Rhea Taylor (Missouri) and Whitney Canion (Baylor) were selected as the Big 12 Player and Pitcher of the Week for games from Feb. 10-16, the conference office announced. Canion has earned her second-straight pitching accolade, while Taylor received her third career weekly award.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK Rhea Taylor, Missouri, OF, So., Buford, Ga./Peachtree Ridge Taylor went 6-for-11 at the plate and contributed seven of her team’s 20 runs at the Georgia State First Pitch Classic in Atlanta, Ga. Batting in the leadoff position, the All-America outfielder opened the season by scoring three runs in consecutive contests against Evansville and Virginia Tech. Her performance helped Missouri to a 3-0 record for the first time in four years. Taylor recorded a team-best 1.091 slugging percentage after reaching base 12 times. The sophomore also tabbed a double, triple and hit her third-career homerun on the weekend.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK Whitney Canion, Baylor, P, Fr., Aledo, Texas/Aledo Canion went 3-0 with two complete-game shutouts over four starts in five appearances. Her efforts led Baylor to a 5-0 record at the Getterman Classic this past weekend. The freshman struck out 36 batters in 24.2 innings of work, allowing her opponents to hit .170 and score just four runs during the tournament. She was named to the all-tournament team after pacing the field in wins, strikeouts and innings pitched. Canion is the first freshman in conference history to win consecutive pitcher honors in the first two weeks of a season.
2009 BIG 12 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Feb. 10 Amber Flores, Oklahoma, Jr., SS Feb. 17 Rhea Taylor, Missouri, So., OF
2009 BIG 12 PITCHERS OF THE WEEK Feb. 10 Whitney Canion, Baylor, Fr. Ashley Hagemann, Nebraska, Fr. Feb. 17 Whitney Canion, Baylor, Fr.
