LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Kentucky softball legend is coming back to her Kentucky roots.
Brittany Cervantes, the all-time home run queen of Kentucky Softball, will be returning to Lexington this season as a graduate assistant, it was announced Tuesday by head coach Rachel Lawson.
Cervantes, a player for the ScrapYard Dawgs in the professional ranks, graduated from Kentucky in 2012 and still to this day holds many UK records, including the all-time UK record for career home runs (48) and runs batted in (161), in addition to being top-10 in doubles (42), walks (118), runs scored (139), slugging percentage (.577) and total bases (370).
“I want to thank Coach Lawson and Coach (Kristine) Himes for giving me the opportunity to return to my alma mater and give back to the University and the program.” Cervantes said. “Lexington, the University and specifically this program have a special place in my heart. I am so excited to be back in Blue and White.”
Cervantes was Lawson’s first-ever recruit as the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats and ended her Wildcat career in 2012. The Chatsworth, California native was a First Team All-Southeastern Conference selection in 2012 as well as All-SEC Defensive Team honoree. She was All-Region in 2011, her junior season and still is the only UK player to hit 10+ home runs all four years of her career.
“I’m excited to welcome my first recruit back to our staff at Kentucky.” Lawson said. “Brittany is a former captain that brings a winning mindset to our team. She has great passion for softball and brings with her a wealth of experience at the highest levels of our sport.”
With the Chicago Bandits of National Pro Fastpitch, Cervantes was an All-NPF selection in 2014 and 2015 while claiming the Cowles Cup in 2015 and 2016. She was named the 2016 Cowles Cup Most Valuable Player, coming a year after being named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2015.
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