Stanford junior shortstop Ashley Hansen was selected as one of the 25 finalists for USA Softball’s Collegiate Player of the Year award on Wednesday.

The award, presented by the Amateur Softball Association of America and considered one of the most prestigious honors in collegiate softball, is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by collegiate softball players across the country. The 25 finalists announced Wednesday are the only players remaining in contention for the 2011 award.

Hansen currently leads the country with a .541 batting average, ranks first in the Pac-10 in on-base percentage (.604) and doubles (19) and is second in the conference with 59 hits, a .908 slugging percentage and three triples.

The Chandler, Ariz. native is a two-time all conference selection and was an All-American as a freshman, but her impressive hitting this season puts her on pace for her best season yet<\p>–<\p>a particularly impressive feat considering her .337 batting average last year and her .400 batting average as a freshman.

The finalists for the Player of the Year award will be narrowed down to ten on May 11, and the three finalists will be announced May 25 at the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.