The Arizona Wildcats have been in the Big 12 for two years. They have produced the Big 12 Player of the Year both times.
Arizona catcher Sydney Stewart was named Player of the Year after earning the Big 12 Batting Title with a .490 average in league games. Last year, Wildcat two-way player Devyn Netz earned the honor.
In addition to leading the conference in batting average during league games, Stewart led the league in OPS (1.969), slugging (1.314), RBI (40), and home runs (13) against conference opponents. She played in all 24 league games.
It wasn’t Arizona’s only individual award, either. Centerfielder Regan Shockey took a share of the co-Defensive Player of the Year along with Kansas shortstop Hailey Cripe.
Shockey had a perfect fielding percentage against conference opponents and went .992 over the course of the entire season. Despite being an outfielder, she was part of three of Arizona’s nation-leading 41 double plays. She was also part of 54 defensive outs in 24 league games.
Arizona’s senior shortstop Tayler Biehl was named the league’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year for softball. In addition to being a stalwart at shortstop for four years, Biehl carries a 4.00 GPA in nutrition.
Biehl has always made spectacular plays on defense, but she had a breakout year on offense with a .364 overall batting average. That ranks fourth on the team behind Stewart, Shockey, and Sereniti Trice. In league play, it bumped up to .405, which was fourth behind Stewart, Tele Jennings, and Shockey.
Arizona placed a total of nine players on the four all-conference teams, a number that led the league. It tied Texas Tech with a league-leading four on the First Team. Three more made the Second Team. The seven total on First and Second Teams also tied Texas Tech for the lead. Two of the Arizona newcomers made the All-Freshman Team. Arizona also placed two on the All-Defensive Team.
Stewart led the way as one of eight unanimous selections on the 18-player All-Big 12 First Team. She was joined on the first team by Biehl, Shockey, and Grace Jenkins.
The 18-player second team included senior pitcher Jalen Adams, Trice, and Jennings. Freshmen Rylie Holder and Kez Lucas were among the 12 rookies honored by the league. Shockey and Trice were both named to the All-Defensive Team.
Other notable honorees in the league include co-Pitchers of the Year NiJaree Canady (Texas Tech) and Ruby Meylan (Oklahoma State). Kansas freshman Ella Boyer was named Freshman of the Year. Texas Tech coach Jerry Glasco won Coach of the Year.
