OKLAHOMA CITY — Arizona State redshirt-junior pitcher, Cielo Meza was named to the Top 50 Watch List for the 2019 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, announced Wednesday afternoon.
During the 2018 season, Meza was one of the most dominant pitchers in the country, posting a 22-4 overall record at Long Beach State. She finished the year with an impressive 1.48 ERA and 217 strikeouts, leading the Big West in all three triple crown categories. For her efforts, Meza was honored as the Big West Pitcher of the Year, and also earned first-team All-Big West honors.
Meza pitched a pair of no-hitters on the year, including one against No. 21 Minnesota, and broke the Long Beach State single-game record with 17 strikeouts against Hawai'i.
Highlighting the 2019 Preseason Watch List are two previous USA Softball Player of the Year recipients and three NCAA National Champions. 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.
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.
In addition to bestowing the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, USA Softball is now in its 17th season of presenting the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll and the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Week, which are announced Tuesdays during the regular season. The preseason ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll was released Jan. 29 with ASU checking at No. 12.
During the 2018 season, Meza was one of the most dominant pitchers in the country, posting a 22-4 overall record at Long Beach State. She finished the year with an impressive 1.48 ERA and 217 strikeouts, leading the Big West in all three triple crown categories. For her efforts, Meza was honored as the Big West Pitcher of the Year, and also earned first-team All-Big West honors.
Meza pitched a pair of no-hitters on the year, including one against No. 21 Minnesota, and broke the Long Beach State single-game record with 17 strikeouts against Hawai'i.
Highlighting the 2019 Preseason Watch List are two previous USA Softball Player of the Year recipients and three NCAA National Champions. 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.
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.
In addition to bestowing the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, USA Softball is now in its 17th season of presenting the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll and the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Week, which are announced Tuesdays during the regular season. The preseason ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll was released Jan. 29 with ASU checking at No. 12.