Two Sooners Named to Player of the Year Watch List

Feb. 1, 2012

NORMAN, Okla. — Two members of the University of Oklahoma softball team were named to the USA Softball top 50 watch list for the 11th annual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award on Wednesday. Juniors Keilani Ricketts and Jessica Shults, both returning All-Americans, were named to the pre-season watch list for the second consecutive year.

Both Oklahoma athletes saw time with U.S. National team this offseason as Ricketts and Shults were on the senior team that won the World Cup of Softball before Ricketts helped lead the squad to gold at the Pan American Games.

Ricketts is coming off a 2011 season that saw the pitcher set the Oklahoma record for strikeouts in a season with 452. A first team All-American in 2011, Ricketts earned second team honors as a freshman and was named first team All-Central region by the NFCA in both seasons. Ricketts had a record of 29-15 in 2011 with an earned run average of 1.48 while holding her opponents to a .187 batting average. The San Jose, Calif., native was a force at the plate as well 38 hits, 13 home runs while driving in 45 runs.

Ricketts' battery mate behind the plate, Shults is a two-time NFCA second team All-American. The junior hit for an average of .338 in 2011 while collecting 53 hits, 19 home runs and 58 RBIs. Shults led the team with a .758 slugging percentage while drawing 32 walks and earning first team NFCA All-Central region honors for the second consecutive year.

Oklahoma opens the season next Friday at the Sportco Kickoff Classic in Las Vegas.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Two Sooners Named to Player of the Year Watch List

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