Fitu Named to Player of the Year Watch List

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 7,2011) - BYU senior catcher Jessica Fitu was named to the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America's initial “Watch List” for the 10th Annual USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Award.

Fitu, a native of Walnut, Calif., was an All-American selection in 2009 and is a two-time All-MWC and All-Region honoree. Last season, Fitu was second in the Mountain West Conference in triples and third in RBI as the Cougars won the MWC title and advanced to the NCAA Super Regional.

The 2011 Pre-Season Watch List is comprised of 50 players representing 36 schools and 15 different NCAA Division I Conferences with the Pac-10 Conference leading the way with seven schools represented. The list includes 23 seniors, 12 juniors and 15 sophomores.

This award, which is considered the most prestigious honor in Division I women’s collegiate softball, is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the country. Past winners of this award include UCLA’s Stacey Nuveman, Florida State’s Jessica Van der Linden, three-time winner Texas pitcher Cat Osterman, Tennessee’s Monica Abbott, Virginia Tech’s Angela Tincher and two-time winner Washington’s Danielle Lawrie.

The ASA will announce the 25 finalists on April 13. A player does not have to appear on this initial watch list to be considered as a top 25 finalist. However, once the top 25 finalists are named the winner of the award will come from that list.