Texas A&M catcher Julia Cottrill named national Player of the Week

Showing off for pops.

On Tuesday, Texas A&M catcher Julia Cottrill was been named the national Player of the Week by both D1Softball and the NFCA following the Aggies’ home series victory against Missouri.

Cottrill’s dad, Jeff, is an assistant coach for the Missouri Tigers and watched as his daughter ambushed the Tigers’ pitching staff, time and time again.

“We’re very competitive in our household, so we definitely had a household rivalry going on this weekend,” Cottrill said. “It was a really cool experience. Not many people get to play against their dad in college, and it gave me a little edge to focus a little more this weekend.”

In her last four games, Cottrill tallied four home runs, 11 RBI and five hits. Her slugging percentage in the four-game stretch is a ridiculous 1.417.

Cottrill’s pair of big swings on Sunday secured the final series victory of the season and lifted the Aggies to a .500 record in the SEC, which has only been done three times since joining the conference, with the last time being in 2018.

Her two home runs on Sunday brought in three runs apiece — both being two-out bombs to right field. The Aggies were able to overcome an early deficit thanks to the juniors' efforts.

“That kid is crazy competitive. She’s found a home now, and she and I fit very well together,” head coach Trisha Ford said of Cottrill. “She’s starting to find that balance of being that player that she is and that mode that you have to get to play at that level but also being able to lead a very young team.”

In the series opener, Cottrill hit her first two home runs of the weekend on back-to-back at-bats.

Although a no-hitter highlighted the Aggies’ showing against Prairie View A&M, Cottrill led off the Aggies' offensive effort with a single to score Koko Wooley in the opening frame.

Cottrill also posted three season highs on Sunday, with two home runs, two runs scored and six RBI. On the year, Cottrill is hitting .374 and leads the Aggies in hits, RBI and doubles.

With this honor, Cottrill becomes the first Aggie to receive a national weekly award since Tori Vidales on Feb. 20, 2018. She is the fourth Aggie to ever receive a national weekly honor, joining Vidales, Holly Ridley (March 3, 2009) and Megan Gibson (April 13, 2008).

Cottrill is also likely to be named the SEC’s Player of the Week when the league’s weekly awards are announced later this afternoon.