Softball to retire first jersey in program history

UPDATED: 10:42 p.m. March 24, 2015

By Jeffrey Swindoll
Sports Writer

Baylor will honor former softball standout pitcher Whitney Canion this weekend by retiring her No. 11 jersey – a first in program history. Canion’s number will be retired prior to Baylor’s game against Oklahoma State at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Getterman Stadium.

“For the last half decade when you think of Baylor softball, you think of Whitney Canion,” head coach Glenn Moore said. “No single athlete has done more for this program, so it is very fitting for Baylor University to honor Whitney with the retirement of her No. 11 jersey.”

Hailing from Aledo, Canion became one of the most storied Baylor softball players of all time in her longer-than-expected time with the Bears. Canion was awarded two separate medical redshirts during her time at Baylor.

Her six-season career (2009-2014) spanned some of Baylor softball’s most successful years, including two appearances in the Women’s College World Series (2011, 2014) in which Canion was crucial to the Bears’ success.

She earned one of the redshirts during her true sophomore year after leaving for the season with a forearm injury and another during the 2012 season after tearing her ACL in her left knee. Before the knee injury, she struck out 15 batters she faced against UT-Arlington on Feb. 12, 2012.

Canion holds the program records in wins (123), shutouts (40), innings pitched (1,121.2) and strikeouts (1,473). She was also Baylor softball’s first First Team All-American and was named to the Women’s College World Series All-Tournament team in 2011.

Though Canion’s jersey will be the first retired number in Baylor softball history, she will also be joined by three-time All-American Brette Reagan. Reagan’s No. 4 jersey will be retired in a pregame ceremony before Baylor’s game against Texas Tech on April 4.