Conlee named to NFCA/Schutt Division II Player of the Year Watch List

STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton senior outfielder Katelyn Conlee has been named to the top-50 watch list for the NCAA Division II National Player of the Year by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and Schutt.

Conlee, a senior outfielder from Stephenville, is in her fourth season with the TexAnns and has led Tarleton into the national spotlight over the last two seasons.

She hit .402 in 184 at bats last season with 11 home runs and 55 RBIs to lead the TexAnns to their first regional championship and first NCAA South Central Super Regional Series appearance in school history. The deep run allowed Tarleton to jump to No. 22 in the final NFCA poll last year and, with 13 returners back including Conlee this year, begin the season ranked No. 10 in the country – the highest ranking in school history.

Conlee earned two all-region accolades last season after being named second-team all-conference. She was also a two-time LSC Hitter of the Week as a junior and moved into the top five in Tarleton’s single-season records for at bats (184), runs scored (52), hits (74), RBIs (55), batting average (.402), and total bases (121). She also led all LSC outfielders with 74 base hits a year ago.

For her career, she has played in 117 games and boasts a batting average of .386 with 18 home runs and 86 RBIs.

The Top 25 finalists for the 2016 NFCA/ Schutt Sports Division II National Player of the Year award will be announced on April 21.

The winner of the award will come from the 25 finalists but the finalists can consist of student-athletes not mentioned in this initial watch list. The Top 10 finalists will be announced on May 6 and the Top 3 on May 11 with the 2016 Player of the Year revealed on May 18.

Behind the collaboration between the NFCA and the NCAA Division II Head Coaches Committee, and the generosity of Schutt Sports, the award was created in 2015 to honor the outstanding athletic achievement among softball student-athletes throughout Division II. The list was voted on by the eight-member NFCA Division II All-American/Coaching Staff of the Year Committee, consisting of one member from each of the NFCA’s eight regions.

Conlee and the No. 10 TexAnns are off to a 2-0 start this season after sweeping Texas A&M International Monday. Tarleton will return to action beginning Thursday against East Central at the St. Mary’s NCAA Division II Classic in San Antonio.