Two Bears Named to A-Sun All-Conference Teams
5/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Just one day before the start of the Atlantic Sun tournament, two Mercer softball players were selected as representatives on the A-Sun's All-Conference Teams as announced Tuesday afternoon.
Junior shortstop Sara Stukes and freshman centerfielder McKenzie Woody were both selected by coaches around the A-Sun for their phenomenal play this season. Stukes was named to the A-Sun's Second Team and Woody was the only unanimous selection on the conference's All-Freshman Team. It is the first such distinctions for either player in their careers.
"Certainly proud of both Sara and McKenzie," head coach Mike Raynor said. "Those two represent our team and reflect the opinion of the coaches in the conference and we just hope that the team can feed off those two and vice versa."
Stukes is a three-year starter and led the Bears offensively this season with a team-high 37 RBI and seven home runs. She set career marks for herself this season batting .324 with 48 hits, 10 doubles and a .547 slugging percentage.
"Stukes got off to a real good start this season and has carried us lately with that big bat. I am going to challenge her this week to step up and have a good tournament."
Woody led the team with a .331 batting average from her lead-off position in the lineup. She found a knack for getting on base, lacing a team-high 57 hits this season. Woody's 57 hits were fourth best in the A-Sun and she also had 13 RBI. Her aggressiveness on the base pads paid off as well as her 22 steals was second on the team and fourth in the A-Sun.
"McKenzie is a freshman that has brought a ton of energy and excitement to the program," Raynor said. "She is all the things you want a player to be and to see her unanimously selected on the All-Freshman Team is just really great."
The Bears begin the conference tournament tomorrow, playing in the first game against the No. 4 seed Campbell Camels at 2 p.m. from Cyrill Stadium in Spartanburg, S.C.
2011 Postseason Honors and Awards
Player of the Year: Courtney Platt, FGCU
Pitcher of the Year: Sarah Sigrest, Jacksonville
Freshman of the Year: Cortney Radke, UNF
Coach of the Year: * Amanda Lehotak, Jacksonville *
First Team All-Atlantic Sun
Pos. Name School
P Sarah Sigrest Jacksonville
P Morgan Childers USC Upstate .
C Sarah Simon Jacksonville
IF Lauren Quevedo USC Upstate
IF Jill Semento Stetson
IF Amanda Schmidt Jacksonville
IF Sam Lower ETSU
IF Amanda Miller Campbell
*OF Courtney Platt FGCU
OF Caroline Mason Lipscomb
OF Sharon Swanson Kennesaw State
UT Olivia Kline Jacksonville
* Unanimous Choice
** - A tie in voting resulted in a 12-person first team
Second Team All-Atlantic Sun
Pos. Name School
P Whitney Kiihnl Lipscomb
P Catherine McDaneil FGCU
C Katie Henderson ETSU
IF Katie Kelly Jacksonville
IF Ashlee Burkett Kennesaw State
IF Courtney Billington Lipscomb
IF Sara Stukes Mercer
IF Sarah Forgacs Campbell
IF Kaley Brosky UNF
OF Chrissy Morello Stetson
OF Kim Brasil USC Upstate
OF Sara Sikes Kennesaw State
UT Jessica Cross Kennesaw State
** A tie in voting resulted in a 13-person second team
Atlantic Sun All-Freshmen Team
Name School
*McKenzie Woody Mercer
Lauren Pollack UNF
Cortney Radke UNF
Tori Williams FGCU
Hannah Alexander USC Upstate
Lindsey Kelly USC Upstate
Chrissy Morello Stetson
Jacey Warner Jacksonville
Emily Lanier FGCU
Haley Elliot Lipscomb
Kristen Bembnowski FGCU
* Unanimous Choice
