Saints Lead Country in NFCA All-Region Selections
DAHLONEGA, GA
– The North Georgia softball team was once again talked about
around the country on Thursday evening as the National Fastpitch
Coaches Association (NFCA) released the 2010 All-Region teams.
North Georgia led the country with five first-team selections in
Sarah Phillips, Laura Voyles, Leslee Smith, Katherine Martin, and
Lauren Dykes, while Pilar Harden was named to the Southeast Region
second-team.
Currently the nation’s leader in wins at 41-0, Phillips has
been named first-team NFCA All-Region for the second straight year
after earning All-American honors in 2009. She is only undefeated
pitcher in the country with more than 10 decisions as the junior is
leading top-ranked and unbeaten North Georgia into the NCAA
Southeast Super Regionals this weekend. She has a 0.81 earned run
average in 268.0 innings of work, and has recorded 263 strikeouts,
while opponents are hitting .166 against the right-hander.
As the leadoff hitter for the Saints, Laura Voyles has played and
started all 48 games for the Saints this season, hitting .338 with
50 runs scored, 33 runs batted in, and 11 home runs. She has an
on-base percentage of .469 with 11 multiple hit games, and eight
games with multiple runs batted in, including one of four
performances this season on the team with five RBI in a single
game.
Leslee Smith continues to be one of the premier power hitters in
the Southeast as the senior is hitting .343 with 12 home runs, 54
runs batted in, and 26 runs scored. As a 2009, and now 2010
First-Team All-Region Performer, Smith has just nine strikeouts on
the year in 140 at-bats, while recording a slugging percentage of
.714.
As arguably the best defensive first-basemen in the country,
Katherine Martin has emerged offensively and defensively for the
Saints, hitting .363 with 33 runs scored, and 24 runs batted in,
while the freshman has committed just three errors for a .990
fielding percentage.
Lauren Dykes is leading the No. 1 team in the country in batting
average as the true freshman is hitting .391 with four home runs,
41 runs scored, and 27 runs batted in. Dykes has 13 stolen bases on
the year, and an on base percentage of .421 as the Dallas, Ga.,
native had a team-high 11-game hitting streak during the season.
Pilar Harden emerges on the second-team this season after hitting
.316 with five home runs, six doubles, and 26 runs batted in for
the Saints. She has eight multiple hit games, seven multiple RBI
games, and a perfect fielding percentage in center field with two
assist and 43 putouts.
NFCA member coaches in each of the eight regions select the
Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Region teams and all honorees are now
eligible to be selected to one of three All-American teams.
The 2010 Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American teams will be
announced at the 2010 NCAA Banquet of Champions at the Fulkerson
Center on the campus of Missouri Western University in St. Joseph,
Mo., on Wednesday night, May 26. The entire list of 2010
All-Americans, and its accompanying release, will be placed on
NFCA.org later that evening.
North Georgia (48-0) will put their undefeated mark on the line
this Friday night as they welcome Lenoir-Rhyne (53-7) to town for
the best of three weekend set in the NCAA Southeast Super Regionals
for the right to play in the 2010 NCAA Division II College World
Series.
Southeast Region - First Team
|
Pos. |
Name |
School |
|
P | Sarah Phillips | North Georgia |
|
P | Sarah DeMuth | Augusta State |
|
C | Sarah Atkins | Lenoir-Rhyne |
|
1B | Katherine Martin | North Georgia |
|
2B | Laura Voyles | North Georgia |
|
3B | Jelena Shaw | UNC Pembroke |
|
SS | Kat Rivers | Lenoir-Rhyne |
|
OF | Lauren Dykes | North Georgia |
|
OF | Brittany Cherry | Lenoir-Rhyne |
|
OF | LaRonda McClain | Wingate |
|
DP | Leslie Smith | North Georgia |
|
UT/Pitcher | Shelby Duff | Armstrong Atlantic |
|
UT/Non-Pitcher | Larissa Shannon | Erskine |
Southeast Region - Second Team
|
Pos. |
Name |
School |
|
P | Dawon Millwood | Lenoir-Rhyne |
|
P (Tie) | Alex Smith | Lenoir-Rhyne |
|
P (Tie) | Amanda Huckstein | Newberry |
|
C | Rocky Hemmer | Columbus State |
|
1B | Courtney Davis | Erskine |
|
2B | April Jowers | Armstrong Atlantic |
|
3B | Bailee Temples | Armstrong Atlantic |
|
SS | Jessie Howard | Carson-Newman |
|
OF | Pilar Harden | North Georgia |
|
OF | Aissa Gatewood | Newberry |
|
OF | Kristen Jones | Augusta State |
|
DP | Ashley Duckworth | Lenoir-Rhyne |
|
UT/Pitcher | Michaela Wolf | Francis Marion |