊ/ , Spanish : [ san ˈdjeɣo ] ; Spanish for Saint Didacus ) is a city in the U.S. state of California on the coast of the Pacific Ocean , approximately 120 miles ( 190 km ) south of Los Angeles and immediately adjacent to the border with Mexico . With an estimated population of 1,425,976 as of July 1 , 2018 , San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest in California . It is part of the San Diego-Tijuana conurbation , the second-largest transborder agglomeration between the U.S. and a bordering country after Detroit-Windsor , with a population of 4,922,723 people . The city is known for its mild year-round climate , natural deep-water harbor , extensive beaches , long association with the United States Navy , and recent emergence as a healthcare and biotechnology development center . San Diego has been called the birthplace of California . Historically home to the Kumeyaay people , it was the first site visited by Europeans on what is now the West Coast of the United States . Upon landing in San Diego Bay in 1542 , Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo claimed the area for Spain , forming the basis for the settlement of Alta California 200 years later . The Presidio and Mission San Diego de Alcalá , founded in 1769 , formed the first European settlement in what is now California . In 1821 , San Diego became part of the newly declared Mexican Empire , which reformed as the First Mexican Republic two years later . California became part of the United States in 1848 following the Mexican-American War and was admitted to the union as a state in 1850 . The city is the seat of San Diego County and is the economic center of the region as well as the San Diego-Tijuana metropolitan area . San Diego 's main economic engines are military and defense-related activities , tourism , international trade , and manufacturing .
Anjelica Maria Selden ( born April 26 , 1986 ) is an American softball coach and former pitcher . A collegiate All-American originally from Vacaville , California , she was the starting pitcher and holds the career crown for strikeouts for the UCLA Bruins , playing from 2005-2008 in the Pac-12 .
Palm Harbor is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in Pinellas County , Florida , United States . As of the 2016 American Community Survey , the CDP had a population of 60,236 .
The LSU Tigers [ n 1 ] softball team represents Louisiana State University in NCAA Division I college softball . The team participates in the Southeastern Conference ( SEC ) and plays home games in Tiger Park . The team is currently coached by Beth Torina .
Keller is a suburban city in Tarrant County , Texas , in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex . According to the 2010 census , the city 's population is 39,627 , making Keller the 74th most populated city in Texas . The most recent population estimate , as of Jan. 1 , 2018 , is 44,940 . In the early 1850s , settlers established Keller and the town became a stop on the Texas and Pacific Railway . The settlers settled around the wooded region in Keller because of Keller 's proximity to the Trinity River water supply and abundant farmland . On November 16 , 1955 , Keller became incorporated . Keller is mostly residential , featuring more than 300 acres ( 120 ha ) of developed land for 11 park sites and more than 26 miles of hiking and biking trails . The Keller Independent School District has 39 campuses serving more than 34,000 students .
The Baylor Bears are the athletic teams that represent Baylor University . Baylor 's men 's sports teams are named the Bears , and some women 's teams are named the Lady Bears . The teams participate in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA ) as one of only two private school members of the Big 12 Conference . Prior to joining the Big 12 , Baylor was a member of the Southwest Conference from their charter creation in 1914 until its dissolution in 1996 . Baylor is also a founding member of the Big 12 Conference .
River Ridge is an unincorporated community and census-designated place ( CDP ) in Jefferson Parish , Louisiana , United States . It is a suburb of New Orleans . The population was 13,494 at the 2010 census .
The Louisiana Ragin ' Cajuns softball team represents the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in NCAA Division I college softball . The team participates in the Sun Belt Conference . The Ragin ' Cajuns are currently led by soon-to-be third-year head coach Gerry Glasco after former head coach Michael Lotief was fired on November 1 , 2017 . Yvette Girouard was head coach from 1981 to 2000 leading the Ragin ' Cajuns to 10 NCAA tournaments and three Women 's College World Series appearances . The team plays its home games at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park located on the university 's athletic campus .
