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Bates earns Pac-12 All-Freshman Team honors
CHS grad making a difference at Washington
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Ceres High grad/Washington softball standout Nicole Bates was selected to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team on Monday. - photo by Photo courtesy of UW Athletics

Four members of the University of Washington softball team have earned All-Pac-12 honors, including 2016 Ceres High grad Nicole “Sis” Bates.

"I'm very excited for our four athletes that made the team," said Washington head coach Heather Tarr. "It's about leaving no doubt when you have an opportunity to face your conference opponents and it's ultimately what the other coaches think of your athletes and team."

Bates was selected to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team.

“Sis making the All-Freshman team is big,” Tarr said. “It’s great for her, for our program and for our team’s future.”

Bates has made a difference on both offense and defense during her first season with the Huskies (43-11).

Nicole has started all 54 games this season, with her primary position being second base.

She had a batting average of .350 with three home runs, five triples, eight doubles, 30 RBIs and 35 runs as of Monday.

She ranks first in the Pac-12 in triples.

Bates leads the team in hits (56).

“I didn’t know what to expect going into college,” Nicole said after being named a finalist for the 2017 Schutt Sports/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I Freshman of the Year award this past month. “I’m so grateful to be on the team I’m on. I love every single one of the girls. The leadership we have on our team is unbelievable. The upperclassmen have taken me under their wings.”

Washington was awarded the sixth overall seed for the NCAA Division-I Tournament Sunday evening.

The host Huskies will face Big Sky Conference champion Montana (35-22) during an opening-round Regional game on Friday at 8:30 p.m. The contest will be aired on ESPN2.

The winner will play either Michigan (41-11) or Fresno State (34-21).

“We want to win a national championship,” Bates said. “We’re confident in our preparation. We’ll see how it goes.”