Hopkins, Jenkins earn all-conference honors

RENO — Karley Hopkins and Jasmine Jenkins were named to the 2013 Mountain West All-Conference softball team on Tuesday, as selected by the league’s seven head coaches.

The 2013 team is made up of 20 student-athletes, without the designation of a first or second-team selection. In addition, four individual awards were handed out.

Hopkins hit .412 in conference play with 11 runs scored and 18 games started. She had seven extra-base hits made up of six doubles and one home run and led all Nevada players with 16 RBI. On top of hitting for a spectacular average, Hopkins slugged .544 and played a superb defensive second base. She committed only three errors in 80 chances for a .963 fielding percentage. She led the league in hits, was second in doubles to Jenkins and tied for third in RBI.

Overall, Hopkins hit .392, belted 16 doubles and two home runs, drove in 34 runs and walked 18 times in 53 games started. She was one of four Nevada players to start every game for the Wolf Pack in 2013.

The Sparks native will return to the Wolf Pack for her senior season in 2014.

Jenkins was a candidate for freshman of the year, which went to left-handed pitcher Danielle O’Toole of San Diego State. In 18 conference games, all at third base, the Nevada infielder and Irvine, Calif. native hit .362 with seven doubles and nine RBI. She scored nine runs, slugged .483 and carried a .422 on-base percentage through the final weekend.

Overall, she hit .361 with 13 doubles and two home runs. Solidifying Nevada defensively at third, while simultaneously slugging .493 and drawing 15 walks, Jenkins shined in her first season in the Silver and Blue.

Mountain West champion San Diego State swept the individual awards as junior outfielder Patrice Jackson was named MW Player of the Year, senior right-hander Rebecca Arbino earned the MW Pitcher of the Year award, O’Toole garnered MW Freshman of the Year accolades and head coach Kathy Van Wyk captured MW Coach of the Year honors.