STANFORD, Calif. - Standout sophomores NiJaree Canady and Taryn Kern have been named to D1 Softball's D100 Player Rankings, coming in at number four and 12, respectively.
Canady is coming off of a dominant freshman season, earning TUCCI/NFCA, D1 Softball and Softball America Freshman of the Year Honors. The All-Pac-12 First Team and WCWS All-Tournament Team selection led the nation in ERA (0.57) and strikeouts per seven innings (11.3) while sitting second in hits allowed per seven innings (3.32). The Topeka, Kansas product went 17-3 in 33 appearances, throwing two no-hitters in 24 starts. After the season, Canady made her debut with the world-ranked No. 1 U.S. Women's National Team, starting and tossing 6.1 innings in a 12-11 win over Japan on August 4.
Kern arrives on the Farm after transferring from Indiana. In her freshman year, the infielder was named Big Ten Player and Freshman of the Year, while finishing as one of three finalists for the TUCCI/NFCA Freshman of the Year award. The Bay Area native started all 62 games for the Hoosiers, breaking single-season program records for homers (23), RBI (65) and runs scored (68). Kern led the team in batting average (.404), on base percentage (.578) and slugging percentage (.942).
The Cardinal will open the season on Feb. 8 in southern California, taking on San Diego State at the Aztec's SDSU Season Kickoff Tournament.