OKLAHOMA CITY - NiJaree Canady was named the TUCCI/NFCA Division I Freshman of the Year on Tuesday evening, highlighting what has been one of the most dominant first-year campaigns in recent seasons of collegiate softball.
Canady was presented the award at the Women's College World Series team banquet. The award is voted on by the NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association)Â Division I All-America Committee.
Selected to the inaugural D1Softball All-American Freshman Team earlier today, Canady is the second player in school history to receive a major national honor, joining Ashley Hansen, who in 2011 was named the USA Softball National Player of the Year.
Canady has produced a breakthrough rookie season, quickly cementing her reputation as one of the nation's elite pitchers regardless of class year while contributing to a staff boasting the country's best strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.33) and ranking fourth in ERA (1.55).
A native of Topeka, Kansas, Canady (16-1, 29 appearances, 22 starts) is the nation's leader in ERA (0.48) and strikeouts per seven innings (11.6) while ranking third in hits allowed per seven innings (3.31).
Canady, who in 116.1 innings leads the Cardinal with 193 strikeouts while walking only 19, has also thrown two no-hitters while accounting for seven of Stanford's 19 shutouts, a total that ranks 10th in the country. Canady has tossed eight complete games and limited opponents to a .138 batting average.
In four NCAA appearances, Canady has allowed one run on seven hits in 17.1 innings with 25 strikeouts, including victories over Florida and Duke along the way.
An All-Pac-12 First Team honoree and Pac-12 All-Freshman Team selection, Canady's 18 strikeouts versus Villanova on March 3 were the most since Missy Penna's school record of 19 back on March 23, 2009 against Cal Poly.
A top-25 finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, Canady became a fixture on the national weekly award scene. She was named a three-time D1Softball Freshman of the Week, three-time Pac-12 Freshman of the Week and three-time Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week.
The TUCCI/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year award was created in 2014 to honor outstanding athletic achievement among Division I freshmen softball student-athletes. To be eligible, student-athletes must be nominated by their member head coach and in their first year of NCAA Division I collegiate competition as a true freshman or redshirt freshman.
Previous winners include Jordy Bahl (2022 – Oklahoma), Tiare Jennings (2021 – Oklahoma), Danielle Williams (2019 - Northwestern), Jocelyn Alo (2018, Oklahoma), Rachel Garcia (2017 – UCLA), Amanda Lorenz (2016 – Florida), Paige Parker (2015 – Oklahoma) and inaugural recipients – Annie Aldrete (Tennessee) and Kasey Cooper (Auburn) – in 2014.Â
Stanford (45-13, 14-10 Pac-12) makes its third NCAA Women's College World Series appearance in school history on Thursday, facing No. 1 Oklahoma (56-1, 18-0 Big 12) at 11:30 a.m. PT on ESPN. The Cardinal also advanced to Oklahoma City in 2001 and 2004.
Stanford's 45 victories are its most since a 48-11 finish in 2009. The 40-win campaign is the first since 2012. Stanford compiled a 21-game winning streak from Feb. 12-March 17, representing the second-longest in school history, behind 28 in a row from Feb. 7-March 23 in 2009. A top-10 fixture in the polls, the Cardinal has been ranked as high as No. 5. Stanford has totaled 14 victories against top-25 opponents this season. The Cardinal is also 34-13 against teams ranked among the top-75 in RPI.
NiJaree Canady's Breakthrough Freshman Season (2023)
• TUCCI/NFCA Freshman of the Year
• D1Softball All-American Freshman Team
• USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top-25 Finalist
• All-Pac-12 First Team
• Pac-12 All-Freshman Team
• Pac-12 All-Tournament Team
• D1 Softball Freshman of the Week (3x)
• Pac-12 Freshman of the Week (3x)
• Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week (3x)
