Feb. 1, 2012
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Juniors Whitney Canion and Kathy Shelton have been selected to the initial "Watch List" for the 11th annual USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Award, the Amateur Softball Association announced Wednesday.
Canion, a two-time All-Big 12 selection, became the first All-American pitcher in program history after being named to the second-team in 2011. The Aledo, Texas, native is Baylor's all-time leader in strikeouts with 833 and is already in the top-5 in nearly every statistical pitching category in the BU record book. Last season, the left-hander went 39-12 with a 1.28 ERA and 339 strikeouts in 278.2 innings while guiding the Lady Bears to the National Semifinals of the Women's College World Series. This marks the second time Canion has been listed for this award, after being named in 2010.
Shelton was a unanimous 2011 first-team All-Big 12 pick after leading Baylor in batting average (.359), at-bats (206), runs (35), hits (74) and stolen bases (33). The McKinney, Texas, native finished second in conference-only batting average with a .400 mark, while leading the Big 12 in hits (26) and stolen bases (10).
The award, which is considered one of the most prestigious honors in women's collegiate softball, is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the country.
The pre-season "Watch List" includes 23 seniors, 20 juniors and seven sophomores, with freshman ineligible for consideration. (Freshman can be considered for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award once they have competed at the collegiate level.) Athletes named to the "Watch List" represent 31 NCAA Division I universities and 13 athletic conferences.
The Top 25 Finalists for the 2012 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be announced April 11. While an athlete does not have to be on the "Watch List" to be considered for the Top 25, the eventual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will come from the Top 25 Finalists. The Top 10 Finalists will be announced May 9 and the Top 3 Finalists will be announced May 23. On May 29 prior to the start of the 2012 NCAA Women's College World Series (WCWS) in Oklahoma City, the 2012 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed.
