Aleshia Ocasio wins Athletes Unlimited Softball title

Pitcher Aleshia Ocasio is the 2021 Athletes Unlimited Softball champion, having topped the leaderboard with 2,096 points.

Your Athletes Unlimited Softball 2021 Champion 👑@ALESHIAOCASIO pic.twitter.com/AHzUTLeNNf

— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) September 28, 2021

Rounding out the top four were Amanda Chidester (1,714), Kelsey Stewart (1,612) and Carrie Eberle (1,592). Middle infielder Anissa Urtez was named GEICO Defensive Player of the Year while Eberle was named the inaugural Rookie of the Year.

Ocasio served as a captain for three of the five weeks, winning nine of 15 games during those five weeks. She led the league with a 6-5 record on the mound, with 66 innings pitched and 55 strikeouts.

Adding to her resume, Ocasio threw four complete games while compiling a 2.32 ERA. She earned MVP honors on eight occasions, just one behind the record set by 2020 champion Cat Osterman.

“While this is a solo accolade, I wouldn’t be here without my teammates – a wonderful group of women who are the top talent in our sport. It’s an honor to play alongside them and they’ve made this journey unforgettable,” said Ocasio. “Big thanks to Athletes Unlimited for allowing us to be ourselves, for giving us a platform and a space to be free, to be supported, to be heard and to be valued. It’s been an incredible season, and it was so good to be back with our fans.”

The award comes the same day that Ocasio was cut from the USSSA Pride.

POV: You get cut from the Pride at 1:30 then win Athletes Unlimited 10 hours later

— Lele. (@ALESHIAOCASIO) September 28, 2021

How do you release a player the same day she’s about to win AU😂💀

— Natasha Cloud (@T_Cloud4) September 27, 2021