Leal, Canion Named All-Americans
6/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
June 1, 2011
STARKVILLE, Miss. -
For the first time since 2007 and third time overall, the Baylor softball team landed two players on the 2011 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-American teams as Whitney Canion and Dani Leal were selected to the second and third-team squads, respectively, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced on Wednesday.Canion earns her first nod as the lefty leads the team in the circle with a 29-10 mark and a 1.28 ERA to go with 305 strikeouts in 245.2 innings. Her 305 strikeouts are the second-most in BU history, behind the 415 she had in 2009. Canion, who is just a redshirt sophomore, already possesses Baylor's all-time strikeout mark with 799. The first-team All-Big 12 member is 5-1 this postseason, helping guide the Lady Bears to their second WCWS.
Leal was named for the first time after earning first-team all-region and first-team All-Big 12 honors earlier this season. The senior is hitting .342 with 14 home runs and 38 RBI, while helping lead a strong Baylor defense from her shortstop position. The Mexico City, Mexico, native's 14 homers are sixth on the single-season list and she currently sits sixth on the BU all-time list with 23, despite playing just two seasons for the Lady Bears.
With Canion and Leal's selections, Baylor has now had eight players selected to the All-America team. Brette Reagan and Ashley Monceaux were named in 2007, while Chelsi Lake joined Reagan on the squad in 2006. Former Lady Bears Harmony Schwethelm (2005) and Naomi Fitzgerald (2000) previously earned third-team All-America status.
Canion, Leal and the rest of the Lady Bears return to action on Thursday, June 2, as Baylor opens play at the 2011 Women's College World Series against Oklahoma State Arizona at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
