USA Softball Release
 
OKLAHOMA CITY – Three Sun Belt softball student-athletes were among the Top 50 watch list for the 2020 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, announced by the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States.
 
Louisiana senior pitchers Summer Ellyson and Megan Kleist and UTA senior shortstop Whitney Walton up for the award that recognizes outstanding athletic achievement by Division I female collegiate softball players across the country. Ellyson, Kleist and Walton received Sun Belt Conference preseason honors entering the upcoming season with Ellyson voted Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
 
The preseason Watch List includes 28 seniors, 13 juniors and 9 sophomores, with freshman ineligible for consideration.
 
The Top 25 Finalists for the 2018 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be announced April 22. 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 6 and the Top 3 announced May 20. The 2020 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed May 26.