Oro Valley , incorporated in 1974 , is a suburban town located 6 miles ( 9.7 km ) north of Tucson , Arizona , United States , in Pima County . According to the 2010 census , the population of the town is 41,011 , an increase from 29,700 in 2000 census . Dubbed the Upscale Tech Mecca of Southern Arizona by the Arizona Daily Star newspaper , Oro Valley is home to over 10 high tech firms and has a median household income nearly 50% higher than the U.S. median . The town is located approximately 110 miles ( 180 km ) southeast of the state capital of Phoenix . Oro Valley is situated in the western foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains at the base of Pusch Ridge . The Tortolita Mountains are located north of the town , and vistas of the Tucson valley are to the south . The town occupies the middle Cañada del Oro Valley . Oro Valley hosts a large number of residents from around the US who maintain second or winter homes in the town . The town hosted the 2006 Pac-10 Women 's Golf Championships at the Oro Valley Country Club . Oro Valley Country Club was also the site for the 2006 Girl 's Junior America 's Cup , a major amateur golf tournament for the Western United States Annual events in Oro Valley include the Oro Valley Festival of the Arts , El Tour de Tucson bicycle race , the Tucson Marathon , the Cactus Speed Classic for inline skaters , and the Arizona Distance Classic .
Dunnellon is a city in Marion County , Florida , United States . The population was 1,733 at the 2010 census . It is part of the Ocala Metropolitan Statistical Area .
The Florida Gators Softball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of softball . Florida competes in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletics Association ( NCAA ) and the Southeastern Conference ( SEC ) . The Gators play their home games at Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium on the university 's Gainesville , Florida campus , and are currently led by head coach Tim Walton . In the twenty-one year history of the Florida Softball program , the team has won two Women 's College World Series ( WCWS ) national championships , eight SEC regular season championships , five SEC tournament championships , and have made nine WCWS appearances .
The Arkansas Lady Razorbacks softball team represents the University of Arkansas in NCAA Division I college softball . The team participates in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference ( SEC ) . The Lady Razorbacks are currently led by head coach Courtney Deifel . The team plays its home games at Bogle Park located on the university 's campus .
The Woodlands is a master planned community and census-designated place ( CDP ) in the U.S. state of Texas in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metropolitan area . It is primarily located in Montgomery County , with portions extending into Harris County . As of the 2010 census , the CDP population was 93,847 , up from 55,649 at the 2000 census . In 2018 , the Howard Hughes Corporation estimated the population to be 116,278 . The Woodlands is 28 miles ( 45 km ) north of Houston along Interstate 45 . Though it began as an exurban development and a bedroom community , it has also attracted corporations and has several corporate campuses , most notably Chevron Phillips Chemical , Huntsman Corporation , Woodforest National Bank , Baker Hughes , McDermott International , McKesson Corporation , Aon plc , Maersk Line , Safmarine , and Halliburton . It won a Special Award for Excellence in 1994 from the Urban Land Institute .
Watkinsville is the largest town and county seat of Oconee County , Georgia , United States . As of the 2010 census , the town had a total population of 2,832 . It served as the seat of Clarke County until 1872 when the county seat of that county was moved to Athens , a move which ultimately led to the creation of Oconee County in 1875 . It is included in the Athens-Clarke County , Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area .
The Georgia Bulldogs softball team represents University of Georgia in NCAA Division I college softball . The team participates in the Southeastern Conference . The Bulldogs are currently led by head coach Lu Harris-Champer . The team plays its home games at Jack Turner Stadium located on the university 's campus .
The Oregon Ducks softball team represents the University of Oregon in NCAA Division I college softball in the Pac-12 Conference . The head coach is Melyssa Lombardi who is entering her 1st season with the Ducks . Oregon will now play home games at Jane Sanders Stadium after playing at Howe Field through 2015 . Oregon has appeared in eight Women 's College World Series , in 1976 , 1980 , 1989 , 2012 , 2014 , 2015 , 2017 and 2018 .
Central is a town in Pickens County , South Carolina , United States . As of the 2010 census , the population was 5,159 , roughly 3,000 of which were considered permanent residents . Contrary to its name , it is not near the center of South Carolina . It received its name from its geographic location , being the halfway or central point between Atlanta and Charlotte along the former Atlanta and Richmond Air-Line Railway line . The primary campus of Southern Wesleyan University is located east of the downtown area .
