Eleven Big 12 softball student-athletes have been selected to the 2012 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List, as announced by the Amateur Softball Association of America. The league, along with the Pac-12, leads the way with six member schools represented.Texas is one of five universities with the most athlete representatives with three.

Highlighting this year's watch list are Keilani Ricketts (Oklahoma), Blaire Luna (Texas) and Meagan May (Texas A&M) who all found themselves on the list a year ago. Chelsea Thomas (Missouri) was one of three finalists for the award in 2011.

Baylor's Whitney Canion and Kathy Shelton join the returnees, as well as Missouri's Ashley Fleming. Jessica Shults (Oklahoma), Lexy Bennett (Texas), Taylor Hoagland (Texas) and Emily Bledsoe (Texas Tech) round out the list.

The 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.

The Big 12 has claimed the honor three times in the award's 10 years. Texas pitcher Cat Osterman received the award in 2003, 2005 and 2006, the only athlete to garner the honor three times.

The ASA will announce the 25 finalists on April 11. 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. Freshman qualify for the top 25 list once they have competed at the collegiate level. The top 10 will be released May 9, with the final top three finalists announced May 23. On May 29 prior to the start of the 2012 NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, the 2012 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed.

2012 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List

Emily Bledsoe, Texas Tech, Sr., Infield, Fulshear, Texas
Whitney Canion, Baylor, Jr., Pitcher, Aledo, Texas
Kathy Shelton, Baylor, Jr., Outfield, McKinney, Texas
Ashley Fleming, Missouri, Sr., Outfield, Silex, Mo.
Chelsea Thomas, Missouri, Jr., Pitcher, Pleasantville, Iowa
Keilani Ricketts, Oklahoma, Jr., Pitcher, San Jose, Calif.
Jessica Shults, Oklahoma, Jr., Catcher, Valencia, Calif.
Lexy Bennett, Texas, Sr., Infield, Kingwood, Texas
Taylor Hoagland, Texas, Jr., Outfield/Third base, Flower Mound, Texas
Blaire Luna, Texas, Jr., Pitcher, Austin, Texas
Meagan May, Texas A&M, Jr., Catcher/First base, Spring, Texas
Emily Bledsoe, Texas Tech, Sr., Infield, Fulshear, Texas