Jan. 31, 2018
OKLAHOMA CITY - Auburn softball senior pitcher Kaylee Carlson has been named to the 2018 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List for the second-consecutive season.
Announced Wednesday by USA Softball, the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States, the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award enters its 17th season and recognizes outstanding athletic achievement by Division I female collegiate softball players across the country.
Carlson, a native of Garden Grove, Calif., is coming of a tremendous 2017 campaign that included a program-record 27 wins and 1.36 ERA, the second-lowest in school history. The senior right-hander earned All-SEC First Team and Defensive Team honors and was a Third Team NFCA All-American selection. Carlson hurled 21 complete games in 2017, good for fourth in school history and was part of eight shutouts, including six solo efforts.
Carlson is one 16 pitchers included on the annual top 50 watch list, and one of 11 players hailing from the SEC.
The Top 25 Finalists for the 2018 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be announced April 25. 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 9 and the Top 3 announced May 23. The 2018 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed May 29.
Carlson and the No. 13 Tigers will kick off the 2018 season Feb. 8, vs. Marshall at Jane B. Moore Field.