May 26, 2010

ST. JOSEPH, MO – The best NCAA Division II softball players in the country assembled Wednesday evening for the announcing of the NFCA Division II All-American Teams on the eve of the opening day of the National Championships.

North Georgia, the nation’s No. 1 team for 11 straight weeks and the only undefeated team in the land, was front and center as Sarah Phillips garnered First-Team honors for the second straight year, while Lauren Dykes snagged Second-Team honors as an outfielder, and Katherine Martin was honored as a Third-Team choice at first base.

In one of the most impressive seasons in NCAA history by a pitcher, Sarah Phillips returns to the All-American team with a record 43-0 and an earned run average of 0.85. The junior has 38 complete games, and 22 shutouts, while opponents are hitting just .165 off the right-hander. The Powell, Ohio, native is also a two-time PBC and All-Southeast Region Pitcher of the Year, and look to stay unbeaten this weekend against the top teams in the country.

After hovering around the .400 mark all year at the plate and garnering First-Team All-Region honors, freshman Lauren Dykes picked up Second-Team All-American honors as the left-fielder is hitting .395 with 35 runs scored, and 30 runs batted in. As a true freshman, Dykes has an on-base percentage of .428, while also hitting for some power with five home runs, three doubles, and two triples.

After being touted as one of the best first baseman in the country all season, redshirt freshman Katherine Martin has now cemented herself in that category with a Third-Team All-American nod. The Atlanta, Ga., native is hitting .377 with 12 doubles, two triples, and five home runs. She has 25 runs batted in, 36 runs scored, and flashes one of the best defensive gloves in the nation with just three errors in 323 chances for a .991 fielding percentage.

The future looks bright for the Saints as all three All-American selections are underclassmen, including a pair of freshman who look to make a splash for many years to come.

Phillips, Dykes, Martin, and the rest of the Saints will look to continue their unbeaten streak in the first game of the tournament on Thursday at 12:00 pm. Central Standard Time, taking on the East Super Regional winner Molloy College out of Rockville Centre, New York.

 

FIRST-TEAM

Pos.	Name	School
P Sarah Phillips ~ North Georgia P Casey Hanes Wayne State (MI) P Sherise Musquiz Hawaii Pacific C Kacie Easley Angelo State C Alyssa Shirey Valdosta State 1B Kyrie Timbrook Caldwell 2B Alix Dean + Angelo State 3B Miranda Campbell ^# Emporia State SS Kat Rivers Lenoir-Rhyne OF Danielle Monson Central Washington OF Kimberly LeComte West Texas A&M OF Mollie Bjelland Winona State DP Kaycee Taylor % Angelo State UT/Pitcher Lindsey Slocum Nebraska-Omaha UT/Non-Pitcher Dre Brunskill Mary At-Large/3B Jelena Shaw $ UNC Pembroke

 

SECOND-TEAM

Pos.	Name	School
P Shavaun Fisher Bloomsburg P Kayla Jackson Arkansas-Monticello P Katie Petersen Midwestern State C Brittnie Boerema St. Joseph's (IN) C Kelsey Thompson Minnesota State Mankato 1B Kristen Drage Missouri S&T 2B Danielle Lazorka Bloomsburg 3B Amber Ingram West Florida SS Samantha Ingersoll West Chester OF Jayme Hefler Lewis OF Kris Lesovsky ~ UC San Diego OF Lauren Dykes North Georgia DP Beth Lawson ~ Alabama-Huntsville UT/Pitcher Megan Russell # Indianapolis UT/Non-Pitcher Dacey Hassey Northwest Missouri State At-Large/C Christine Roser ~ Rollins

 

THIRD-TEAM

Pos.	Name	School
P Breanne Gleason New Haven P Katie Goetzinger Wayne State (NE) C Lacy Mauro Bloomsburg 1B Katherine Martin North Georgia 2B Emilie Hobbs Arkansas-Monticello 3B Nicole Downs New Haven SS Lauren Lopez Nova Southeastern OF Alison Allen Wayne State (MI) OF Sarah Hayslip Arkansas-Monticello DP Maile Kim Hawaii Pacific UT/Pitcher Kristin Danielson Minnesota Duluth UT/Non-Pitcher Ashley McSweeny Wheeling Jesuit At-Large/C Sarah Atkins Lenoir-Rhyne At-Large/1B Megan McCormick Indiana (PA) At-Large/1B Shannon Miles West Florida At-Large/2B Anna Bjorlin Concordia-St. Paul At-Large/OF Sarah DeMoss Angelo State At-Large/P Torie Bunzell Quincy At-Large/OF Melissa Medina C.W. Post At-Large/SS Emilley McEwen Cal State Dominguez Hills

 

Key
% 2007 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II First-Team All-America
^ 2008 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II Second-Team All-America
$ 2008 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II Third-Team All-America
~ 2009 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II First-Team All-America
# 2009 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II Second-Team All-America
+ 2009 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II Third-Team All-America