Kelsey Stewart was one of two Gators named to the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List.
Munro, Stewart Named to USA Softball Top 50 Watch List
Wednesday, February 3, 2016 | Softball
Aubree Munro and Kelsey Stewart were named to the Top 50 Watch List for the 2016 USA SB POY Award.
OKLAHOMA CITY – University of Florida seniors Aubree Munro and Kelsey Stewart were named to the Top 50 "Watch List" for the 2016 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, announced Wednesday by the Amateur Softball Association of America.
Now in its 15th year, the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, awarded by the National Governing Body for Softball in the United States, recognizes outstanding athletic achievement by Division I female collegiate softball players across the country.
The pre-season "Watch List" includes 25 seniors, 15 juniors and 10 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 35 NCAA Division I universities and 15 athletic conferences.
Eight athletes, including Munro and Stewart, on the Top 50 "Watch List" will compete as a member of the 2016 USA Softball Women's National Team this summer.
A season ago, Lauren Haeger became the first Gator to receive the award, which is considered the most prestigious honor in Division I women's softball. Haeger won the award from a group of three finalists that also included Oregon's Cheridan Hawkins and Michigan's Sierra Romero.
Meet the Gators
In addition to being named the 2015 SEC Player of the Year and an NFCA First Team All-American, Stewart was selected to the All-SEC First Team, SEC All-Defensive Team and the Women's College World Series All-Tournament Team. Statistically last season, the Wichita, Kan. native led the Gators in hitting (.435), runs scored (71), hits (101), doubles (19), triples (11), total bases (148), and stolen bases (26).
Stewart, the four-time member of Team USA, holds the highest career batting average (.417) and on-base percentage (.476) in program history and also stands first in Gator annals for hits (293), triples (27) and steals (98) after three seasons. Entering her senior season, Stewart is just 113 hits shy of NCAA career hits record of 405, which belongs to former Arizona Wildcat Alison McCutcheon.
Munro, who was recently named to the U.S. Women's National Team for its 2016 season, started 51 of the Gators' 67 contests at catcher. The Gators were 45-6 in those games, raising her three-year record to 108-19. Defensively last season, the two-time WCWS All-Tournament team performer caught 8-of-18 potential base-stealers and did not make an error in 354 chances. She became just the ninth Gator to record a perfect fielding percentage in a season. At the plate, Munro finished the 2015 season with her best month of the year, posting a .310 batting average with one double, one home run and a .444 on base percentage.
2016 Season
Florida begins its season on Feb. 12 at the USF Wilson-DeMarini Tournament in Tampa, and the home opener is slated for Feb. 17 against Jacksonville. Conference play starts at Auburn on March 12 and the SEC Tournament will be held at Mississippi State from May 11-14.
Future Announcements
USA Softball will announce the midseason watch list of 25 players on April 13. The Top 10 Finalists will be announced May 11 and the Top 3 announced May 25. The 2015 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed May 31.
FOLLOW THE GATORS
In the Polls: NFCA | USA Softball
Preseason SEC Favorites
FloridaGators.com
Instagram
Twitter
Head Coach Tim Walton on Twitter
Facebook
Now in its 15th year, the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, awarded by the National Governing Body for Softball in the United States, recognizes outstanding athletic achievement by Division I female collegiate softball players across the country.
The pre-season "Watch List" includes 25 seniors, 15 juniors and 10 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 35 NCAA Division I universities and 15 athletic conferences.
Eight athletes, including Munro and Stewart, on the Top 50 "Watch List" will compete as a member of the 2016 USA Softball Women's National Team this summer.
A season ago, Lauren Haeger became the first Gator to receive the award, which is considered the most prestigious honor in Division I women's softball. Haeger won the award from a group of three finalists that also included Oregon's Cheridan Hawkins and Michigan's Sierra Romero.
Meet the Gators
In addition to being named the 2015 SEC Player of the Year and an NFCA First Team All-American, Stewart was selected to the All-SEC First Team, SEC All-Defensive Team and the Women's College World Series All-Tournament Team. Statistically last season, the Wichita, Kan. native led the Gators in hitting (.435), runs scored (71), hits (101), doubles (19), triples (11), total bases (148), and stolen bases (26).
Stewart, the four-time member of Team USA, holds the highest career batting average (.417) and on-base percentage (.476) in program history and also stands first in Gator annals for hits (293), triples (27) and steals (98) after three seasons. Entering her senior season, Stewart is just 113 hits shy of NCAA career hits record of 405, which belongs to former Arizona Wildcat Alison McCutcheon.
Munro, who was recently named to the U.S. Women's National Team for its 2016 season, started 51 of the Gators' 67 contests at catcher. The Gators were 45-6 in those games, raising her three-year record to 108-19. Defensively last season, the two-time WCWS All-Tournament team performer caught 8-of-18 potential base-stealers and did not make an error in 354 chances. She became just the ninth Gator to record a perfect fielding percentage in a season. At the plate, Munro finished the 2015 season with her best month of the year, posting a .310 batting average with one double, one home run and a .444 on base percentage.
2016 Season
Florida begins its season on Feb. 12 at the USF Wilson-DeMarini Tournament in Tampa, and the home opener is slated for Feb. 17 against Jacksonville. Conference play starts at Auburn on March 12 and the SEC Tournament will be held at Mississippi State from May 11-14.
Future Announcements
USA Softball will announce the midseason watch list of 25 players on April 13. The Top 10 Finalists will be announced May 11 and the Top 3 announced May 25. The 2015 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed May 31.
FOLLOW THE GATORS
In the Polls: NFCA | USA Softball
Preseason SEC Favorites
FloridaGators.com
Head Coach Tim Walton on Twitter
Players Mentioned
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