Mia Davidson added another preseason accolade on Wednesday as the sophomore catcher/third baseman was tabbed to the Top 50 Watch List for the 2019 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year
Davidson Selected to USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List
January 30, 2019 | Softball
by Taylor Shirey, Assistant Director/Communications
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State's Mia Davidson added another preseason accolade on Wednesday as the sophomore catcher/third baseman was tabbed to the Top 50 Watch List for the 2019 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year.
The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, which is entering its 18th season, recognizes outstanding athletic achievement by Division I female collegiate softball players across the country.
Davidson was one of just 10 sophomores to earn a spot on this season's watch list. The Southeastern Conference led the way with the most selections with 13 student-athletes earning a nod as preseason candidates.
The announcement comes off the heels of Davidson being selected a Preseason All-American by Fastpitch News. Earlier this month, the Hillsborough, North Carolina, native was also tabbed to the Preseason All-SEC Team.
Davidson, the reigning SEC Freshman of the Year, displayed her power at the plate throughout her debut season, finishing second the SEC and 11th nationally with 19 total home runs, a mark that set MSU's freshman and single-season records.
She also ranked in the top 15 among all SEC hitters in seven offensive categories, which including second in slugging percentage (.762) and total bases (144). Behind the plate, Davidson caught 11 would-be base stealers, the fifth most in the conference.
Davidson wrapped her freshman season with 2018 All-SEC First Team and SEC All-Freshman Team honors. She was selected SEC Freshman of the Week a program-record three times last season.
Nationally she was a top 10 finalist for the 2018 Schutt Sports/NFCA National Freshman of the Year, the first student-athlete in program history to ever be a finalist for the award, and was tabbed to the NFCA All-South Region Second Team.
The Top 25 Finalists for the 2019 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be announced April 24. 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 8 and the Top 3 announced May 22. The 2019 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed May 28.
Entering opening weekend with the program's first preseason ranking since 2001, No. 24 Mississippi State opens its 2019 season by hosting the Bulldog Kickoff Classic at Nusz Park over Feb. 8-10. The Bulldogs open the three-day tournament on Friday, Feb. 8 at 3 p.m. versus Middle Tennessee.
For more on Mississippi State softball, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State's Mia Davidson added another preseason accolade on Wednesday as the sophomore catcher/third baseman was tabbed to the Top 50 Watch List for the 2019 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year.
The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, which is entering its 18th season, recognizes outstanding athletic achievement by Division I female collegiate softball players across the country.
Davidson was one of just 10 sophomores to earn a spot on this season's watch list. The Southeastern Conference led the way with the most selections with 13 student-athletes earning a nod as preseason candidates.
The announcement comes off the heels of Davidson being selected a Preseason All-American by Fastpitch News. Earlier this month, the Hillsborough, North Carolina, native was also tabbed to the Preseason All-SEC Team.
Davidson, the reigning SEC Freshman of the Year, displayed her power at the plate throughout her debut season, finishing second the SEC and 11th nationally with 19 total home runs, a mark that set MSU's freshman and single-season records.
She also ranked in the top 15 among all SEC hitters in seven offensive categories, which including second in slugging percentage (.762) and total bases (144). Behind the plate, Davidson caught 11 would-be base stealers, the fifth most in the conference.
Davidson wrapped her freshman season with 2018 All-SEC First Team and SEC All-Freshman Team honors. She was selected SEC Freshman of the Week a program-record three times last season.
Nationally she was a top 10 finalist for the 2018 Schutt Sports/NFCA National Freshman of the Year, the first student-athlete in program history to ever be a finalist for the award, and was tabbed to the NFCA All-South Region Second Team.
The Top 25 Finalists for the 2019 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be announced April 24. 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 8 and the Top 3 announced May 22. The 2019 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed May 28.
Entering opening weekend with the program's first preseason ranking since 2001, No. 24 Mississippi State opens its 2019 season by hosting the Bulldog Kickoff Classic at Nusz Park over Feb. 8-10. The Bulldogs open the three-day tournament on Friday, Feb. 8 at 3 p.m. versus Middle Tennessee.
For more on Mississippi State softball, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
Players Mentioned
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