COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- San Diego State softball second baseman Shelby Thompson has been named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year for the second time of her career, the league announced Wednesday. Additionally, Thompson landed on the all-MW first team, making her the first five-time all-conference selection in league history.
Pitcher Maggie Balint joined Thompson on the all-MW first team, while first baseman Taylor Adams and shortstop Jillian Celis garnered second-team accolades.
The players of the year and all-conference teams are voted on by the league's nine coaches.
Thompson was the MW Defensive Player of the Year in 2018 while playing shortstop before moving to second base this season and winning the award again. Thompson (2018 and 2021) and Paige Gumz (2015-16 with Fresno State) are the only two players to earn the defensive award multiple times in league history.
In 2020 Thompson became the 12th player in MW history to earn all-conference honors four seasons and just the second Aztec, joining Celena Velasquez (2003-06). In addition to becoming the first five-time all-conference member and two-time MW Defensive Player of the Year in 2021, Thompson was also the 2017 MW Freshman of the Year.
In conference play (which the MW awards and all-MW teams are decided), Thompson has a .966 fielding percentage with just three errors in 88 fielding chances, while being a part of five double plays. At the plate, she is hitting .378 (28-for-74) with five home runs, 18 RBIs, 17 runs, five doubles, eight walks and four stolen bases, while posting a .649 slugging percentage and a .460 on-base mark. Thompson leads SDSU in MW play in at-bats (74), runs, hits, home runs (tied), RBIs, total bases (48), slugging percentage and stolen bases (tied).
Overall, Thompson is hitting .338 (46-for-136) with team highs of 46 hits, nine home runs (tied), 31 RBIs, 31 runs, 80 total bases, .425 on-base percentage and 11 times hit by pitch, while adding seven doubles, 11 walks and eight stolen bases, and posting a .588 slugging percentage. She also has just three errors in 163 chances for a .982 fielding percentage.
Balint, meanwhile, earned all-MW first team honors for a second straight season. In conference games, Balint is 7-5 with a save and a 2.51 ERA. She has appeared in 18 of San Diego State's 21 games so far, completed nine of her 11 starts, tossing three shutouts and striking out 69 against 22 walks. Opponents are hitting just .217 against her this conference season. Balint became the first Aztec pitcher to earn multiple all-MW postseason honors since Danielle O'Toole in 2013-14.
In all games, Balint is 16-7 with two saves and a 2.17 ERA, while tossing seven solo shutouts and combining for another, completed 15 of her 20 starts. The right-hander has 129 strikeouts with 39 walks, while limiting the opposition to a .211 average. Balint has been named the MW Pitcher of the Week twice this season.
Adams also made the all-conference team for the second straight season. In league games, Adams is hitting .292 (19-for-65) with one home run, 10 RBIs, eight runs, two doubles, five walks and three stolen bases, while owning a .369 slugging percentage and a .361 on-base percentage. Overall, she is batting .289 (33-for-114) with two homers, 16 RBIs, 20 runs, three doubles and 16 walks, while stealing eight bases in as many attempts. Adams also has a .386 on-base percentage and a .368 slugging percentage.
Celis made her first all-conference team after batting .315 (23-for-73) in league games to go along with 10 RBIs, 10 runs, six doubles and four walks, recording a .397 slugging percentage and a .342 on-base percentage. Along with Thompson, Celis has put together arguably the league's best middle infield. Celis has only two errors in 88 fielding chances, while recording 45 putouts, 41 assists and .977 fielding percentage, and playing a part in eight double plays. In all games Celis is hitting .328 (43-for-131) with two home runs, 24 RBIs, 20 runs, 12 doubles, six walks and four stolen bases, posting a .466 slugging percentage and a .353 on-base percentage.
SDSU wraps up league play this weekend with a series against MW champion Fresno State at SDSU Softball Stadium. San Diego State (27-14, 12-9 MW) and the Bulldogs (34-9, 18-3 MW) will play a doubleheader Friday, beginning at 2 p.m. PT, and a single game Saturday at noon PT.
2021 Mountain West Awards
Player of the Year: Keahilele Mattson (Fresno State)
Pitcher of the Year: Hailey Dolcini (Fresno State)
Defensive Player of the Year: Shelby Thompson (San Diego State)
Co-Freshman of the Year: Keahilele Mattson (Fresno State) and Bella Rocco (Boise State)
Coach of the Year: Kristie Fox (UNLV)
All-Conference First Team (SDSU selections only)
P Maggie Balint, Jr. (San Diego State)
2B Shelby Thompson, Sr. (San Diego State)
All-Conference Second Team (SDSU selections only)
1B Taylor Adams, Jr. (San Diego State)
SS Jillian Celis, RS-Fr. (San Diego State)
Shelby Thompson Named MW Defensive Player of the Year
