Canion, Baylor softball begin road to World Series at home

Baylor fans will get one more weekend to see one of the most decorated student-athletes in school history play at home, as Baylor softball hosts an NCAA regional Friday through Sunday.

Getterman Stadium will play host to NCAA postseason play for the first time since 2009, as head coach Glenn Moore’s Lady Bears were named last week as one of just 16 regional hosts nationwide. Baylor earned the right to play at home as the No. 13 national seed after a stellar 42-13 regular season that featured a second-place finish in the Big 12.

The weekend will most likely be the last chance for Baylor fans to cheer on senior ace Whitney Canion in Waco. Canion, who was named Big 12 Pitcher of the Year for the second time in her career Tuesday, has rewritten the Baylor record book and is the Lady Bears’ all-time leader in nearly every major pitching category, including wins, strikeouts, shutouts and complete games. She recently moved into third place all-time in Big 12 history in victories after pitching the fifth no-hitter of her illustrious career late in the regular season.

As impressive as her numbers may be, her determination is even more legendary. In her sixth year at Baylor, Canion has battled back from two season-ending injuries in her career, spending the equivalent of more than a full season watching from the dugout and enduring months of grueling rehab. She bounced back from a 2010 ACL injury to lead the Lady Bears to the 2011 Women’s College World Series, their goal again this year.

Coming off of a great year in the classroom as well as on the field, the Lady Bears will work to advance through a strong Waco Regional field that features Tulsa, Houston and Northwestern State (Moore’s alma mater). A Baylor regional championship would most likely send the Lady Bears to Athens, Ga., to play the No. 4-seed Georgia Bulldogs the following weekend.

Sic ’em, Baylor softball!