Nicole “Sis” Bates was honored at the 85th Annual MTRWestern Sports Star of the Year banquet on Feb. 6 in Seattle.

The Ceres High School grad/University of Washington All-American shortstop was named the 2019 Female Sports Star of the Year.

Despite multiple attempts by phone and text, Bates couldn’t be reached for comment.

Bates is the fourth Washington softball player to earn the honor, joining Ali Aguilar (2017), Danielle Lawrie (2007) and Becky Newbry (1999). 

Washington’s 2009 squad also earned the award as a team following their national championship.

This is the second consecutive year Bates has been nominated for the award. 

She has hit over .380 and collected 75-plus hits in each of the past two seasons while earning first-team All-American and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year honors. She is one of three players in conference history to earn Defensive POY award multiple times and the first since 2010.

Bates has the best career fielding percentage in Washington history. In 2019, she committed just two errors. She also led the Huskies in hitting with a .387 average.

Washington has made three consecutive WCWS trips for just the second time in school history and is defending its 2020 Pac-12 title after leading the conference with a 20-4 record last season.

Bates was named to the USA Softball’s initial preseason watchlist for the 2020 Collegiate Player of the Year award on Jan. 29.

She batted .529 from the plate with one triple, five doubles, 12 RBIs and 17 runs this season, which was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Washington (23-2) ranked second in the NCAA Division-I Top 25 poll.