RICHARDSON, Texas – Mississippi College junior Brooke Smitherman was named Player of the Year to highlight the 2014 American Southwest Conference
softball teams, the ASC office announced Monday (May 5), after a vote of the league's head coaches.
Smitherman (Prattville, Ala./Prattville HS) finished the season ranked in the top 10 in seven league categories and set or tied five ASC records. One of the hardest outs in the league, Smitherman struck out just seven times in 81 at bats and worked the count to a conference single-season record 49 walks, which contributed to a league-leading .693 on-base percentage. When she didn’t get a free pass to first base, Smitherman swung her way to a record-setting .938
slugging percentage and became one of four players in league history to hit three home runs in a game (March 7). A three-time all-conference selection, Smitherman finished the season ranked second in batting average (.506), fifth in home runs (9) and RBI (38) and holds the career record for most walks (113) set in three seasons.
Texas-Tyler sophomore
Kelsie Batten (Huntington, Texas /Huntington HS) was named Pitcher of the Year after leading the conference in wins (24) and innings pitched (156.2). A two-time ASC Pitcher of the Year recipient (East Division 2013), Batten compiled the longest consecutive innings streak
(59.2) of any ASC pitcher without giving up an earned run. She finished the regular season ranked third in ERA (0.67), strikeouts (98), and fourth in opponent batting average (.182).
Texas-Tyler freshman
Alaina Kissinger (Telephone, Texas/Sam Rayburn HS) received Newcomer of the Year honors after a near lights-out performance on the mound. Kissinger led the ASC in ERA (0.48), runs allowed (11), opponent batting average (.152) and ranked fourth in strikeouts (89) and fifth in wins (13).
East Texas Baptist freshman
Lacey Lindsey (Leander, Texas/Leander HS) was named Freshman of the Year. The league-leader in RBI (49),
home runs (14) and total bases (102), Lindsey also ranked third in slugging percentage (.903), fifth in batting average (.442), on-base percentage (.519) and runs scored (36).
Louisiana College senior shortstop
Meagan Pearson (Frierson, La./North DeSoto HS) received the Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year award. A two-time
all-conference selection, Pearson led the ASC in batting average (.514 and ranked second in on-base percentage (.573) in addition to 11 doubles and 33 RBI, both top-10 league numbers. Earlier this season, Pearson became the ninth player in league history to record seven RBI in a single game (Feb. 22) and the first LC player to join the list.
Texas-Tyler (Mike Reed, Whitney Wyly, Megan Dobrinski, Christy Gipson, Coby Gipson, Ashley Endsley, Michelle Jones) received the Coaching Staff of the Year award. The Patriots set the league record for most wins against conference opponents in a single season (31) and won the league’s
regular season championship.
In addition to Brooke Smitherman, Texas-Tyler senior outfielder
Lauren Robenalt, Mary Hardin-Baylor senior pitcher
Rebekah Ragsdale, East Texas Baptist senior pitcher
Shelby Parker and Texas-Dallas junior
Avery McHugh received their third all-conference awards.
Texas-Tyler leads all teams with 10 all-conference selections including five first-team honorees. East Texas Baptist recorded nine all-conference selections with a league-best seven first-team members.
