Career Summary
Ianeta Le'i was one of two power-hitters recruited from Hawai`i who was an anchor in the middle of the hitting lineup. She was a tough first baseman with extremely quick feet and great footwork. The three-time Easton All-American was also a NFCA/Louisville Slugger Second-Team All-American in 2006. In the Mountain West Conference, she was Player of the Year in 2004 and 2006 along with being named to the All-MWC Team in all four seasons as a Cougar. She helped BYU to MWC regular season and tournament championships in 2005, which was just the second conference championship for the program. Le'i notched her name in the BYU career and season record books, including second in career RBI (206) and doubles (tied with 45) and multiple other categories.
Professional
- Played for the Akron Racers from 2006-07
- Assistant coach at BYU from 2007-13
Personal
- Graduate of Iolani High School
- Daughter of Jan and Dannel
- Younger brother Stephen
- Name is pronounced ya-net-uh Lay-ee
- Of Japanese, Portuguese and Samoan ancestry.
Before BYU
- Two-year Team Captain
- Three-time First-team Interscholastic League of Honolulu selection
- Three-time First-team All-State
- Second-team All-State
- Position Player of the Year.
2016 BYU Hall of Fame
From 2003-06, Ianeta Le’i helped lead the Cougars to Mountain West Conference regular season and tournament championships in 2005, along with NCAA Regional appearances in 2005 and 2006. She was one of the early stars of BYU softball who helped establish the program after its introduction in 2000.
Ianeta is a three-time Easton All-American, along with being honored on the NFCA/Louisville Slugger All-America Second Team and the NFCA All-Region First and Second Teams. Within the conference, she was the MWC Player of the Year in both 2004 and 2006 and was on the All-MWC Team all four seasons at BYU.
As a Cougar, she broke multiple BYU career and season records. In the career standings she is second in RBI (206), second in doubles (45), third in total bases (431), third in slugging percentage (.654), fifth in batting average (.367), fifth in hits (242), and fifth in home runs (44). Her season records include first in hits (85), first in at bats (206), second in total bases (162), fourth in RBI (82) and fourth in home runs (20).
Following her successful collegiate career, Le’i played professionally for the Akron Racers in Ohio for two seasons (2006-07). In the 2006 season, the Racers placed third in the National Fastpitch League. She then returned to BYU to be an assistant coach from 2007–13. During her time on the coaching staff, the Cougars won a conference championship every season except one. BYU also advanced to the NCAA Regionals each year and a Super Regional in 2010. While back in Provo, she earned a master’s degree in communications.
All through her life, Le’i has served actively in the communities where she’s lived. While playing professionally in Ohio, she was involved in many community service projects, including free camps for young softball players. After returning to Utah, she volunteered with the Sundance Film Festival from 2007-14. In Hawaii, she volunteered as a coach/pro bono recruiting education specialist for the Iolani School and for the Mililani Prep Club Team.
Le’i earned her undergraduate degree in sociology from BYU in 2007.
- Second-team West All-Region Selection
- All-Mountain West Conference selection
- Voted Most Inspirational Player by coaches and teammates
- Named to the New Mexico State All-Tournament Team
- Started in all 53 games.
- Appeared in 51 games while starting in 48
- Posted a .348 batting average, .617 slugging percentage and a .447 on base percentage
- Scored 32 runs and knocked in 34 RBI
- Tallied 49 hits with 11 doubles, three triples and seven homeruns
- Defensively notched a .969 fielding percentage
- Set a new BYU single-game record with seven RBI in a game against Utah on April 24
- Earned back-to-back All-MWC and second-team NFCA West All-Region honors
- Named MWC Player of the Year
- Earned MWC Player of the Week citation on April 27
- Voted team Co-Offensive Player of the Year
- Named Deseret Book/BYU Female Athlete of the Month in May
- Named honorable mention Easton All-America.
- Recognized as a Second Team All-American by Softball Easton
- First Team All-Mountain West Conference
- Named to the MWC All-Tournament Team
- Ranked 25th in the nation in RBI per game (.93)
- Led team with 53 RBI and 27 BB
- Was second on the team in homeruns (10)
- Had a .990 fielding percentage
- Homered twice against Oklahoma State and San Diego State
- Knocked in five runs against Oklahoma State.
- Led the Cougars in nearly every offensive category
- Recorded a Mountain West Conference Triple Crown with a .541 batting average, 11 home runs and 38 RBI
- Mountain West Conference Player of the Year
- Recorded MWC Player of the Week honors twice
- Hit six home runs and 18 RBI in one week
- Named to the NFCA/Louisville Slugger All-West Region First Team
- Named second team All-American by NFCA/Louisville Slugger
- Posted career bests in batting average, hits, doubles, homeruns, RBI, slugging percentage and on-base percentage
- Set single-season records in at bats (206), hits (85), doubles (15) and RBI (82)
- Set career records in at bats (659), hits (242), doubles (45) and RBI (209)
- Voted Team Most Valuable Player by players and coaches
- First team Easton All-American.