Jan. 30, 2008

Nine Big 12 softball student-athletes have been named to the American Softball Association's preseason watch list for the 7th annual USA Softball National Player of the Year Award. The award is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the country. Three-time winner Cat Osterman is the only Big 12 student-athlete to receive the award.

Baylor, Oklahoma and Texas A&M all had two finalists while Missouri, Nebraska and Texas had one nominee each. Senior pitchers Meagan Denny (Texas), Lauren Eckermann (Oklahoma), Megan Gibson and Amanda Scarborough (Texas A&M) are joined by juniors Molly Hill (Nebraska) Brette Reagan (Baylor), Amanda Renth (Missouri) and Samantha Ricketts (Oklahoma). Baylor's Kirsten Shortridge is the only Big 12 sophomore to be recognized in the preseason top-50.

The ASA will narrow the list down three times (Top 25 on April 9, Top 10 on May 7 and Top 3 on May 21) before announcing the winner prior to the start of the 2008 NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.

2008 USA Softball Player of the Year Watch List

Callista Balko (Arizona) - Senior - Catcher
Brandice Balschmiter (Massachusetts) - Junior - Pitcher
Chelsea Bramlett (Mississippi State) - Sophomore - Catcher/Infield
Savannah Brown (Georgia Tech) - Senior - Catcher/Third Base
Katie Burkhart (Arizona State) - Senior - Pitcher
Tonya Callahan (Tennessee) - Senior - Infield
Ashley Charters (Washington) - Senior - Infield
Kaitlin Cochran (Arizona State) - Junior - Outfield
Krista Colburn (UCLA) - Senior - Outfield
Meagan Denny (Texas) - Senior - Pitcher
Lauren Eckermann (Oklahoma) - Senior - Pitcher
Cristi Ecks (South Florida) - Junior - Pitcher
Angela Findlay (Michigan) - Sophomore - Outfield
Samantha Findlay (Michigan) - Senior - First Base
Rachel Folden (Marshall) - Senior - Catcher/Utility
Megan Gibson (Texas A&M) - Senior - Pitcher/First Base
Alissa Haber (Stanford) - Sophomore - Outfield
Whitney Haller (Georgia Tech) - Junior - First Base
Molly Hill (Nebraska) - Junior - Pitcher
Dani Hofer (LSU) - Junior - Pitcher
Becca Heteniak (DePaul) - Sophomore - Pitcher
Tiffany Huff (Tennessee) - Sophomore - Catcher/First Base
Carley Hughes (UNC Wilmington) - Junior - Catcher
Annie Kinsey (Pennsylvania) - Senior - Second Base
Sam Marder (Ohio State) - Sophomore - Catcher
Cambria Miranda (Oregon State) - Senior - Second Base
Taryne Mowatt (Arizona) - Senior - Pitcher
Kara Nelson (Illinois State) - Sophomore - Third Base
Stacey Nelson (Florida) - Junior - Pitcher
Emily Nichols (Iowa) - Senior - Catcher/Infield
Chrissy Owens (Alabama) - Senior - Pitcher
Lauren Parker (Alabama) - Junior - Infield
Nicole Pauly (Northwestern) - Sophomore - Infield
Missy Penna (Stanford) - Junior - Pitcher/Utility
Melissa Pura (Cal Poly) - Junior - Shortstop
Brette Reagan (Baylor) - Junior - Third Base
Amanda Renth (Missouri) - Junior - Infield
Samantha Ricketts (Oklahoma) - Junior - First Base
Kate Robinson (Hawaii) - Senior - Pitcher/First Base
Killian Roessner (LSU) - Senior - Catcher
Brittany Rogers (Alabama) - Junior - Outfield
Amanda Scarborough (Texas A&M) - Senior - Pitcher/First Base
Anjelica Selden (UCLA) - Senior - Pitcher
Kirsten Shortridge (Baylor) - Sophomore - Pitcher/Outfield
Holly Tankersley (Louisiana-Lafayette) - Senior - Designated Player
Angela Tincher (Virginia Tech) - Senior - Pitcher
Jessica Valis (Houston) - Junior - Shortstop
Sandy Vojik (DePaul) - Senior - Utility
Kim Waleszonia (Florida) - Junior - Utility
Tammy Williams (Northwestern) - Junior - Infield