RICHARDSON, Texas – Louisiana College senior shortstop Mary Alice Roy, University of Texas at Tyler junior right-hander Stacy Shepherd, Howard Payne University junior first baseman Ashley Silva and Hardin-Simmons University junior right-hander Megann Lewis all earned top individual honors to highlight the 2010 American Southwest Conference softball awards following a division-only vote by head coaches, the conference office announced on Wednesday (May 5).

Roy (Pride, LA / Central Private HS) was named East Division Player of the Year after batting .447 with a league-high 68 hits, 15 doubles, three triples and 45 RBIs. Roy also scored 55 runs and stole 23 bases to help Louisiana College capture the ASC title.

Shepherd (Houston, TX / Cy-Fair HS) was voted East Division Pitcher of the Year after going 17-1 with a league-high three saves and a 1.68 ERA. Shepherd, who logged 133 1/3 innings, was twice named national player of the week by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and helped lead the Patriots to their first ASC East title.

Silva (Angleton, TX / AHS) was named West Division Player of the Year after posting a division-high .448 batting average with three home runs, eight doubles and 20 RBIs. Silva also drew 27 walks, struck out just three times and led the West with a .579 on-base percentage.

Lewis (Italy, TX / IHS) was voted West Division Pitcher of the Year after going 12-7 with one save and a division-low 1.41 ERA. Lewis struck out 122 batters in 129 1/3 innings of work and held opponents to a .213 average – also all division bests.

All four were first team selections in their respective divisions.

Other East Division award winners were University of Texas at Dallas junior third baseman Courtney Kuebler (Richardson, TX / Mid America Christian), who was named newcomer of the year after batting .353. Texas-Tyler outfielder Joey Cronin (Celina, TX / CHS) took freshman of the year honors after leading the league with 13 home runs. Louisiana College junior catcher Amber Thomas (Rosepine, LA / RHS) was voted sportsmanship athlete of the year.

Other West award winners were University of Mary Hardin-Baylor junior right-hander Erica White (Lewisville, TX / LHS), who was dubbed as newcomer of the year after going 11-5 with two saves. UMHB third baseman Cailtin Bollier (Kerrville, TX / Tivy HS) earned freshman of the year honors after driving in 20 runs. She also turned a triple play at the ASC tournament. Schreiner University senior outfielder Lindsay Rutkowski (Jourdantown, TX / JHS) was voted sportsmanship athlete of the year.

Texas-Tyler (Mike Reed, Cassie Crabtree, Coby Gipson and Kourtney Jones) and Mary Hardin-Baylor (Kasey Blomquist, Denise Lira and Jessica Batey) earned the East and West Division coaching staff of the year awards, respectively. Head coach Reed and his staff guided a 35-5 regular season that landed the Patriots their first East title in program history. Head coach Blomquist and her staff guided 17 wins over their final 20 ballgames to land the West crown for the third time in four seasons.

[Note: ASC softball awards are given only at the division level.]

(Listed in order of voting point totals; # indicates tie in voting at that position)

ALL-EAST DIVISION SECOND TEAM

ALL-EAST DIVISION HONORABLE MENTION

West Division Player of the Year: Ashley Silva, 1B, Jr., Howard Payne University
West Division Pitcher of the Year: Megann Lewis, RHP, Jr., Hardin-Simmons University
West Division Newcomer of the Year: Erica White, RHP, Jr., University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
West Division Freshman of the Year: Caitlin Bollier, 3B, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
West Division Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year: Lindsay Rutkowski, OF, Sr., Schreiner University
West Division Coaching Staff of the Year: University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Kasey Blomquist, Denise Lira, Jessica Batey)

(Listed in order of voting point totals; #, & indicates tie in voting at that position)

ALL-WEST DIVISION SECOND TEAM

ALL-WEST DIVISION HONORABLE MENTION