Redshirt sophomore Micaela Minner was named to the USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year watch list.Redshirt sophomore Micaela Minner was named to the USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year watch list.
Softball

Micaela Minner Named to USA Softball Watch List

Feb. 1, 2006

Columbia, Mo. - Missouri softball outfielder Micaela Minner (Sanger, Texas) was one of 50 individuals named to the watch list for the 2006 USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Award as announced today by the Amateur Softball Association, the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States. The award, considered one of the most prestigious honors in women's collegiate softball, is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievements by female collegiate softball players across the country.

Minner, a redshirt sophomore, is one of 10 Big 12 players named to the watch list and as a Tiger, represents one of 28 schools and 10 different NCAA Division I conferences recognized.

As a member of the Missouri softball team, Minner finished the 2005 season with a .388 batting average, .781 slugging percentage and 17 home runs, a new single season school record. For her efforts, Minner was named to the All-Midwest Region and All-Big 12 Team and earned honors as Big 12 Player of the Week on March 1, 2005.

USA Softball will announce a list of 25 finalists for the USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Award Wednesday, April 5, before narrowing the group to 10 prior to the start of post-season play, May 10. Three finalists will be announced Wednesday, May 31, with the winner of the 2006 USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Award revealed during the NCAA Women's College World Series June 1-7, in Oklahoma City. A player does not have to appear on the initial watch list to be considered as a top 25 finalist, but once the top 25 is named, the remaining finalist must be selected from that list.

This year's watch list contains six players among the top 10 finalists for the 2005 award including the 2004 and 2005 winner, Texas pitcher Cat Osterman.

For a complete list of this year's 50 pre-season honorees, please click here .

Fans will have the opportunity to see Minner and the 18th-ranked Missouri squad this Saturday, Feb. 4, at 1 p.m. (CST) as the Tigers host their annual Black and Gold Game on University Field. Admission is free to the public. Missouri's official season will open Friday, Feb. 10 in Atlanta, Ga., with a three-game series against 2005 ACC champion and current No. 24 Georgia Tech.