Five student-athletes from the Big 12 were named to the 2009 USA Softball Player of the Year Watch List. The award is considered the most prestigious honors in Division I women’s collegiate softball, and is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement across the country. Three-time winner Cat Osterman (Texas) remains the only player from the Big 12 to win in the seven-year history of the award.
Oklahoma led the conference with two student-athletes, while Nebraska, Baylor and Missouri all had one named to the list. Seniors Brette Reagan (Baylor) and Samantha Ricketts (Oklahoma) were chosen by the Amateur Softball Association of America for the second-straight year. Robin Mackin (Nebraska), D.J. Mathis (Oklahoma) and Rhea Taylor (Missouri) made their debut on the list.
The watch list is comprised from 32 schools and 13 different NCAA Division I conferences.
The ASA, the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States, selects its watch list annually with 25 finalists chosen on April 1. Before postseason play, a list of 10 finalists will be named on May 6. The final three will be announced May 20, while the winner will be selected prior to the start of the 2009 NCAA Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.
2009 USA Softball Player of the Year Watch List
Valerie Arioto (California) ? Sophomore ? Utility ? Pleasanton, Calif.
Brandice Balschmiter (Massachusetts) ? Senior ? Pitcher - Newark, N.Y.
Chelsea Bramlett (Mississippi State) ? Junior ? Catcher/Infield ? Cordova, Tenn.
Ashley Brignac (Louisiana-Lafayette) ? Sophomore ? Pitcher ? River Ridge, La.
Neena Bryant (Oregon) ? Outfield ? Junior ? Placentia, Calif.
Ashley Charters (Washington) ? Senior - Infield? Beaverton, Ore.
Kaitlin Cochran (Arizona State) - Senior- Outfield - Yorba Linda, Calif.
Lauren Delaney (Northwestern) ? Junior ? Pitcher ? Jefferson City, Mo.
GiOnna DiSalvatore (UCLA) ? Sophomore - Utility ? Palm Harbor, Fla.
Krista Donnenwirth (Arizona State) ? Sophomore - SS/Third Base ? Mission Viejo, Calif.
Angela Findlay (Michigan) ? Junior ? Outfield ? Lockport, Ill.
Ali Gardiner (Florida) ? Senior ? First Base - Waccabuc, N.Y.
Lauren Grill (Mississippi) ? Junior ? Infield ? Tualatin, Ore.
Alissa Haber (Stanford) ? Junior ? Outfield- Newark, Calif.
Becca Heteniak (DePaul) ? Junior ? Pitcher - Simi Valley, Calif.
Tiffany Huff (Tennessee) ? Junior ? Catcher/First Base ? Saugus, Calif
Amanda Kamekona (UCLA) ? Senior ? Infield ? Chino Hills, Calif.
Megan Langenfeld (UCLA) ? Junior ? Pitcher/First Base ? Bakersfield, Calif.
Brittany Lastrapes (Arizona) ? Sophomore ? Outfield - Laguna Niguel, Calif.
Danielle Lawrie (Washington) ? Junior - Pitcher ? Langley, British Columbia
Jenae Leles (Arizona) ? Senior ? Third Base ? Fair Oaks, Calif.
Robin Mackin (Nebraska) ? Junior - Pitcher - Newmarket, Ontario
Sam Marder (Ohio State) ? Junior? Catcher - Calabasas, Calif.
D.J. Mathis (Oklahoma) - Senior ? Pitcher ? East Alton, Ill.
Morgan Melloh (Fresno State) ? Sophomore - Pitcher ? Fishers, Ind.
Noelle Micka (Nevada) ? Sophomore ? Catcher ? Garden Grove, Calif.
Rachel Mitchell (LSU) ? Junior ? Outfield ? LaPorte, Texas
Kelley Montalvo (Alabama) ? Senior ? Utility - Miami, Fla.
Charlotte Morgan (Alabama) ? Junior? Pitcher/Utility ? Moreno Valley, Calif.
Kara Nelson (Illinois State) - Junior ? Third Base ? Moline, Ill.
Stacey Nelson (Florida) ? Senior ? Pitcher ? Los Alamitos, Calif.
Nikki Nemitz (Michigan) ? Junior ? Pitcher ? St. Clair Shores, Mich.
Megan Patton (DePaul) ? Senior ? Third Base - Forsyth, Ill.
Missy Penna (Stanford) ? Senior ? Pitcher/Infield ? Miami, Fla.
Haley Perkins (Fresno State) ? Senior ? Infield ? Fresno, Calif.
Brette Reagan (Baylor) ? Senior ? Infield ? Magnolia, Texas
Samantha Ricketts (Oklahoma) - Senior - First Base - San Jose, Calif.
Brittany Rogers (Alabama) ? Senior ? Outfield - Dacula, Ga.
Jamie Schloredt (Sacramento State) ? Senior ? Catcher ? Woodland, Calif.
Kirsten Shortridge (LSU) ? Junior ? Pitcher/Outfield? Keller, Texas
Danielle Spaulding (North Carolina) ? Junior ? First Base/Pitcher - Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Jordan Taylor (Michigan) ? Sophomore ? Pitcher ? Valencia, Calif.
Rhea Taylor (Missouri) ? Sophomore ? Outfield ? Buford, Ga.
Brooke Turner (Long Beach State) ? Sophomore ? Pitcher ? Buena Park, Calif.
Jessica Valis (Houston) ? Senior ? Infield ? Shiner, Texas
Laurie Wagner (Houston) ? Senior ? Outfield ? Houston, Texas
Kim Waleszonia (Florida) ? Senior ? Outfield - Fontana, Calif.
Megan Wiggins (Georgia) ? Sophomore ? Infield - Snellville, Ga.
Tammy Williams (Northwestern) ? Senior ? Infield - Roscoe, Mo.
Jen Yee (Georgia Tech) - Junior - Second Base ? North Delta, British Columbia