Courtesy of Howard University Athletic Media Relations
OKLAHOMA CITY, Jan. 29, 2020 – USA Softball (USAS) revealed its 2020 Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List where Howard University sophomore slugger Kalita Dennis became the first Bison in program history to be honored for this achievement. The announcement came Wednesday afternoon.
USAS, the national governing body of softball in the United States, oversees the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, which enters its 18th season and recognizes outstanding athletic achievement by Div. I female collegiate softball student-athletes across the country.
"This is an unbelievable honor for an amazing student-athlete," Howard head softball coach Torti Tyson said. "Kalita is so deserving of this recognition, and I am so happy that USA Softball is recognizing talent regardless of school or conference. This is a big honor for Howard softball and the MEAC."
In her rookie campaign, Dennis batted .411 with a 1.465 OBS, en route to winning the 2019 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Rookie of the Year award. Additionally, the three-time MEAC Rookie of the Week and All-Conference selection was a candidate for the honorable Schutt Sports/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Div. I National Freshman of the Year award.
The preseason Watch List includes 28 seniors, 13 juniors and nine sophomores with freshmen ineligible for consideration; however, freshmen can be considered for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award once they have competed at the collegiate level.
Student-athletes named to the Watch List represent 33 NCAA Div. I universities and 19 athletic conferences.
The Top 25 Finalists for the 2020 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be announced April 22. The top 10 finalists will be announced May 6 and the top three announced May 20.
The 2020 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed May 26.