Taylor McQuillin is an American softball player . She attended Mission Viejo High School in Mission Viejo , California . She later attended the University of Arizona , where she was an All-American pitcher for the Arizona Wildcats softball team . In her senior year , McQuillin led Arizona softball to a berth in the 2019 Women 's College World Series , where they lost to Alabama , 2-0 . After graduating from college , McQuillin was selected by the Cleveland Comets of National Pro Fastpitch in the second round of the 2019 NPF Draft .
Mission Viejo ( /viˈeɪhoʊ/ ) is a commuter city located within Orange County , California , United States in the Saddleback Valley . Mission Viejo is considered one of the largest master-planned communities ever built under a single project in the United States and is rivaled only by Highlands Ranch , Colorado in its size . Its population as of 2017 was estimated at 96,016 . Mission Viejo is suburban in nature and culture . The city consists of residential property , although there are a number of offices and businesses within the limits of the city . The city is known for its tree-lined neighborhoods , receiving recognition from the National Arbor Day Foundation . The city 's name is a reference to Rancho Mission Viejo , a large Spanish land grant from which the community was founded .
Rachel Lauren Garcia ( born March 30 , 1997 ) is an American , collegiate All-American , right-handed hitting softball player pitcher for the UCLA Bruins of the Pac-12 Conference , originally from Palmdale , California . Garcia led the Bruins to the 2019 Women 's College World Series championship , where she was named the Women 's College World Series Most Outstanding Player . She was also named a two-time USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year and two-time First-team All-American in 2018 and 2019 . Garcia was named to Team USA softball for the 2020 Summer Olympics .
Palmdale is a city in northern Los Angeles County in the U.S. state of California . The city lies in the Antelope Valley region of Southern California . The San Gabriel Mountains separate Palmdale from the city of Los Angeles to the south . On August 24 , 1962 , Palmdale became the first community in the Antelope Valley to incorporate . Forty-seven years later , in November 2009 , voters approved making it a charter city . Palmdale 's population was 152,750 at the 2010 census , up from 116,670 at the 2000 census . Palmdale is the 34th most populous city in California . Together with its immediate northern neighbor , the city of Lancaster , the Palmdale/Lancaster urban area had an estimated population of 513,547 as of 2013 .
Merced /mɜːrˈsɛd/ ( Spanish for Mercy ) is a city in , and the county seat of , Merced County , California , United States , in the San Joaquin Valley . As of 2018 , the city had a population of 83,316 . Incorporated on April 1 , 1889 , Merced is a charter city that operates under a council-manager government . It is named after the Merced River , which flows nearby . Merced , known as the Gateway to Yosemite , is less than two hours by automobile from Yosemite National Park to the east and Monterey Bay , the Pacific Ocean , and multiple beaches to the west . The community is served by the passenger rail service Amtrak , a minor , heavily subsidized airline through Merced Regional Airport , and three bus lines . It is approximately 110 miles ( 180 km ) from Sacramento , 130 miles ( 210 km ) from San Francisco , 45 miles ( 72 km ) from Fresno , and 270 miles ( 430 km ) from Los Angeles . In 2005 , the city became home to the 10th University of California campus , University of California , Merced ( UC Merced ) , the first research university built in the U.S. in the 21st century .
Norco is a city in Riverside County , California , in the United States . According to city ordinances , the architecture of Norco shall reflect a desired Western theme , including qualities described as rural , informal , traditional , rustic , low-profile and equestrian oriented . As of the 2010 census , the city population was 27,063 , up from 24,157 at the 2000 census .
The Cal State Fullerton Titans ( also known as CSUF or Fullerton Titans ) are the athletic teams that represent California State University , Fullerton . The Titans are a member of the NCAA Division I level . The Titans compete within the Big West Conference ( BWC ) for most sports , wrestling competes as a member of the Pac-12 Conference ( Pac-12 ) and gymnastics competes as a member of the Western Athletic Conference ( WAC ) .