Individual Awards
Player of the Year – Brooke Smitherman, Mississippi College
Pitcher of the Year – Kelsie Batten, Texas-Tyler
Newcomer of the Year – Alaina Kissinger, Texas-Tyler
Freshman of the Year – Lacey Lindsey, East Texas Baptist
Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year – Meagan Pearson, Louisiana College
Coaching Staff of the Year –Texas-Tyler
(Mike Reed, Whitney Wyly, Megan Dobrinski, Christy Gipson, Coby Gipson, Ashley Endsley, Michelle Jones)
First Team
|
Pos. |
Name |
Class |
School |
Hometown (High School) |
|
1B |
Brooke Smitherman*3 |
Jr. |
Mississippi College |
Prattville, Ala. (Prattville) |
|
1B |
Lacey Lindsey* |
Fr. |
East Texas Baptist |
Leander, Texas (Leander) |
|
2B |
Lacy Liles2 |
Sr. |
East Texas Baptist |
Elysian Fields, Texas (Elysian Fields) |
|
SS |
Meagan Pearson2 |
Sr. |
Louisiana College |
Frierson, La. (North DeSoto) |
|
3B |
Vanessa Carrizales |
So. |
Texas-Tyler |
Austin, Texas (St. Michaels) |
|
C |
Courtney Ivey |
Jr. |
Louisiana College |
Sieper, La. (Oak Hill) |
|
OF |
Lauren Robenalt3 |
Sr. |
Texas-Tyler |
San Antonio, Texas (Brandeis) |
|
OF |
Shay Mickens |
Jr. |
Mississippi College |
Odenville, Ala. (St. Clair County) |
|
OF |
Alyssa Romero2 |
Sr. |
East Texas Baptist |
Humble, Texas (Atascosita) |
|
UT |
Jessica Ramos |
So. |
Texas-Dallas |
El Paso, Texas (Andress) |
|
DP |
Jayme Perez* |
Fr. |
East Texas Baptist |
Austin, Texas (James Bowie) |
|
DP |
Mel Hinojosa* |
Fr. |
Texas-Tyler |
Houston, Texas (La Porte) |
|
P |
Kelsie Batten2 |
So. |
Texas-Tyler |
Huntington, Texas (Huntington) |
|
P |
Rebekah Ragsdale3 |
Sr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Orange, Texas (West Orange) |
|
P |
Shelby Parker3 |
Sr. |
East Texas Baptist |
Brazoria, Texas (Columbia) |
*Indicates tie in position
(First-Team At-large)
|
P |
Kelly Jo McLendon |
So. |
East Texas Baptist |
Livingston, Texas (Livingston) |
|
P |
Alaina Kissinger |
Fr. |
Texas-Tyler |
Telephone, Texas (Sam Rayburn) |
|
OF |
Kayla Garcia2 |
Jr. |
East Texas Baptist |
Navasota, Texas (Navasota) |
Second Team
|
1B |
Jackie Mendez |
So. |
Texas-Tyler |
San Antonio, Texas (Wagner) |
|
2B |
Stephanie Jaeger2 |
Sr. |
Louisiana College |
Haughton, La. (Haughton) |
|
SS |
Shelby Shelton |
Sr. |
Texas-Tyler |
Hughes Springs, Texas (Hughes Springs) |
|
3B |
Hannah Contreras* |
Fr. |
Concordia Texas |
Austin, Texas (Lake Travis) |
|
3B |
Victoria Gomez*2 |
Sr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Pflugerville, Texas (Pflugerville) |
|
C |
KK Stevens |
Fr. |
Texas-Tyler |
Plano, Texas (East) |
|
OF |
Avery McHugh3 |
Jr. |
Texas-Dallas |
Uvalde, Texas (Uvalde) |
|
OF |
Leah Brown |
Fr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Waco, Texas (Crawford) |
|
OF |
Whitney Burt |
Jr. |
Texas-Tyler |
Carrollton, Texas (Hebron) |
|
UT |
Braleigh Middleton |
Fr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Abilene, Texas (Wylie) |
|
DP |
Bethany Fletcher |
Jr. |
Mississippi College |
Woodville, Miss. (Wilkinson County Christian) |
|
P |
Lacie Patterson |
Jr. |
Mississippi College |
Southaven, Miss. (Southaven) |
|
P |
Emily Hardaway* |
Fr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Midland, Texas (Midland) |
|
P |
