Payton Dixon was named to the AAC All-Conference Second Team
IRVING, Texas., May 7, 2024 –Infielder Kathy Garcia-Soto (Tampa) has earned the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year title for the second straight year, while left-handed pitcher, Payton Dixon (Smyrna, Del.) earned a spot on the AAC All-Conference Second Team.
Garcia-Soto becomes the first player in AAC history to earn the Defensive Player of the Year title more than once. The award was added to the AAC yearly awards in 2018. Garcia-Soto is the second South Florida softball player to earn the award. Catcher Macy Cook earned the title in 2019.
Garcia-Soto has appeared in 54 of the Bulls’ 55 games, earning a start in 48. This season, she has split her time between second and shortstop, with most of her appearances at second base.
Garcia-Soto leads the team with 113 assists, the next closest is 75, and has turned 15 double plays, ranking second on the team. So far, she has totaled 119 putouts, also ranking second on the team.
Dixon has earned her first AAC All-Conference honor. The red-shirt sophomore has appeared in 35 games, earning a start in 27. In 170.1 innings, Dixon has garnered an ERA of 1.85. She has earned 17 wins and pitched 11 complete games, six of which have been shutouts. Dixon has struck out 156 batters and holds her opponents to a .208 batting average.
2024 American Athletic Awards
Player of the Year
CC Wong, Wichita State
Defensive Players of the Year
Lexi Winters, Charlotte
Kathy Garcia-Soto, South Florida
Pitcher of the Year
Georgeanna Barefoot, Charlotte
Rookie of the Year
Kiley Channell, Florida Atlantic
Coaching Staff of the Year
Florida Atlantic
First Team All-Conference
P – Georgeanna Barefoot, Charlotte
P – Ainsley Lambert, Florida Atlantic
P – Skylar Savage, North Texas
C – Kate de Leon, Florida Atlantic
1B – Arianna Rodi, Charlotte
2B – Mikayla Smith, North Texas
SS – Taylor Sedlacek, Wichita State
3B – Ella Chancey, Charlotte
OF – Kamryn Jackson, Florida Atlantic
OF – Presley Leebrick, Florida Atlantic
OF – Addison Barnard, Wichita State*
DP/U/P – Trinity Schlotterbeck, Florida Atlantic*
DP/U/Non-P – CC Wong, Wichita State*
Second Team All-Conference
P – Sam Gress, Charlotte
P – Payton Dixon, South Florida
C – Taylor Jensen, UTSA
1B – Morgan Johnson, East Carolina
2B – Cori Hoffler, Charlotte
SS – Imani Edwards, Tulsa
3B – Jesiana Mora, Florida Atlantic
OF – Bella Wiggins, UAB
OF – Emma Jackson, East Carolina
OF – MacKenzie Denson, Tulsa
DP/U/Non-P – Taylor Woodring, East Carolina
All-Rookie Team
Hannah Dorsett, INF, UAB
Olivia Williams, OF, Charlotte
Taylor Apple, P, East Carolina
Kiley Channell, SS, Florida Atlantic
Anneca Anderson, P, Tulsa
Chloe Barber, P, Wichita State
*denotes unanimous selection
The Bulls will open the 2024 conference tournament tomorrow at 5 p.m. (E.T.) against the No. 5-seeded Tulsa Golden Hurricane.
About USF Softball
Be sure to follow USF softball on social media (Twitter / Facebook / Instagram) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information. The USF softball program has been one of the most successful on campus, making 17 NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Women’s College World Series in 2012.
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