Settlemier Named Big 12 Player of the Year

May 10, 2006

OKLAHOMA CITY –

Kansas senior Serena Settlemier was named the 2006 Big 12 Conference Softball Player of the Year Wednesday at the league’s annual postseason banquet. Settlemier, a pitcher/designated player from Kelso, Wash., is the first KU softball player to be tabbed Player of the Year, and joins junior Kassie Humphreys as an All-Big 12 First Team selection in 2006.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

Settlemier currently leads the conference in home runs (21), RBI (59) and slugging percentage (.815). She leads the KU offense with a .331 batting average and the pitching staff with a 1.21 ERA (16-6) in addition to posting six grand slams this season. Settlemier hit at a .295 clip during Big 12 play, while maintaining a 0.83 ERA in the circle. She also ranked third in opponent batting average at .166.

Settlemier was named Big 12 Player of the Week twice this season, including on April 25 when she also was tabbed USA Softball Co-National Player of the Week. She receives all-conference recognition for the second time in her career after being named to the second team last season.

Humphreys, a right-handed pitcher from Glendale, Ariz., ranks third in the conference with a 1.31 ERA and 217 strikeouts through a team-leading 191.2 innings. The Cactus High School product held batters to a .155 batting average and compiled a 14-16 record in the circle. Humphreys was named Big 12 Pitcher of the Week twice this season and has thrown four complete-game no-hitters. Her All-Big 12 First Team selection is the first such honor of her career.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Serena Settlemier, Kansas, UT, Sr., Kelso, Wash.
PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Cat Osterman, Texas, LHP, Sr., Houston, Texas
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Brette Reagan, Baylor, 3B, Fr., Tomball, Texas
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Megan Willis, Texas, C, Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
COACH OF THE YEAR: Connie Clark, Texas

The All-Big 12 honors are selected by the league’s head coaches, who are not allowed to vote for their own players.

Four Jayhawks also earned Academic All-Big 12 honors in 2006. Senior shortstop Destiny Frankenstein (Broken Arrow, Okla.) was named to the first team for achieving a 3.2 grade point average or better. Humphreys, senior outfielder Ashley Goodrich (Kewanee, Ill.) and junior first baseman Nicole Washburn (St. Peters, Mo.) earned second team honors for achieving a 3.0 GPA.

The Jayhawks open Big 12 Championship play Thursday against third-seeded Baylor at 11 a.m. Sixth-seeded KU will then face Nebraska, Missouri or Texas Tech at 2:30 p.m. or 7 p.m. Thursday in double-elimination play.

-KU-