Taylor Thibodeaux* |
Sr. |
LeTourneau |
Angleton, Texas (Angleton) |
|
P |
Nancy Bunting |
So. |
Louisiana College |
Bentley, La. (Grant) |
(Second-Team At-large)
|
OF |
Emorie Nugent |
Jr. |
Louisiana College |
Greenwood, La. (Byrd) |
|
OF |
Kourtney Bevers2 |
So. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Liberty Hill, Texas (Liberty Hill) |
|
P |
Haley Parker |
Fr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Bryan, Texas (Earl Rudder) |
*Indicates tie in position
Third Team
|
1B |
Dayton Kunz |
Jr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
College Station, Texas (A&M Consolidated) |
|
2B |
Raven Rodriguez2 |
So. |
Texas-Tyler |
Houston, Texas (Waltrip) |
|
SS |
Kaitlyn Hollingshead |
Fr. |
East Texas Baptist |
New Braunfels, Texas (Canyon) |
|
3B |
Laura Gulotta-Parrish |
Sr. |
Louisiana College |
Plaquemine, La. (St. Joseph's Academy) |
|
C |
Mallory Westbrook2 |
Jr. |
East Texas Baptist |
Rusk, Texas (Rusk) |
|
OF |
Chelsea Sartor |
So. |
Texas-Dallas |
Plano, Texas (Plano) |
|
OF |
Megan Everett |
Fr. |
Mississippi College |
Pearland, Texas (Pearland) |
|
OF |
Dayna Whitmire |
So. |
Sul Ross State |
Shepherd, Texas (Shepherd) |
|
DP |
Kimber Gruehl |
Fr. |
Louisiana College |
Lecompte, La. (Alexandria Senior) |
|
P |
Sara Davison |
Fr. |
Texas-Dallas |
Round Rock, Texas (Round Rock) |
|
P |
Taylor Leger |
Fr. |
Louisiana College |
Opelousas, La. (Westminster Christian) |
|
P |
Haley McKee |
So. |
Ozarks |
Hartman, Ark. (Westside) |
(Third-Team At-large)
|
SS |
Macey Lee2 |
Jr. |
Mississippi College |
Pearl, Miss. (Pearl) |
|
2B |
Jessica Parish*2 |
Sr. |
Concordia Texas |
Lexington, Texas (Lexington) |
|
C |
Jourdan Glover* |
Sr. |
LeTourneau |
Fort Worth, Texas (Southwest Christian) |
|
C |
Tori Bankston* |
Jr. |
Mississippi College |
Watson, La. (Live Oak) |
*Indicates tie in ranking
Honorable Mention
|
1B |
Kara LeLeux |
So. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Cypress, Texas (Cypress Ranch) |
|
1B |
Sandy Ouchley |
So. |
Louisiana College |
Rocky Branch, La. (Farmerville) |
|
2B |
Mac Clay |
Sr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Abilene, Texas (Wylie) |
|
2B |
Lauren Mulligan |
So. |
Mississippi College |
New Orleans, La. (Dominican) |
|
SS |
Katie Carrizales |
Sr. |
Concordia Texas |
Houston, Texas (Cypress Falls) |
|
SS |
Myranda Hinojosa |
Fr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Edinburg, Texas (Edinburg) |
|
SS |
Amanda Garza |
Jr. |
Sul Ross State |
San Benito, Texas (San Benito) |
|
3B |
Anna Winter |
Sr. |
LeTourneau |
Southlake, Texas (Carroll) |
|
3B |
Jessica Castellano |
So. |
Sul Ross State |
Alpine, Texas (Alpine) |
|
C |
Jessica Borrego |
So. |
Concordia Texas |
Spring, Texas (Klein Collins) |
|
C |
Chandler Henson |
Sr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Van Alstyne, Texas (Van Alstyne) |
|
C |
Aly Hudec |
So. |
Texas-Dallas |
Sugar Land, Texas (St. Agnes) |
|
OF |
Molly Bowman |
Sr. |
Ozarks |
Springdale, Ark. (Har-Ber) |
|
OF |
Clarissa Hernandez |
So. |
Sul Ross State |
El Paso, Texas (Andress) |
|
DP |
Erin McLeod |
Jr. |
Howard Payne |
Eufaula, Okla. (Frisco-Liberty) |
Two-Time All-Conference Selection2
Three-Time All-Conference Selection 3