Oklahoma State University Athletics
Shippy Earns All-American Honor
June 01, 2016 | Cowgirl Softball
STILLWATER—Oklahoma State softball's Vanessa Shippy was named a Third-Team All-American selection, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced today.
With her selection, Shippy takes the total to 31 All-America honors in program history.
The Couer d'Alene, Idaho, native is the first Cowgirl to receive the honor since Courtney Totte in 2007. She is the third Cowgirl to be named an Academic All-American and All-American in the same season, and the first since Lauren Bay in 2003.
She is the second Cowgirl to earn both honors while also being named Big 12 Player of the Year, with the other being Bay in 2003.
"I think anytime you get an award like this in your program it's a special day," OSU Head Coach Kenny Gajewski said. "These kids work so hard. She's been so unselfish, playing three different positions. She's a kid who brings it every single day. It's special for her and her family, but it's also very rewarding for her teammates who were in a position to help her. It's just an all-around great award and it's a great day for us. It adds to the history that Oklahoma State already has."
Shippy, a sophomore, helped lead Oklahoma State to the championship game of the NCAA Georgia Regional with her impressive play in the field and at the plate. She led the Big 12 with her .425 batting average, her 58 runs scored, her 43 walks and .543 on base percentage.
She was second in the conference with 76 hits and third with 21 steals.
In addition to being named the Co-Big 12 Player of the Year, she has also found plenty of success in the classroom. Earning a 3.91 GPA, she was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-American Third Team.
"It feels good," Shippy said. "I just feel excited for the program. It was a team event this year. I'm just really thankful for the team and the coaching staff I was surrounded by. The success that the team had this year and the great coaching staff we have makes it all worth it."
