Huskers Announce Addition of Talented Catcher

Amanda Duran, a two-time junior college All-American catcher, will join the <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska softball team this fall, head coach Rhonda Revelle announced on Thursday, July 26. Duran spent the past two seasons at PimaCommunity College in her hometown of Tucson, Ariz., and will be a junior for the Huskers in 2008.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

“We are very excited to have Amanda Duran on the field this fall,” Revelle said. “Her experience and success in the game will enable her to hit the ground running. We anticipate that she will make an immediate impact on the Nebraska softball team.”

 

Duran enjoyed a standout two-year stint at Pima, which has produced several Division I stars, including 2007 All-American Ashley Monceaux of Baylor. In addition to being a two-time NJCAA All-American for the Aztecs, Duran was also tabbed the NJCAA Division I Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year by the NFCA at the conclusion of her freshman season.

 

Duran led Pima to a national championship season in her first year while hitting .531 with 25 doubles, four triples, 21 home runs, 68 runs scored and 109 RBIs. Her 109 RBIs rank as the third-highest single-season total in the recorded history of the NJCAA (since 1989) and were just 13 shy of tying the record, set by Olympic Gold Medalist Crystal Bustos in 1997.

 

As a freshman, Duran led the NJCAA ranks in RBIs while ranking second in home runs and fifth in average. She also played a key role during Pima’s run to the national championship, earning a nod on the NJCWS all-tournament team while being described as the Aztec’s MVP by head coach Stacy Iveson. At the World Series, Duran hit .500 (8-for-16) with two homers, six runs scored and five RBIs in five games, while also calling every pitch and catching every inning.

 

Duran hit a walk-off two-run home run in the 10th inning of a quarterfinal game against Odessa (Texas) to help propel Pima into the finals. In the championship game, she scored the game-winning run in the Aztecs’ 4-3 win over GulfCoast (Fla.).

 

After the stellar freshman campaign, Duran led Pima to a 53-13 record last season. She hit .441 with 16 doubles, 17 home runs and 67 RBIs in 2007, ranking seventh in the NJCAA in home runs and 13th in RBIs. Duran finished her outstanding junior college career as a .490 hitter with 38 homers and 176 RBIs.

 

Duran originally signed with Utah, before being released from her letter of intent following the resignation of the Utes’ first-year head coach. Duran chose Nebraska over BYU, California and UNLV.

 

Revelle and the Huskers hope Duran can have an immediate impact at the plate, much like last summer’s junior college transfer Haley Long, who became the first Husker transfer to earn All-Big 12 honors in her first season.

 

This summer, Duran has been training to compete for the United States at the World University Games in Bangkok, Thailand. Duran is one of 15 players from the NJCAA level chosen by junior college coaches to represent Team USA at the games. Huskers.com will follow Duran’s progress at the tournament, which opens on Aug. 11 and runs through Aug. 16.