Five Bears Named To All-SoCon, All-Freshman Teams
5/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Mercer University softball team tabbed five players on the 2016 Southern Conference awards list, as announced by league officials on Tuesday, May 10. Taylor Miller and Taylor Rodgers earned first-team honors while Natalie Shiver was named to the second team. Shaila Warren and Lindsay Boynton were named to the All-Freshman team as well.
Taylor Miller – Jr. – OF – Lawrenceville, Ga.
Miller repeated as an All-SoCon First Team selection after proving to be one of the most dangerous bats in the league for a second straight year. The junior led the league in stolen bases (25) while ranking second in batting average (.422) and hits (76). With a .453 on-base percentage, 23 multi-hit games and a .462 average with two outs, Miller established herself as one of the SoCon's most difficult outs.
The Lawrenceville, Ga. native also led Mercer with a .406 average in SoCon play while closing the regular season with a 16-game hitting streak. A reliable glove in the outfield too, Miller posted a team-best .988 fielding percentage and started 53 of Mercer's 54 games.
She was named the SoCon Player of the Week for March 14-20 and reached the 200-hit mark for her career last weekend at Western Carolina, putting her in fourth place all-time for hits at Mercer.
Taylor Rodgers – Jr. – UTIL – Copan, Okla.
After starting 49 games in her sophomore campaign, Rodgers moved into a utility role this season and excelled with it, batting .286 with nine RBIs en route to being named the All-SoCon First Team utility selection.
Rodgers batted an impressive .321 in SoCon play with the fourth most RBIs (seven) among the Bears, but it was her pinch-hitting performances that stood above the rest. The junior finished the regular season 7-for-18 with seven RBIs and two walks in pinch-hit opportunities, often giving Mercer a needed boost in late inning situations. Her solid play of late has translated to five consecutive starts, four as the designated player and one at second base.
Natalie Shiver – Sr. – C – Leesburg, Ga.
Shiver did a lot of everything for the Bears on her way to being named the All-SoCon Second Team catcher selection – her first postseason league award in a decorated four-year career at Mercer. The senior started all 54 games at catcher and batted .331 with a team-best 39 RBIs and seven home runs.
She turned up the heat in SoCon play, batting .358 with five multi-hit contests and led the team with 16 RBIs in 18 games played. The Leesburg, Ga. native had a .979 fielding percentage behind the dish and has earned multiple academic recognitions – nationally, regionally and league-wise – this season.
She'll finish her career at Mercer ranked in the top-five for games started and top-10 for runs scored, RBIs, home runs and doubles.
Shaila Warren – Fr. – INF – Mulberry, Fla.
One of four Bears to start all 54 regular season games this season, Warren stepped in immediately and provided a steady bat and reliable glove while earning SoCon All-Freshman team honors. Warren, who started primarily at second base, batted .306 with 25 runs scored, 20 RBIs, eight extra-base hits and eight stolen bases during her stellar freshman campaign.
The Mulberry, Fla. native has been one of Mercer's hottest bats of late, batting .340 in league play along with five multi-hit contests since SoCon play began.
Lindsay Boynton – Fr. – UTIL/OF – Tampa, Fla.
After not getting an at-bat in the first seven games of the season due to injury, Boynton worked her way into the Mercer lineup and proved to be one of the Bears' biggest power threats, translating to a spot on the SoCon All-Freshman team.
Boynton batted .223 in 32 games started but was second on the team in RBIs (28), home runs (six) and slugging percentage (.479). She also drew 19 walks and stole four bases in as many attempts. The Tampa, Fla. native officially put herself on the map with a 2-for-4 performance – two home runs and a league-best six RBIs – against Florida A&M on March 9.
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2016 Southern Conference Softball Awards & All-Conference Teams
Player of the Year
Megan Dowdy, Samford, Sr., OF
Pitcher of the Year
Mollie Hanson, Samford, R-Sr.
Freshman of the Year
Stephanie Bryden, UNCG, P/DP
Coach of the Year
Mandy Burford, Samford
All-SoCon First Team
P – Mollie Hanson, Samford, R-Sr.
P – Taylor Sigmon, Western Carolina, Sr.
C – Lindsay Thomas, UNCG, Sr.
1B – AnnaRose Borrelli, Furman, So.
2B – Crystal Cyr, Western Carolina, Sr.
3B – Callie Brister, Samford, Sr.
SS – Sieara Bishop, Furman, Sr.
OF – Candace Johnson, Furman, R-So.
OF – Taylor Miller, Mercer, Jr.
OF – Megan Dowdy, Samford, Sr.
DP – Nicole Thomas, UNCG, Sr.
UT – Taylor Rodgers, Mercer, Jr.
All-SoCon Second Team
P – Lindsey Bert, Furman, So.
P – Alicia Bazonski, UNCG, So.
C – Natalie Shiver, Mercer, Sr.
1B – Caitlin Bice, Samford, Sr.
2B – Abbie Miranda, Samford, Jr.
2B – Criket Blanco, Chattanooga, Sr.
3B – Danielle Vega, UNCG, Sr.
SS – Lexie Higgins, Samford, So.
SS – Karley Harkey, Western Carolina, Sr.
OF – Allison Geiner, UNCG, Sr.
OF – Shelby Maze, Samford, So.
OF – Sam Taylor, Chattanooga, Sr.
DP – Jordan Fortel, Chattanooga, Fr.
UT – Lindsey Bert, Furman, So.
UT – Amanda Beltran, Chattanooga, Fr.
All-Freshman Team
Tiffany Laughren, ETSU, IF
Emily Demonte, Furman, P
Lindsay Boynton, Mercer, OF
Shaila Warren, Mercer, IF/OF
Stephanie Bryden, UNCG, P/DP
Kelsey Royalty, Samford, OF
Hannah Trombley, Samford, C
Amanda Beltran, Chattanooga, C
Ashley Conner, Chattanooga, UT
Jordan Fortel, Chattanooga, P/UT
Madison Armstrong, Western Carolina, C/UT
