Four Oklahoma and one Baylor standout headline the 2017 Big 12 softball postseason awards. Shay Knighten (Player of the Year), Paige Parker (Pitcher of the Year), Nicole Mendes (Freshman of the Year) and Patty Gasso (Coach of the Year) from Oklahoma received individual honors. From Baylor, Jessie Scroggins earned Defensive Player of the Year.
Knighten, who was named Freshman of the Year a season ago, closed the regular season with a conference-leading eight home runs, 21 runs and a .885 slugging percentage. Additionally, the sophomore's Big 12 season-high 27 RBI is the most since 2015 (Heather Stearns, BU, 29) and her 55 RBI overall is ranked as No. 14 in the nation.
A three-time Pitcher of the Year (2015, ‘16, ‘17), Parker was named again after posting a 7-0 Big 12 record. Throughout 43.2 innings this season, she has produced a 0.96 ERA and held opposing teams to a .135 batting average.
Mendes was the only unanimous selection. The newcomer recorded a .452 batting average along with a conference season-best 21 runs and 28 hits.
Scroggins notched a 1.000 fielding percentage and a .448 slugging mark. The junior finished league play with 23 hits (fifth in the Big 12), and 30 total bases (tenth).
Gasso led the Sooners to their sixth straight and 10th overall Big 12 regular season title. The team finished the conference season 17-1 (.944), marking the fifth consecutive year OU has had two losses or less.
Twelve student-athletes make up the All-Big 12 First and Second Team while 10 selections create the All-Big 12 Freshman Team, regardless of position. Honors are voted on by head coaches.
2017 ALL-BIG 12 SOFTBALL POSTSEASON AWARDS
Coach of the Year: Patty Gasso, Oklahoma (23rd season)
Player of the Year: Shay Knighten, Oklahoma (INF, So., Buena Park, Calif.)
Pitcher of the Year: Paige Parker, Oklahoma (Jr., Independence, Mo.)@
Defensive Player of the Year: Jessie Scroggins, Baylor (OF, Jr., Lakewood, Calif.)
Freshman of the Year: Nicole Mendes, Oklahoma (UTIL, Houston, Texas)^
ALL-BIG 12 FIRST TEAM
Name, School Yr. Pos. Hometown
Lindsey Cargill, Baylor Sr. INF Robinson, Texas
Jessie Scroggins, Baylor Jr. OF Lakewood, Calif.
Kelsee Selman, Baylor Sr. RHP Lufkin, Texas
Kyla Walker, Baylor So. OF Franklin, Texas
Sami Williams, Iowa State Fr. INF Laguna Niguel, Calif.
Shay Knighten, Oklahoma So. INF Buena Park, Calif.
Paige Lowary, Oklahoma Jr. LHP Dallas Center, Iowa
Nicole Mendes, Oklahoma Fr. UTIL Houston, Texas
Paige Parker, Oklahoma Jr. LHP Independence, Mo.
Vanessa Shippy, Oklahoma State Jr. UTIL Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Brandi Needham, Oklahoma State Sr. RHP Dripping Springs, Texas
Taylor Ellsworth, Texas Fr. C/INF Georgetown, Texas
ALL-BIG 12 SECOND TEAM
Name, School Yr. Pos. Hometown
Ari Hawkins, Baylor, Sr., INF, Mountain House, Calif.
Gia Rodoni, Baylor, So., RHP, Los Banos, Calif.
Harli Ridling, Kansas, Jr., C, Sentinel, Okla.
Fale Aviu, Oklahoma, So., OF, Oceanside, Calif.
Caleigh Clifton, Oklahoma, So., INF, Wayne, Okla.
Nicole Pendley, Oklahoma, Jr., OF, Rio Rancho, N.M.
Sydney Romero, Oklahoma, So., INF, San Diego, Calif.
Rylee Bayless, Oklahoma State, Jr., INF, Kansas City, Mo.
Madi Sue Montgomery, Oklahoma State, So., UTIL Burleson, Texas
Tiarra Davis, Texas, Sr., LHP/INF, Henderson, Texas
Devon Tunning, Texas, Sr., INF, Montgomery, Texas
Kierra Miles, Texas Tech, Sr., OF, Mustang, Okla.
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Name, School, Pos., Hometown/Last School
Taylor Ellis, Baylor, INF, Waco, Texas
Maddison Kettler, Baylor, OF/INF, West, Texas
Shelby McGlaun, Baylor, P/INF, Humble, Texas
Sami Williams, Iowa State, INF, Laguna Niguel, Calif.
Mariah Lopez, Oklahoma, RHP, Saugus, Calif.
Nicole Mendes, Oklahoma, UTIL, Houston, Texas
Taylor Ellsworth, Texas, C/1B, Georgetown, Texas
Kaitlyn Washington, Texas, OF, Humble, Texas
Raina O'Neal, Texas Tech, OF, Richmond, Texas
Kassidy Scott, Texas Tech, RHP, Piedmont, Okla.
Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes
^ Unanimous Selection
@ Three-time Pitcher of the Year (2015, ‘16, ‘17)