Top-ranked Linfield’s 10-0 start to the 2012 season has been a complete team effort, but two individuals who have stood out most recently are sophomores Ashley Garcia (Jr., Beaverton, Ore.) and Karina Paavola (Jr., Kelso, Wash.). The two were recognized Tuesday as the Northwest Conference Softball Player and Pitcher Student-Athlete of the Week, respectively, by the league’s sports information directors.

Garcia, who covers second base, supplied three home runs, two doubles and 10 RBI over six games this past week. The first-year starter hit 8-for-15 (.533) while tallying a 1.267 slugging percentage, .632 on-base percentage and perfect 1.000 fielding percentage over 13 chances at second base. She also drew four walks.

On the year, she is hitting .500 with a team-high 17 RBI and also shares top team honors for home runs with five.

The right-handed Paavola threw a complete-game no-hitter against Pacific, recording six strikeouts to a single walk in a run-shortened, five-inning game. For the week, she totaled three wins and 14 strikeouts while allowing just two hits over 12 innings.

Already this season, she has earned five of Linfield’s 10 wins, totaling a team-high 27 strikeouts to go along with a 1.83 ERA.

After routing three Northwest Conference opponents (Whitworth, Lewis & Clark and Pacific) by a combined score of 60-3 over the most recent six games, the top-ranked Wildcats are now 10-0 on the year, including 8-0 in league contests.

NEXT: Linfield hosts the Tacoma schools this weekend with a Saturday doubleheader against Puget Sound and a Sunday twinbill against Pacific Lutheran, the league’s second-place team in 2011. Action begins at noon both days with live internet play-by-play starting approximately 10 minutes before the first pitch.