STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford was well represented among the 2023 All-Pac-12 postseason awards, with its seven individuals and 10 overall selections the most since producing 10 and 12, respectively, in 2013.
NiJaree Canady, River Mahler and Alana Vawter were awarded spots on the first team, the Cardinal's most in that category since 2009 (Alissa Haber, Ashley Hansen, Missy Penna).
Stanford's all-conference haul was its largest in 10 years, when the Cardinal was represented with a 10-player contingent of Kayla Bonstrom, Teagan Gerhart, Sarah Hassman, Jessica Plaza, Jenna Rich, Cassandra Roulund, Kaitlin Schaberg, Kelsey Stevens, Leah White and Hanna Winter.
In addition to her first-team all-conference status, Mahler was named to the All-Pac-12 Defensive Team and All-Pac-12 Freshman Team – the only conference player to earn a spot on all three teams. Mahler has been impressive in her debut, ranking seventh in the Pac-12 and leading the Cardinal in batting average (.391) while also producing team highs in hits (59) and walks (20).
Stanford boasts one of the most dominant pitching staffs in the nation, ranking third in strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.01), eighth in ERA (1.61) and 12th in shutouts (17), making it no surprise Canady, Vawter and Regan Krause were honored.
A six-time Pac-12 weekly award winner and three-time D1Softball Freshman of the Week, Canady (14-1) is the nation's leader in ERA (0.52) and strikeouts per seven innings (11.9). Canady, who in 94.0 innings leads the Cardinal with 160 strikeouts while walking only 17, has also thrown two no-hitters. Canady's 18 strikeouts against Villanova on March 3 were the most since Missy Penna's school record of 19 back on March 23, 2009.
A three-time All-Pac-12 first-team honoree, Vawter (16-7, 1.81 ERA) has started 21 games, striking out 130 hitters in 155.0 innings to go along with three shutouts. In four seasons, Vawter ranks among the top-five at Stanford in wins (4th - 72), ERA (5th - 1.75), shutouts (5th - 25) and strikeouts (5th - 502).
Krause (9-4, 2.21 ERA) has provided another valuable rotation arm, allowing only 59 hits in 82.1 innings while striking out 42. Krause has thrown four shutouts this season, including two no-hitters.
Taylor Gindlesperger was tabbed an All-Pac-12 second-team recipient for the third straight season. In addition to leading the team in runs (33), doubles (14), total bases (83) and stolen bases (7), Gindlesperger is the Cardinal's all-time leader in career triples (24) and three shy of breaking the program's single-season record (9). She also ranks sixth in school history in career steals (51).
Along with Gindlesperger, Emily Young and Aly Kaneshiro have been key contributors to a defense showcasing a .979 fielding percentage, which ranks third in the Pac-12 and is tied for eighth in the country.
Named an All-Pac-12 third-team honoree for the third consecutive season, Young's 576 career assists rank third in school history. Young is hitting .273 and ranks sixth on the team with 36 hits.
Joining Mahler on the All-Defensive Team was Kaneshiro, who has thrown out 13 of 21 baserunners, leading the Pac-12 and tied for 25th nationally in that category. Kaneshiro has also been solid at the plate, pacing the Cardinal in home runs (6) and RBI (33) while ranking second in total bases (69).
No. 7 Stanford (39-12, 14-10 Pac-12) next faces No. 17 Oregon on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the inaugural Pac-12 Tournament in Tucson, Arizona. The Cardinal has produced one of its most impressive seasons in recent memory and is chasing its first 40-win campaign since 2012. Stanford has been a top-10 fixture in the polls for much of the season, ranking as high as No. 5 in the nation.