May 22, 2003

Santa Barbara, Calif. - After leading the UC Santa Barbara softball team to its best record in school history (34-22), catcher Jami Trinidad capped her senior season by becoming the first ever Gaucho to be named All-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

The Second Team All-American was also recognized as a First Team All-West Region honoree by the NFCA and was named First Team All-Big West Conference. Marking yet another first, making her UCSB's first ever first team all-region recipient since adopting the two-team format.

Trinidad led UCSB in 2003 with a school record .373 batting average, and a .588 slugging percentage, also a Gaucho high. She finished her career fifth all-time in Big West history with 100 base-on-balls and tenth all-time with 125 career RBI.

Joining Trinidad on the All-Big West First Team was third-baseman Chantal Pershing, who was named Second Team All-West Region by the NFCA, marking just the fourth time in the 31-year history of the program that the Gauchos have had two players named all-region the same year.

Pershing ended her senior season second in the Big West with 36 runs scored to lead the team. The Burbank, Calif. native's .291 career batting average stands as the sixth best in UCSB history.